Summary: Researchers uncovered the protective effects of physical and social activities on brain health in older adults. Analyzing data from a 12-year longitudinal study, researchers focused on the entorhinal cortex,…
Tag: social neuroscience
Balancing Act: The Mixed Blessings of Solitude on Mental Health
Summary: A new study examines the nuanced impact of solitude on mental health among adults aged 35 and older in the UK and US. Tracking 178 participants over 21 days,…
Hikikomori: New Tool Sheds Light on Social Isolation Phenomenon
Summary: Researchers developed the Hikikomori Diagnostic Evaluation (HiDE), a new assessment tool for identifying pathological social withdrawal or hikikomori. This condition, initially identified in Japan, is characterized by extended physical…
The Elusive Link Between Brown Fat and Social Contact
Summary: A study exploring the link between brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity and the tendency for physical contact yielded inconclusive results, challenging earlier assumptions. Researchers attempted to replicate a 2012…
Canine Kings & Feline Pharaohs: Cultural Nuances in Pet Affection
Summary: Researchers explored the emotional and financial investment of pet owners toward their cats and dogs across Denmark, Austria, and the UK. Their research indicated that, across these nations, dogs…
Romance and Routine: Nurturing Commitment in Couples
Summary: A new study explored how couples maintain and nurture their relationships. The study categorized relationship maintenance behaviors into five areas, analyzing data from 192 heterosexual married couples. While direct…
Loneliness Merges Real and Fictional Friends in the Brain
Summary: Researchers discovered that lonely fans of “Game of Thrones” processed their favorite characters similarly to real friends in their brains. By using fMRI scans while participants considered the traits…
Brain Region That Links Language to Social Cognition Identified
Summary: Researchers discovered that neural activity in the left ventral temporoparietal junction (vTPJ) and the lateral anterior temporal lobe (lATL) during sentence processing is tied to social-semantic working memory. Previously,…
Social Media Algorithms Distort Social Instincts and Fuel Misinformation
Summary: Social media algorithms, designed to boost user engagement for advertising revenue, amplify the biases inherent in human social learning processes, leading to misinformation and polarization. As humans naturally learn…
Give and Grow: Volunteering Linked to Better Cognitive Health in Seniors
Summary: Volunteering can significantly improve cognitive function in older adults, suggests new research. The study, which included a diverse group of 2,476 seniors, linked volunteering activities to better executive function…
