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social behavior

·September 18, 2017·5 min read

Sex and Aggression Controlled Separately in Female Animal Brains, But Overlap in Male Brains

According to a new study, while brain regions that control sexual and aggressive behaviors in male and female mice are the same, the way they are wired is different.

Featured Psychology

·September 18, 2017·5 min read

Dogs’ Social Skills Linked to Oxytocin Sensitivity

A new study reports genetic variations in sensitivity to oxytocin allows dogs to be more sociable and seek out contact with their owners.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 16, 2017·4 min read

Wolves Understand Cause and Effect Better Than Dogs

A new study reveals domestication has altered the cognitive abilities of dogs, especially when it comes to determining cause and effect.

Featured Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·September 11, 2017·3 min read

Looking Stressed Can Help Keep the Peace

Scratching when stressed may have evolved as a communication tool to help reduce aggression and lessen conflict with others, a new study reports.

Featured Neuroscience

·September 1, 2017·4 min read

Scents and Social Preference: Identifying the Roots of Attraction

Researchers at UCSD have isolated two microRNA molecules that are responsible for mediating neurotransmission switching from aversion to attraction, and vice versa.

Image shows neural connections in a 6 month old baby.

Autism Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 30, 2017·5 min read

Pinpointing the Origins of Autism

Researchers identify network inefficiencies in the auditory cortex by the age of 6 months in infants who go on to be diagnosed with autism.

Featured Psychology

·August 22, 2017·4 min read

Like Adults, Children Show Bias in Attributing Mental States to Others

A new study reveals an early origin for certain social phenomena, including dehumanizing and bias between social groups.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 22, 2017·4 min read

Both Chimps and Humans Spontaneously Imitate Each Other’s Actions

Researchers reveal the social divide between chimps and humans isn't as clear cut as once thought. Observing both animals and visitors at a zoo, researchers discovered about 10% of the actions produced by one species was an imitation of the other species.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 22, 2017·6 min read

High Moral Reasoning Associated With Increased Reward System Activity

University of Pennsylvania researchers report people who report higher levels of moral reasoning show increased activity in brain areas associated with reward. The study may improve understanding as to why some people are more likely to engage in prosocial behaviors.

Image shows a child with her fingers crossed behind her back.

Featured Psychology

·August 19, 2017·4 min read

Watching Children Learn How to Lie

Researchers investigate children's thought processes as they figure out how to deceive others.

Featured Psychology

·August 18, 2017·4 min read

Human Characters, Not Animals, Teach Children Best Moral Lessons

Reading stories about humans, not anthropomorphic characters, teach moral lessons most effectively to young children a new study reports.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·August 10, 2017·5 min read

First Mutant Ants Shed Light on Evolution of Social Behavior

Modifying genes essential for sensing pheromones in ants resulted in the insects' displaying deficiencies in social behaviors and reduced ability to survive within a colony.