Psychology News

These research articles involve many aspects of psychology such as cognitive psychology, depression studies, mental health, stress, happiness and neuropsychology, Scroll below for more specific categories.

Researchers explored how group dynamics, including virtual avatars, impact individuals' moral judgments. The study revealed that participants often altered their opinions to align with those of a group, whether the pressure came from real individuals or AI-controlled avatars in a virtual environment.
New research highlights a significant loneliness gap between middle-aged adults in the U.S. and their European counterparts, with Americans experiencing higher levels. The study utilized data from over 53,000 participants to explore loneliness trends across three generations, finding that U.S. adults report increasing loneliness, particularly among younger generations.
A new study highlights the psychological and neurological benefits of interacting with dogs, revealing that activities such as playing and walking with dogs enhance brain wave strengths linked to relaxation and concentration. This research moves beyond general observations by using EEG technology to quantify the brain's electrical activity during eight distinct dog-related activities, including grooming, playing, and feeding.
Researchers have identified molecular alterations in the blood and brain tissues of individuals who committed suicide, offering new insights into susceptibility factors and therapeutic targets. The study analyzed genetic, protein, and metabolic changes, suggesting these alterations could serve as risk markers for suicidal behavior.
Researchers provide new findings on how the brain's response to stress can lead to generalized fear, a condition that can severely impact mental health and contribute to disorders like PTSD. By studying mice, the team discovered a stress-induced switch from excitatory to inhibitory neurotransmitters in the dorsal raphe of the brain, a change that leads to fear responses in the absence of real threats.
Medical interns experience their lowest moods near 5 a.m., with an uplift by 5 p.m., based on the analysis of Fitbit data from over 2,500 participants. The research underscores the natural mood cycle's nadir in the early hours, independent of sleep deprivation, which exacerbates mood downturns and amplifies daily emotional fluctuations.
Engaging in active responses, rather than mere observation, amplifies the influence of previous experiences on future estimations. Through experiments asking participants to estimate the number of dots on a screen, the study revealed a significant effect called serial dependence, where estimates were swayed by prior inputs.
Researchers have made a pivotal discovery in ADHD research, finding that the disorder's symptoms are connected to unusual interactions between the brain's frontal cortex and its deeper information processing centers. By analyzing an unprecedented dataset of over 10,000 functional brain images from youths with and without ADHD, the study uncovers heightened connectivity between key brain areas responsible for learning, emotion, and behavior control.
A new study examines the potential of artificial intelligence to shift chronic pain treatment from opioids to mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR). Utilizing machine learning to analyze extensive patient data, the study aims to predict which patients will benefit most from MBSR, a critical step towards personalized medicine.
A new study demonstrates that breaking down large volunteer goals into smaller, manageable subgoals, such as committing to 4 or 8 hours of volunteering weekly or biweekly, significantly increases volunteer engagement by 7%-8%. Conducted with over 9,000 participants at Crisis Text Line, this approach could yield an estimated 19,900 additional volunteer hours annually at no extra cost.
A new study reveals that regardless of task difficulty, people's minds increasingly wander with time, reaching a 50% distraction rate towards the end of activities. Analyzing over 10,000 participants in 68 studies, the research found no significant difference in distraction levels across various tasks.

These research articles involve depression, seasonal affective disorders, grief, pain, sadness, happiness and generally news regarding mental health research.

Familiar scents can significantly aid individuals with depression in recalling specific autobiographical memories, potentially offering a new avenue for therapeutic intervention. By directly engaging the amygdala through olfactory cues, the research demonstrated that scents are more effective than verbal prompts in evoking vivid and specific memories.
A new study involving 74 participants, has demonstrated significant promise for intravenous ketamine in treating severe depression and bipolar disorder, conditions often resistant to traditional therapies. This research indicates that after just three ketamine infusions over 11 days, 52% of the participants achieved remission, with half of those frequently experiencing suicidal thoughts witnessing a dramatic decline in such impulses.
Researchers developed an AI algorithm that, by analyzing brain scans and clinical information, can predict within a week whether an antidepressant will work for patients with major depression disorder. This method could potentially avoid unnecessary prescriptions of sertraline, a commonly used antidepressant, by identifying non-responders early, thus offering better patient care and reducing side effects.

Schizophrenia News

Research news involving schizotypal personality, anxiety, paranoia, unconventional thoughts and beliefs is covered.

Researchers provided new insights into brain development, revealing that different brain regions share a similar organizational structure in early stages rather than being pre-specialized. This finding, supported by advanced optical imaging, suggests a universal blueprint for brain development, which has significant implications for understanding neurodevelopmental disorders like autism and schizophrenia.
A new study revealed shared cellular and molecular changes in the brains of people with schizophrenia and older adults, pointing to a common biological basis for cognitive impairments in these groups. The study analyzed gene expression in over a million cells from 191 individuals, uncovering a coordinated reduction in genes supporting synaptic connections by neurons and astrocytes, dubbed the Synaptic Neuron and Astrocyte Program (SNAP).