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These research articles involve many aspects of psychology such as cognitive psychology, depression studies, mental health, stress, happiness and neuropsychology, Scroll below for more specific categories.

This shows a brain wrapped in a chain and a depressed woman.

Sugar Chains in the Brain: New Pathway Behind Depression Found

Scientists have discovered that depression can be driven by abnormal sugar modifications on proteins in the brain, offering a new molecular pathway for understanding the disorder. Chronic stress was shown to reduce sialylation—a stabilizing sugar process—in the prefrontal cortex, impairing neural circuit stability and triggering depressive symptoms.

Motherhood Flips Brain Switch That Triggers Aggression

Researchers discovered that female mice gain access to aggression after giving birth through a brain circuit usually dormant in non-pregnant females.

This shows a mom holding a baby at night.

When Mom Struggles to Bond, Babies Sleep Worse

A large Finnish study has found that mothers who struggle to bond with their infants are more likely to have children with sleep problems that persist into toddlerhood. Difficulties in bonding at eight months were linked to sleep disruptions, including frequent awakenings and trouble falling asleep, even at age two.

Psilocybin Rewire Brain Circuits Tied to Pain and Mood

New research shows that psilocybin, the active compound in psychedelic mushrooms, can reduce both chronic pain and pain-related depression by modulating brain circuits rather than acting at the site of injury. In mouse studies, a single dose provided pain relief and mood benefits lasting nearly two weeks by targeting the anterior cingulate cortex.

This shows a mom and child with a swirly background.

Psilocybin Worsens Postpartum Depression Symptoms

New research shows psilocybin, often studied as a treatment for mental health disorders, may worsen symptoms of postpartum depression in mice. Mothers given the drug showed more anxiety, avoidance of their pups, and lasting depressive-like behaviors.

Income Inequality Reshapes Children’s Brains and Mental Health

A large-scale neuroimaging study of over 10,000 U.S. children reveals that income inequality in society is tied to structural and functional brain changes that predict poorer mental health outcomes. Unlike individual family income, societal inequality impacts children across socioeconomic groups, suggesting that social environments exert powerful biological effects.

This shows a woman surrounded by pollen, sneezing.

High Pollen Levels Tied to Rising Suicide Risk

A U.S. study combining pollen and suicide data from over a decade shows that high pollen days are linked to a measurable rise in suicide risk. The risk increased incrementally with pollen levels, peaking at a 7.4% rise on the highest days.

This shows a young girl sitting at a table and a shadow of her older self.

Preschool Overeating in Girls Linked to Teen Anxiety and Impulsivity

A study tracking more than 2,000 Quebec children found that girls who regularly overate in the preschool years were more likely to report anxiety, impulsivity, and hyperactivity during adolescence. The association was not found in boys, pointing to possible sociocultural influences such as closer monitoring and restrictive food environments for girls.

This shows the outline of a woman, a heart and a brain.

Every Heartbeat Shapes Thoughts and Emotions

Researchers emphasize that the heart and brain are deeply interconnected, with every heartbeat influencing cognition and emotion within milliseconds. This link helps explain why cardiovascular diseases like hypertension often coincide with mental health disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Prozac May Rewire the Brain by Loosening Rigid Neural Circuits

A new study shows that fluoxetine, better known as Prozac, does more than increase serotonin—it changes how brain cells handle energy and rebuild connections. After two weeks of treatment, parvalbumin interneurons in the prefrontal cortex became less rigid, with mitochondrial energy genes reduced and plasticity genes upregulated.

Postpartum Depression and Psychosis Risks Surge After Childbirth

A large Swedish study of 1.8 million pregnancies found that mental ill health around pregnancy has risen in recent years, with risks spiking after childbirth. While depression and psychosis rates drop during pregnancy, postpartum depression is 20% more likely within weeks 5–15, and psychosis risk is up to seven times higher in the first 20 weeks.

This shows a woman drinking soda and a shadow of a woman.

Sugary Drinks Linked to Depression Through Gut Microbiome

A new study shows that sugary drinks don’t just affect physical health—they may also raise the risk of depression in women by disrupting the gut microbiome. Researchers found that high consumption of soft drinks was linked to both a greater likelihood of major depressive disorder and more severe symptoms, particularly among women.

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