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social neuroscience

·June 8, 2024·4 min read

Pandemic Reveals Unexpected Resilience in Isolated Seniors

Socially connected older adults in England experienced a sharper decline in quality of life and increased loneliness during the pandemic compared to their isolated peers. Researchers analyzed data from 4,636 individuals and found that isolated seniors faced fewer disruptions in their routines, offering them some protection against negative pandemic effects. However, socially isolated adults saw a greater decline in physical activity and financial worries. These findings underscore the complex impact of social connections during crises.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·June 8, 2024·5 min read

Key Protein Essential for Smell and Survival Identified

The Orco protein is crucial for the survival of olfactory neurons in ants. Mutating the orco gene in Harpegnathos saltator ants drastically reduced their number of olfactory neurons, impairing their social interactions. This stud highlights the importance of Orco in neural development and social communication in ants. Understanding these mechanisms can provide insights into sensory-mediated social behavior in both animals and humans.

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Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·June 5, 2024·4 min read

Pandemic Loneliness Distorted Time Perception

Researchers found that pandemic-induced loneliness led to disorientation and time confusion. Surveying 3,300 French participants, the study revealed a strong link between social isolation and temporal disorientation. Young people under 25 were the most affected. The researchers call this phenomenon "temporal rupture," highlighting the pandemic's deep psychological impact.

Featured Neuroscience Visual Neuroscience

·June 3, 2024·4 min read

Brain Regions Key to Social Gaze Identified

Researchers discovered two brain regions crucial for social gaze in primates. Stimulating the orbitofrontal cortex increased eye contact duration and responsiveness, while the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex influenced long-term gaze patterns. These findings can inform therapies for social behavior challenges in disorders like autism.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 29, 2024·4 min read

Rethinking Conflict: Emotional Context’s Role in Decision Making

A new study challenges Kurt Lewin's theory on conflict resolution, showing that the difficulty in resolving conflicts depends on the emotional context. Their experiments reveal that avoidance-avoidance conflicts are harder to resolve in positive contexts but are similar to approach-approach conflicts in negative contexts.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 29, 2024·6 min read

Study Links Toxic Masculinity to Misinterpretation of Sexual Consent

Men with hostile masculinity traits often misinterpret passive responses to sexual advances as consent. These men are more likely to escalate sexual behavior regardless of actual consent.

This shows the shadow of a teenage girl.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 23, 2024·5 min read

Teen Social Networks Influence Mental Health Disorder Spread

Researchers found that mental disorders can spread within school social networks. By analyzing data from over 700,000 Finnish ninth-graders, they discovered that having classmates with mental disorders increased the risk of being diagnosed with similar conditions later in life.

This shows the word please written on blocks.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 18, 2024·5 min read

Beyond Politeness: Is “Please” a Politeness Marker or a Strategic Tool?

A new study challenges the notion that "please" is a universal marker of politeness. Instead, researchers found it's primarily used when expecting resistance or inconvenience. This suggests "please" is a strategic tool to navigate social interactions rather than a mere politeness marker. The study emphasizes the importance of context and sensitivity in communication, as misusing "please" can backfire.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 16, 2024·2 min read

Stress May Boost Helping Behavior When Witnessing Injustice

A new study finds that acute stress experienced while witnessing injustice can make people more likely to help victims rather than punish offenders. This shift in behavior is linked to increased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a brain region involved in decision-making. The findings suggest that helping others may be a more intuitive response than punishing them, especially under stress.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 15, 2024·6 min read

How Gossip Shapes Cooperation

A new study explores how gossip influences cooperation and behavior. Researchers found that gossip helps maintain social order by spreading information about reputations, which encourages cooperative behavior.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 11, 2024·6 min read

Friendly Chats Mitigate Social Exclusion Effects

Simple social interactions, like chatting with a friend, can mitigate the effects of social exclusion. The research found that both face-to-face conversations and anticipating future interactions help individuals recover quicker from social slights and feel more secure.

This shows a person looking through a newspaper.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 7, 2024·4 min read

Confusion Over Fact and Fiction Drives News Avoidance

Difficulty in distinguishing fact from fiction is leading more Americans to actively avoid news. This phenomenon, termed "news fatigue," is exacerbated by the chaotic digital media landscape and declining trust in news sources.