How humans learned to dance; from the Chimpanzee Conga
Studying the evolution of human dance, psychologists discovered chimpanzees also perform duo dance-like behaviors similar to a conga line. ... Read More...
Psychology
Could some people with schizophrenia in poorer nations simply have a vitamin deficiency?
An association has been identified between a variant of the NAPRT1 gene, which reduces the body's ability to use Vitamin B3, and schizophrenia. The study reveals there could be a critical interaction between a pregnant woman's prenatal niacin deficiency due to malnutrition and the NAPRT1 variant, which impedes the fetus' ability to use niacin during development. The interaction between the gene and the prenatal environment may predispose the offspring to develop a psychiatric disorder.... Read More...
The empathy option: The science of how and why we choose to be empathetic
Is empathy really on the decline, as a recent study suggests? Researchers investigate how and why people chose to be empathetic, or to avoid empathy, in their daily lives.... Read More...
Skipping one night of sleep may leave insomniacs twice as impaired
Chronic insomniacs who pull an all-nighter perform twice as bad on reaction time tests as normal sleepers who forgo a night's sleep.... Read More...
Rave new world: Scientists pry apart party drug’s therapeutic, addictive qualities
Researchers have distinguished two different molecular pathways responsible for addiction and the prosocial feelings generated by MDMA. The findings could lead to novel treatments for psychiatric disorders marked by withdrawal and social awkwardness.... Read More...
Me, me, me! How narcissism changes throughout life
Longitudinal study reveals for most people narcissistic traits such as sensitivity to criticism and imposing your opinion onto others, decreases as we age. However, having high aspirations for yourself increases over time.... Read More...
In a split second, clothes make the man more competent in the eyes of others
There may be some truth to the common idea that we judge a person's competence based on the clothes they wear. A new study reveals we perceive a person to have higher levels of competence if the clothes they wear look expensive.... Read More...
Rats use same brain area as humans to empathize with others
Reducing activity in the anterior cingulate decreases empathetic responses in rats. The data suggests an observer shares the emotions of others as it enables them to prepare for danger.... Read More...
Brain differences detected in children with depressed parents
The right putamen, a brain area linked to reward, motivation, and feelings of pleasure, is smaller in children with a genetic risk factor for depression. Previous studies implicated reduced putamen volume with anhedonia, which is often associated with depression, suicidal behaviors, and psychosis.... Read More...
Key brain region smaller in birth control pill users
A new neuroimaging study reveals women who take oral contraception have reduced hypothalamic volume compared to women who do not take the pill. Smaller hypothalamic volume was associated with increased negative emotions and depression risk. ... Read More...
Imaging reveals pathways behind depression
Two new neuroimaging studies shed light on structural and functional abnormalities in the brains of those with major depressive disorder.... Read More...
Why stress doesn’t always cause depression
Rats susceptible to anhedonia have more serotonin neurons in the ventral dorsal raphe nucleus. However, activating neurons in the central amygdala reduced the serotonin signaling and lowered the effects of social stress.... Read More...