Across different languages, swear words tend to lack l, r, and w sounds. Researchers say the approximants, or common pattern of the sounds, are less suitable than other sounds for giving offense.
Cats alter their behavior when their owner speaks in a cat-directed tone toward them, but not when their owner talks to another human or when a stranger addresses them in a cat-directed tone. Evidence suggests cats are able to, and do form strong bonds with their owners.
Around 100 of specific hair cells in the inner ear, called stereocilia could act as effective biological compass needles, allowing animals to accurately sense magnetic fields around them.
Inhibitory interneurons account for 20% of the brain circuitry required to process pain.
An innovative new model helps predict how damaging conditions in the brain can be triggered by complex dynamics in branching neural networks.
Musical training may be beneficial for improving social skills and self-esteem in children, but there is little evidence to suggest learning music improves academic performance.
Researchers report NBA players who are more skilled than their peers early in their careers remain more skilled as they age. Additionally, they have a slower decline in their performance after the peak of their careers.
According to researchers, there is little evidence to suggest violence in PG-13 movies is related to real world violence or an increase in violent behavior.
A new study reports children and teens who face chronic bullying have altered brain structure, as well as problems with anxiety and depression. Researchers found those who were bullies had structural changes to the putamen and caudate, contributing to the development of anxiety related behaviors and emotional processing.
A new study reports microdosing psychedelics may enhance creative problem solving without risk of hallucinations, or trips, associated with taking high doses of the substances.
Researchers report Asian elephants appear to possess numerical abilities similar to humans.
A new study reports women who are in their third trimester of pregnancy during months with less day light are at an increased risk of developing postnatal depression.
