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social behavior

·July 26, 2021·3 min read

Administering Opioids to Pregnant Mice Alters Behavior and Gene Expression in Offspring

Alterations in long-term social behavior and gene expression were observed in the offspring of mice exposed to pain-killing opioids during pregnancy.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Pain Psychology

·July 18, 2021·5 min read

Why It Hurts to See Others Suffer: Pain and Empathy Linked in the Brain

Reducing sensitivity to physical pain resulted in a reduction of pain empathy toward others, a study found. The results suggest a possible neurobiological link between pain and empathy.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 18, 2021·5 min read

The Science of ‘Mind-Reading’: How Well Do We Understand Others?

Researchers investigate mentalizing, or how we are able to understand what another person is thinking, and how this process differs from empathy.

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Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 15, 2021·4 min read

Dogs May Not Return Their Owners’ Good Deeds

A new study demonstrated dogs do not reciprocate food-giving, nor do they act more favorably toward a friendly human.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 14, 2021·7 min read

Mindfulness Meditation Can Make Some Americans More Selfish and Less Generous

Mindful meditation causes those who consider themselves to be more "independent-minded" or egocentric to become less generous and more selfish, researchers report.

This shows two white rats. One is trapped in a box, the other looks as though he is trying to help the other rat get out of the box

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·July 14, 2021·3 min read

Empathy May Drive Rats and Other Mammals to Help Friends Over Strangers

When a rat helps another within its social group, brain areas associated with reward and motivation become more active. This does not occur when a rat is faced with the prospect of helping another rat outside its social group. Researchers say the findings may provide a better understanding of similar social biases in humans.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·July 10, 2021·5 min read

The Neuroscience Behind Why Your Brain May Need Time to Adjust to ‘Un-Social Distancing’

Over 50% of people surveyed reporting they feel uneasy about returning to in-person interactions, regardless of vaccination status, following covid lockdowns. Researchers share their thoughts on how social isolation and resocialization could impact the brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·July 1, 2021·5 min read

Gut Microbiome Affects a Specific Set of Neurons Responsible For Proper Social Function

Researchers identified the gut bacteria E. faecalis as a mediator of social behavior and corticosterone levels in mice.

Featured Psychology

·June 12, 2021·4 min read

Identity Fusion: Why Some People Will Go to Extremes for the Beliefs of a Group

Researchers explore why some people will ignore their personal beliefs and go along with the more extreme beliefs of a crowd. They report acting against personal beliefs and adopting a fused identity becomes an attractive solution, especially if the reward is great.

This is an image of the brain and an explanation of what happens when people collaborate on musical pieces

Featured Neuroscience

·June 10, 2021·5 min read

What Happens in the Brain When People Make Music Together?

A new study reveals what goes on in the brain when a person embarks on a musical collaboration project.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 6, 2021·4 min read

Functional Brain Network Predicts Real-Life Social Network in Both Individuals With Schizophrenia and Social Anhedonia

Patients with schizophrenia, but not those with social anhedonia, exhibited deficits in real-life social network size. Those with schizophrenia and those with social anhedonia had reversals functional connectivity to one another. People with schizophrenia showed decreased segregation and functional connectivity in brain areas associated with social behaviors, while those with social anhedonia had an increase in connectivity and segregation.

This shows people chatting around a table in a restaurant

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 6, 2021·4 min read

Training the Brain to Recognize Voices

Due to social restrictions following the COVID lockdowns, people may need to brush up on their social skills of concentrating on conversations. A new study reveals people can train themselves to do this on their own.