Latest

social neuroscience

This shows a kid using an app full of emojis.

·May 21, 2026·8 min read

Emoji-Based Test Screens Kids’ Social Skills

A new study introduces a highly reliable, 9-question screening tool designed to evaluate the social skills of children aged 3 to 5.

This shows two kids, mad at one another.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 20, 2026·10 min read

Parent Disapproval Destroys Childhood Best Friendships

While maternal disapproval is highly effective at destroying childhood best friendships, it carries devastating hidden costs. By tracking 394 public-school students, investigators proved that maternal condemnation triples the odds of a friendship's demise by steadily degrading its internal environment and eroding perceptions of mutual support.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 14, 2026·7 min read

Childhood Adversity Blunts the Social Benefits of Intelligence

We often assume that a higher IQ leads to better social outcomes, like being more trusting and cooperative. But new research suggests that your childhood environment might be the "volume knob" for that advantage.

This shows the outline of a head made up of pictures.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 8, 2026·7 min read

Digital Memory Paradox: Social Networking “Mutes” Content Learning

New research shows that as we form online connections, our brains prioritize "social mapping" over "content learning." This shift is even more dramatic for those with high working memory, who use their digital networks as external storage, resulting in a 40% drop in content recall.

This shows a man and a disinterested woman and a heart.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·May 7, 2026·5 min read

Sexual Arousal Distorts the Perception of Romantic Interest

New research shows that when faced with ambiguous romantic cues, aroused individuals are significantly more likely to overestimate a partner's interest, potentially leading them to ignore mixed signals in early courtship.

$This shows two wooden figures and math symbols.$

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 24, 2026·8 min read

Mathematical Rule for How Social Norms Click

People adopt social conventions using the same two-stage cognitive process children use to learn grammar.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 13, 2026·5 min read

Boredom Paradox: Dull Small Talk is Actually Better Than You Think

We consistently underestimate how much we’ll enjoy "boring" conversations. Researchers found that engagement, not the topic, is what actually drives social satisfaction.

This shows a web and a man in a hoodie using a laptop.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·April 1, 2026·9 min read

Why the Dark Web Attracts Young, Impulsive Risk-Takers

A new study reveals that dark web users are three times more likely to have a criminal record than surface web users. The research highlights low self-control and peer influence as the primary drivers behind who accesses the internet’s hidden layers.

This shows a DNA double helix and a pair of twins.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·March 31, 2026·8 min read

High IQ and High Status Share the Same Genes

A new study reveals that genetics explain up to 98% of the correlation between IQ and socioeconomic status. Researchers found that while upbringing matters, innate intelligence—driven largely by heredity—is the primary predictor of adult success.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 31, 2026·9 min read

Why Adolescents Struggle to Reciprocate Kindness

New research shows that while teenagers accurately perceive when others are being cooperative, they are less likely than adults to reciprocate. This "cooperation gap" suggests teens prioritize self-interest even in win-win social scenarios.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 23, 2026·6 min read

Caffeine Restores Social Memory After Sleep Loss

Caffeine can rescue social memory deficits caused by sleep deprivation. By targeting the hippocampal CA2 region, caffeine restores specific neural pathways without causing global overstimulation.

Featured Neuroscience

·March 21, 2026·9 min read

How Ants Map Social Identity

Researchers found that clonal raider ants can learn to tolerate genetically distinct outsiders through repeated exposure, effectively updating their brain's template for who belongs.