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social neuroscience

·January 18, 2020·4 min read

What people who don’t like music might tell us about social interaction

Musical anhedonia, a neurological condition where people don't enjoy music, affects 5% of the population. Researchers are exploring if this same condition could also be what impairs social bonding for some people on the autism spectrum.

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·January 17, 2020·3 min read

Scientists unexpectedly witness wolf puppies play fetch

Wolf pups can interpret human social communicative cues, enabling them to play fetch. The findings shed light on the evolutionary behavior of domestic dogs.

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·January 12, 2020·3 min read

Hikikomori: New definition helps identify, treat extreme social isolation

Hikikomori, the condition of extreme social isolation, is more ubiquitous than previously believed. Researchers say modern tools to help improve interpersonal communication may have the opposite effect.

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·January 5, 2020·4 min read

Cities increase your risk of depression, anxiety and psychosis – but bring mental health benefits too

While the risks of developing depression, anxiety disorders, and psychosis are significantly higher for urban dwellers, researchers report there are some positive impacts on mental health for those who live in big cities.

This shows a person laying with their head on the table and an empty alcohol bottle

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·December 30, 2019·6 min read

Hangovers happen as your body tries to protect itself from alcohol’s toxic effects

Researchers explore the biology behind hangovers, including how excessive alcohol consumption alters glutamate, serotonin, and dopamine. The paper also examines how to reduce the effects of a heavy night's drinking.

This is a drawing of a person in front of a TV set

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·December 29, 2019·4 min read

Watching pornography rewires the brain to a more juvenile state

From eroding the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain critical for impulse control, to damaging the dopamine reward system, researchers evaluate the impact of viewing pornography on the brain.

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·December 26, 2019·4 min read

Why some people distrust atheists

25% of the population in the US identify as non-religious, with 3% actively identifying as atheist. Researchers investigate why many people distrust those who identify as being atheist.

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·December 13, 2019·6 min read

Deepening our understanding of selfish behavior

Study identifies distinct neural processes that occur when we make decisions for the benefit of ourselves and of others.

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·December 12, 2019·6 min read

The empathy option: The science of how and why we choose to be empathetic

Is empathy really on the decline, as a recent study suggests? Researchers investigate how and why people chose to be empathetic, or to avoid empathy, in their daily lives.

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·December 2, 2019·3 min read

Why stress doesn’t always cause depression

Rats susceptible to anhedonia have more serotonin neurons in the ventral dorsal raphe nucleus. However, activating neurons in the central amygdala reduced the serotonin signaling and lowered the effects of social stress.