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social neuroscience

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·January 29, 2025·5 min read

How Large Social Circles Foster Trust

A new study challenges the belief that larger groups reduce cooperation, showing instead that flexible social connections enhance teamwork. Researchers found that in a prisoner’s dilemma game, participants in bigger groups cooperated more frequently, despite memory limitations.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·January 17, 2025·6 min read

Do Accents Influence Guilt Perceptions?

Accents influence perceptions of guilt, with those judged as "lower status" being considered more likely to commit crimes. Researchers analyzed responses from 180 participants who rated voices from 10 UK accents on social traits and likelihood of certain behaviors, including crimes.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 16, 2025·5 min read

Decoding Favoritism: How Parents Shape Sibling Bonds

New research sheds light on how parents subtly favor children based on birth order, personality, and gender, shaping family dynamics. Younger siblings often receive more favorable treatment, while older siblings are granted greater autonomy.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 9, 2025·5 min read

Neural Mechanisms Behind Stress-Driven Social Changes Found

Male and female mice usually prefer female companions but switch to preferring males under survival stress, a new study reveals. This behavioral shift is driven by distinct brain circuits involving dopaminergic neurons in the ventral tegmental area.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 6, 2025·5 min read

Social Connections Key to Borderline Personality Disorder Therapy

Loneliness plays a central role in borderline personality disorder (BPD) and often persists even when clinical symptoms subside. Current treatments, such as dialectical behavior therapy, fail to fully address social integration, which is crucial for long-term recovery.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·January 6, 2025·4 min read

How the Brain Blends Senses to Understand Social Cues

New research reveals how smell and hearing interact in the brain during maternal behaviors like pup retrieval in mice. Signals from the basal amygdala (BA) merge with auditory inputs in the auditory cortex (AC), influencing responses to social sounds.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 27, 2024·4 min read

Oxytocin Influences Social Behavior and Emotional Response

New research reveals how oxytocin profoundly influences social behavior and emotional responses in the brain. Animal models have shown how this hormone impacts social fear and how chronic stress or early life experiences shape behavioral patterns.

Autism Featured Neuroscience

·December 9, 2024·6 min read

Why Autistic Children View Faces Differently

Children with autism exhibit distinct eye movement patterns when viewing faces, particularly in the initial stages of visual processing. A new study found that autistic children are more likely to use an exploratory eye movement pattern, focusing on broader areas rather than immediately fixating on facial features. This behavior may be linked to reduced visual sensitivity to social cues and is associated with autism-related challenges in social communication.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 9, 2024·5 min read

Older Adults Still Struggle with Loneliness and Isolation Post-Pandemic

Over one-third of Americans aged 50 to 80 continue to experience loneliness, and nearly as many feel socially isolated, even as rates return to pre-pandemic levels. Older adults with poor physical or mental health, lower incomes, or those not working remain disproportionately affected.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 6, 2024·7 min read

Mapping the Brain’s Response to Social Rejection

A new study explores how the brain processes social acceptance and rejection, revealing how these experiences shape relationships and influence mental health. Using behavioral experiments and MRI imaging, researchers identified distinct brain regions activated during rewarding interactions and feelings of rejection. While acceptance triggers reward pathways, rejection activates areas tied to social value assessment, helping individuals gauge relational worth.

Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience Psychology

·December 5, 2024·6 min read

Gene Defect Linked Brain Size and Social Behavior in ASD, Schizophrenia

A new study reveals how genetic deficits, particularly in the Tbx1 gene, are linked to reduced brain volume and altered social behavior, findings relevant to autism and schizophrenia. Researchers observed smaller amygdala volumes in Tbx1-deficient mice, a brain region key to emotional regulation and social behavior. These mice displayed less interest in social interaction, relying more on non-social cues like bedding preferences.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 3, 2024·3 min read

Alone Time Helps Reduce Holiday Stress

46% of Americans don’t get enough alone time during the holiday season, even though 56% say it’s crucial for their mental health. Taking brief moments alone can help the nervous system settle, reducing stress and improving well-being during this busy time.