Current reporting, research and professional developments across Research, curated for psychologists and behavioral-health professionals.
A systematic review of animal research suggests that caffeine can reduce anxiety and depressive-like behaviors by acting as a brake on the brain's immune system and lowering neuroinflammation.
Childhood adversity might alter how the brain responds to social hormones. A study in Translational Psychiatry suggests oxytocin temporarily increases altruism in adults with difficult childhoods, but decreases…
Women experiencing physical symptoms of stress, like headaches or muscle pain, report more negative dreams. A new psychological survey explores how daytime physical discomfort and general bodily awareness relate to the…
New research published in Brain Imaging and Behavior suggests that estradiol influences how brain areas communicate during memory tasks in middle-aged women. The findings provide evidence that higher hormone levels tend…
The term “porn addiction” is ubiquitous, but clinical realities are far more complex. Current research suggests underlying mental health conditions, emotional dysregulation, and even religious guilt fundamentally shape…
Children growing up without a father in the home during their first year may experience earlier signs of puberty. A recent study published in the Biology of Sex Differences suggests early family environments relate to…
A recent brain imaging study found that people with even slightly different political views process information using different neural patterns. Listening to political statements about immigration prompted synchronized…
Infrequent exercise is associated with a higher prevalence of common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety among higher-education students in Norway, according to a study published ...
Caregivers who spend more than 20 hours a week providing unpaid care face a significantly greater risk of poor mental health ...
A first-of-its-kind psilocybin study shows promising mental health benefits for those using state psilocybin centers, as clinical trials begin for veterans.
A new survey reveals that Gen Z is significantly more likely than older generations to support using shoutdowns, blockades, and violence to silence public speakers, regardless of whether the young adults attend college.
Questions like “will getting a pet benefit our child’s mental health?” are increasingly common and pertinent. In Spain, for instance, more than half of all households now have one or more pets.
What happens when young adults are asked to slash their social media use to 30 minutes a day? In a new set of studies, most did not follow through, and those who did cut back
College instructors who view their profession as a profound personal calling report higher levels of engagement in their daily work, a relationship heavily influenced by their loyalty to their school and overall job…
A recent study indicates how early-life trauma leaves a lasting mark on the brain. By altering how DNA is packaged in dopamine neurons, early adversity primes the brain for future anxiety. Blocking this process in mice…
A recent brain imaging study reveals that people who rapidly remove the reward chemical dopamine after a sugar spike may have a harder time controlling their cravings for sweet foods.
People on the asexual spectrum are often viewed as lacking emotional depth. A recent study suggests this prejudice stems from rigid societal expectations around sex and romance, with those defying romantic norms facing…
A new meta-analysis reveals that the psychoactive drug MDMA triggers a sustained release of the social hormone oxytocin. This biological mechanism may explain the drug's ability to enhance empathy and help patients…
Specialized brain scans reveal that schizophrenia is linked to widespread loss of the synapses that connect brain cells, with the left side of the brain hit especially hard. The damage follows a surprisingly organized…
A recent study suggests that collective emotional stress during the COVID-19 lockdown was associated with changes in the brain. Researchers found that negative public mood on social media correlated with reduced…
A digital program combining guided movement, breathing and meditation exercises, and coping-skills training reduced anxiety and depression symptoms in adults with chronic medical conditions, according ...
An analysis of UK trauma data indicates severe e-scooter accidents result in distinct injury patterns. Compared to motorcyclists and cyclists, injured e-scooter riders suffer significantly higher proportions of traumatic…
Lived experience is a form of expertise that can strengthen research. Patient involvement should be meaningful from research conception through to publication. Patient authorship should reflect ...
A majority of the subjects in the first rigorous study of legal psilocybin reported fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression and more than half ranked the experience among the most meaningful of their ...
Searching for reviews or information after buying something can reveal an interesting psychological tension. The person may not actually be trying to find out whether the product is good; they may be ...
A recent psychological study reveals that our deeply ingrained relationship habits dictate how we mentally simulate the future. Anxiously attached individuals imagine highly social futures, whereas avoidant individuals…
The brain has a remarkably flexible system for handling uncertainty and changing situations. Researchers found that the frontoparietal cortex constantly shifts how it communicates with other brain regions depending on…
Exposure to natural sunlight early in the day is associated with an earlier sleep schedule and better overall rest. A recent survey of adults in Brazil highlights how morning light helps synchronize the human biological…
The most interesting finding was that having a cat at age 4-5 was associated with more mental health problems. Having other animals – such as hamsters, rabbits, turtles or fish – consistently ...
Using data from a massive long-term study, researchers found that 9-year-olds with ADHD have altered white matter microarchitecture. These early differences in nerve organization and cellular density offer new clues into…
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