FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 24, 2023·4 min readRobo-Religion: AI Preachers Questioned for Credibility & Impact on DonationsReligious groups may find their credibility and financial support undermined with the growing use of AI and robot preachers, according to researchers. The study involved experiments with the Mindar humanoid robot in Japan and Pepper in Singapore, both delivering sermons to audiences.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 24, 2023·6 min readSchadenfreude or Sympathy? Exploring Public Sentiments on Anti-vaxxers’ COVID-19 FateA new study reveals that public reactions to the deaths of anti-vaxxers due to COVID-19 are multifaceted. The study found that while very few people celebrated these deaths, some individuals, primarily vaccinated individuals, considered anti-vaxxers who contracted COVID-19 deserving of their fate.Read More
FeaturedNeuroscience·July 23, 2023·2 min readBrain Bites: Top 5 Neuroscience News Articles of the Week – June 23, 2023This week's neuroscience revelations encompass intriguing findings from the enigmatic genetics of mind-controlling hairworms to the groundbreaking link between alcohol use disorders and certain neuronal plasticity genes. A novel theory proposes that the location of memory storage in the brain depends on its generalizability rather than age, adding a new dimension to our understanding of memory management.Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·July 22, 2023·5 min readCognition in Motion: A Hard Look at Aging DriversA recent study found a majority of cognitively impaired older adults in South Texas are still driving, raising safety concerns. Of the over 600 individuals assessed, 61.4% of those with cognitive impairment were active drivers.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 21, 2023·3 min readGive and Grow: Volunteering Linked to Better Cognitive Health in SeniorsVolunteering 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 and episodic memory.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 20, 2023·5 min readMoral Conundrums: The Conflict Underlying Obedience to AuthorityResearchers explored the conflict experience of individuals when instructed to act against their beliefs. Using the "bug destruction task," participants were ordered to grind live bugs, causing a moral conflict despite no bugs actually being harmed.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 20, 2023·2 min readAI System Detects Social Norm ViolationsA pioneering AI system successfully identifies violations of social norms. Utilizing GPT-3, zero-shot text classification, and automatic rule discovery, the system categorizes social emotions into ten main types.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 20, 2023·5 min readPsychiatric History of Both Parents Tied to Preterm Birth RiskA new study reveals the increased risk of preterm birth in infants when both parents have psychiatric diagnoses. The research analyzed data on all live births in Sweden between 1997 and 2016.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 18, 2023·4 min readStudy Challenges Longstanding Beliefs About Action of Antipsychotic MedicationsResearchers uncovered a pivotal detail that could revolutionize schizophrenia treatment. Contrary to longstanding belief, antipsychotic drugs that mitigate overactive dopamine, a hallmark of schizophrenia, interact primarily with a different type of neuron than originally assumed.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 18, 2023·6 min readCulture and Geography Significantly Influence Sleep PatternsA new study reveals that culture and geography significantly influence sleep patterns. Using data from Nokia smartwatches, the researchers analyzed 52 million logs over four years from 30,082 individuals in 11 countries.Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·July 18, 2023·2 min readThe Future and Fears: Public Perception of AI ExploredA new study seeks to understand public perception about artificial intelligence (AI) and software in general. The online survey aims to gather insights into people's hopes, fears, and general sentiments towards AI.Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·July 17, 2023·5 min readNeuronal Plasticity Genes Linked to Alcohol Use DisordersA new study discovered a link between alcohol use disorders (AUDs) and alteration of a group of genes known to influence neuronal plasticity and pain perceptions. The team used three distinct animal models to identify the genes responsible for drinking behaviors.Read More