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Psychology News

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.

Testosterone-Aggression Link: How Shame Proneness Affects Responses to Social Exclusion

Social exclusion, an experience that can pose threats to an individual's status and dominance, can lead to various behavioral responses potentially mediated by changes in testosterone levels. This study found that those with low levels of shame proneness showed heightened aggression when experiencing a rise in testosterone post-exclusion, whereas those with decreased testosterone demonstrated lower aggression.

How Cocaine Rewires Brain’s Reward System

Researchers revealed, through neuroimaging, how cocaine addiction modifies the brain's reward evaluation system, impacting adaptive behavior. This modification explains the perplexing addictive behavior seen in users—persisting in harmful activities that often don't offer immediate benefits.

Marijuana is A Potential Risk to Teen Brains Predisposed to Schizophrenia

Researchers studied the effects of THC, marijuana's main psychoactive compound, on adolescent mouse brains. The study found THC-induced structural changes in microglia, specialized brain immune cells, possibly aggravating a genetic predisposition to schizophrenia.

Our Innate Novelty Cravings Amplified by the Digital Age

A recent paper shifts the blame for our tech-driven distractions from information overload to our minds' innate craving for novelty. The research suggests that the ease with which digital platforms provide fresh, ever-changing content has magnified our predisposition for 'checking habits'.

Bipolar Disorder Can Be Detected With Blood Test

A novel approach combines an online psychiatric assessment with a blood test to diagnose bipolar disorder, a condition often misdiagnosed as major depressive disorder. This blood test, alongside the digital assessment, can accurately diagnose up to 30% of bipolar disorder cases.

Unlocking the Language of Emotion Through Body Movement

Researchers unlocked the language of human emotion expressed through body movements. By employing a blend of computing, psychology, and the arts, they curated a human movement dataset to enhance AI's understanding of emotions via body language.

Novel Schizophrenia Insights from Brain Organoids and Genes

Researchers leveraged cutting-edge technology to gain insights into schizophrenia's neurodevelopmental origins. The researchers grew brain organoids from patients' skin cells, finding persistent axonal disruptions in those with schizophrenia. In another study, researchers zeroed in on a schizophrenia risk gene, CYFIP1, revealing its potential role in brain immune cells called microglia and their influence on synaptic pruning - a crucial process for brain health.

Unraveling Curiosity: Why We Savor the Suspense and Shun Spoilers

A new study reveals a counterintuitive aspect of curiosity: it heightens our patience to learn an answer, yet intensifies our eagerness for it. Researchers utilized short line-drawing videos, akin to popular cooking clips on social media, to explore how curiosity influenced the urge to spoil the end.

Canine Kings & Feline Pharaohs: Cultural Nuances in Pet Affection

Researchers explored the emotional and financial investment of pet owners toward their cats and dogs across Denmark, Austria, and the UK. Their research indicated that, across these nations, dogs generally receive more emotional attachment and financial care than cats.

Schizophrenia Insights: Brain’s Search for Words Mirrors Animal Foraging Patterns

A new study suggests that the way our minds search for words and concepts in memory may parallel the age-old patterns animals use to hunt for food in their environments. This new insight emerged from a neuroimaging study that analyzed participants' brain activity as they dredged their long-term memories for words related to various concepts.

Choosing Ignorance: 40% Shun Consequence Knowledge for Selfish Gains

New research unveiled that when faced with a choice, 40% of individuals opt to remain ignorant about how their decisions impact others, often leveraging this unawareness to act more selfishly. The researchers equates this behavior to consumers who turn a blind eye to the problematic origins of products they purchase.

Linking Sleep Deficits to Depression

Researchers find a connection between consistently sleeping less than five hours nightly and an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms. Initially believed that poor sleep was a mere side effect of mental illness, the study suggests sleep might precede the onset of depression.