Playing with dolls as a small child helps develop social skills and empathy. Doll play activates the posterior superior temporal sulcus, an area of the brain associated with social processing and behaviors. Read More
People find potential romantic partners more attractive when they have, what researchers called, a "sexy mindset." They also tend to overestimate their chances of romantic success when aroused. The findings suggest the sexual system prepares the ground for forming relationships by biasing interpersonal perceptions. Read More
Researchers have identified a novel neural circuit that detects male pheromone cues pertaining to inter-male aggression. Read More
Belief in conspiracy theories surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic predicts personal resistance to coronavirus vaccination and preventative behaviors, such as mask-wearing. Read More
Study reveals binge drinking is associated with more widespread neural dysfunction than previously believed. In those who binge drink, the visual areas of the brain show unusually high levels of activation. Additionally, those who binge drink have more difficulty in feeling empathy for others. Read More
In a twist on the classic marshmallow test of delay of gratification, researchers found children will wait almost twice as long for a reward if they are told another person will find out how long they have waited. Read More
Lessons from other historic pandemics show social tension accumulated throughout epidemics lead to significant episodes of rebellion. Read More
Reassessing years of research on Theory of Mind in autism, researchers argue the brains of those with ASD may be able to grasp what others think but may have a more difficult time processing the degree to which others think differently from themselves. Read More
Alterations in the excitation and inhibition balance is regulated in the developing brain by astrocytes via the ephrin-B1 protein. The loss of astrocytic ephrin-B1 alters the E/I balance by reducing inhibition, resulting in hyperactivity of neural circuits. The hyperactivity results in reduced sociability in mice. Read More
Researchers found more attractive people are more likely to be givers, and givers are generally rated as being more attractive. Read More
Social isolation experienced during childhood has an impact on adult brain function and behavior. Following two weeks of social isolation immediately following weaning in male mice, researchers noticed a failure in activation of medial prefrontal cortex neurons projecting to the posterior paraventricular thalamus during social exposure in adulthood. Findings suggest medial prefrontal cortex neurons required for sociability are profoundly affected by social isolation at a young age. Read More
Synchronized activity between the ventromedial prefrontal cortex and temporoparietal junction improves learning and decision-making when people try to avoid harming others. Read More
