FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·April 4, 2020Anterior insula activation restores prosocial behavior in animal model of opioid addictionUsing chemogenetic methods, researchers activated neurons in the anterior insular and increased prosocial behavior in rodent models of opioid addiction. Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·February 24, 20204-year olds who receive a kindness pay it forwardUpstream reciprocity, or generosity, can be seen in children as young as four years of age. At age three, 80% of children do not want to share, but at age four, 60% of children are happy to share with others. Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·September 23, 2019New study on sharing shows social norms play a role in decision makingInfluence of social norms shapes a child's desire to share by the age of eight. Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·September 21, 2019Three faces of teen popularity: Being feared, being loved, and being feared and lovedStudy identifies three distinct types of teen popularity, prosocial popular, aggressive popular, and bistrategic popular or Machiavellian. The Machiavellian teens were considered most popular, despite being above average on both physical and relational aggression traits, as they displayed the most prosocial behavior. Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·September 1, 2019Adolescents’ fun seeking predicts both risk taking and prosocial behaviorA positive correlation has been identified between prosocial and rebellious behaviors in teens. The more risk taking behaviors a teen exhibited, the more likely they were to act prosocially. The findings suggest the same developmental processes are at work for both types of behaviors. Also noted was faster brain development in the medial prefrontal cortex predicted a decrease in rebellious behavior. Read More
FeaturedOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·November 26, 2018Can Superman Trigger Heroic Helping in People?Researchers report priming people with images of superheros increases their prosocial behaviors. Read More
FeaturedNeurosciencePsychology·October 29, 2018Chimpanzees React Faster to Cooperate than Make Selfish ChoicesAccording to researchers, chimpanzees make prosocial choices more rapidly than making choices that only benefit themselves. Read More
FeaturedPsychology·October 18, 2018High Stakes Decision Making Causes More Cheating and Less CharityAccording to researchers, when faced with high stakes decision making tasks, people are more likely to lose sight of personal morality, leading to more cheating and less charitable efforts. Read More
FeaturedOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·October 10, 2018Altruism Can Be TrainedResearchers report altruistic motivations and behaviors can be changed with the help of mental training. Read More
FeaturedOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·September 25, 2018Baby Sleeping in Parents’ Bedroom Not Related to Later Life Behavioral ProblemsContrary to popular belief, researchers report infants who co-sleep in their parent's bedroom do not experience an increased risk of developing behavioral problems later in childhood. The study reports there are beneficial outcomes of co-sleeping, such as improved child sleep quality and increased prosocial behavior. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·September 20, 2018Octopuses Given Ecstasy Reveal Genetic Link to Evolution of Social Behaviors in HumansTesting the behavioral reaction to MDMA in octopuses, researchers report they have discovered evidence of an evolutionary link between the sea creatures and humans. Read More
FeaturedNeuroscienceNeuroscience VideosOpen Neuroscience ArticlesPsychology·August 8, 2018Video Game May Improve Empathy in Middle SchoolersResearchers report a new video game aimed at middle school children can help boost empathy and prosocial behavior. The study reports children exposed to the game showed greater connectivity between brain networks linked to emotional regulation and perspective taking. Read More
