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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.

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Your Brain Rewards You for Imagining the Future

A new study proposes that "mental time travel" is reinforced by the brain's reward system. This new theory explains why we invest in future-thinking and how this process can contribute to chronic mental disorders like anxiety.

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Unpaid Labor Predicts Psychological Distress

Total working hours, combining paid jobs and unpaid domestic labor, is the key driver of poor mental health and sleep deprivation in women. Researchers call for policy changes that account for "invisible work" to close the gender health gap.

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Edge of Chaos: Why Pigeons Refuse to Become “Machines”

Researchers found that pigeons rewarded for any behavior sequence still refuse to settle on a single "best" path. This "edge of chaos" behavior suggests a deep-seated biological need for flexibility over efficiency.

Brain’s Default Setting for Ambiguity Matters for Mental Health

A new study reveals that "valence bias"—how we interpret ambiguous situations—is a key predictor of depression and anxiety. The study highlights a critical "positivity shift" at age 10 that can determine a child's mental health trajectory.

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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.

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Link Found Between Antibiotics and Depression in Pregnancy

A study of 94,000 women reveals that antibiotic use before and during pregnancy is linked to increased psychological distress. Researchers point to the disruption of the gut-brain axis as a potential cause for this "stepwise" increase in mental health risks.

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Direct Link Between Stress and Addiction Found

Researchers discovered a brain pathway linking stress centers directly to habit regions. While stress normally promotes flexibility, alcohol disrupts this circuit, explaining why stress leads to compulsive drinking and relapse.

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.

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40% of Bullied Children Show Clinical Symptoms of Trauma

A new study reveals that 40% of bullied elementary students suffer from clinical trauma symptoms. The research highlights the devastating impact of "invisible" bullying, such as social exclusion and early-onset cyberbullying.

Ultrasound Helps to Unlearn Fear

Researchers used targeted ultrasound to dampen the amygdala, slowing fear formation and speeding up "unlearning." This non-invasive method could revolutionize exposure therapy for PTSD and anxiety.

Blocking NOX-1 Extends Ketamine’s Effectiveness for Depression

Researchers have identified the NOX-1 enzyme as the reason ketamine's antidepressant effects are short-lived. By blocking NOX-1, they extended the drug's benefits from days to weeks.

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Can Deep Brain Stimulation Unlock Treatment-Resistant Depression?

Researchers are testing Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for treatment-resistant depression. By acting as a "brain pacemaker," the device targets white matter to help patients who haven't found relief from standard medications or therapy.