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social neuroscience

·December 7, 2023·4 min read

Balancing Act: The Mixed Blessings of Solitude on Mental Health

A new study examines the nuanced impact of solitude on mental health among adults aged 35 and older in the UK and US. Tracking 178 participants over 21 days, the research found no definitive optimal balance between solitude and social interaction.

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·November 30, 2023·5 min read

Asch Study Reimagined: Navigating the Labyrinth of Conformity in the Contemporary Mind

A recent study replicates and extends Solomon Asch's famous conformity experiments, revealing intriguing insights about human behavior. The research demonstrates that monetary incentives reduce conformity errors in line-judging tasks, though social influence remains a factor.

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·November 27, 2023·5 min read

Brain’s Role in Social Cues

Researchers uncovered a crucial role of the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC) in processing social cues, expanding our understanding of this brain region beyond working memory and multisensory integration. Using a novel approach, the study found that while individual neurons in the VLPFC of macaques showed complex responses to social stimuli, their collective activity could be decoded by a machine learning model to identify expressions and identities in videos.

This shows a woman sitting alone in a dark room.

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·November 24, 2023·3 min read

Hikikomori: New Tool Sheds Light on Social Isolation Phenomenon

Researchers developed the Hikikomori Diagnostic Evaluation (HiDE), a new assessment tool for identifying pathological social withdrawal or hikikomori. This condition, initially identified in Japan, is characterized by extended physical isolation lasting over six months and is increasingly observed worldwide, exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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·November 15, 2023·9 min read

Infant Brain Development and Social Interactions

A new study delves into infant brain development and its impact on social interactions and stress recovery during the first year of life. Through functional MRI scans and interactive tasks with mothers, researchers observe early neural patterns. One study reveals that greater brain network connectivity at 3 months correlates with improved infant-mother dyadic flexibility at 6 months.

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·November 14, 2023·6 min read

Brain Predicts Actions: Rethinking Perception in Social Interactions

Researchers uncovered that our brain relies more on internal predictions than sensory input when observing others' actions. This groundbreaking study challenges the classical view that visual perception primarily drives understanding of others' actions.

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·November 13, 2023·5 min read

The Elusive Link Between Brown Fat and Social Contact

A study exploring the link between brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity and the tendency for physical contact yielded inconclusive results, challenging earlier assumptions. Researchers attempted to replicate a 2012 study using infrared thermography to measure BAT activity, hypothesizing that lower activity might correlate with a greater need for physical contact.

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·November 9, 2023·7 min read

Best Practices Boost Replicability in Social Behavior Studies

A new study yielded a study demonstrating high replicability of findings in the social-behavioral sciences when best practices are applied. The six-year project involved the discovery and replication of 16 novel findings using methods like pre-registration and large sample sizes.

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·November 6, 2023·3 min read

The Cerebellum is Key to Unlocking Social Memory Woes

Researchers made a pivotal discovery about the cerebellum's role in social recognition memory, potentially revolutionizing treatment for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's. By modulating cerebellar activity in preclinical models, they found it crucial for retrieving social information, a function often deteriorating in dementia patients.

This shows a woman sitting alone on a rock.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·November 2, 2023·6 min read

Lonely or Alone? Revealing the Fine Line

Researchers have discerned the nuanced relationship between feeling lonely and actually being alone. The study revealed that loneliness creeps in when individuals spend over 75% of their time in solitude.

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·October 23, 2023·6 min read

Canine Kings & Feline Pharaohs: Cultural Nuances in Pet Affection

Researchers explored the emotional and financial investment of pet owners toward their cats and dogs across Denmark, Austria, and the UK. Their research indicated that, across these nations, dogs generally receive more emotional attachment and financial care than cats.

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·October 19, 2023·4 min read

Romance and Routine: Nurturing Commitment in Couples

A new study explored how couples maintain and nurture their relationships. The study categorized relationship maintenance behaviors into five areas, analyzing data from 192 heterosexual married couples.