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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.

Hepatitis C Found in Brain Lining Linked to Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder

Researchers have discovered hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the brain lining of individuals with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, suggesting a possible link between infection and psychiatric symptoms. The study found HCV specifically in the choroid plexus, a structure producing cerebrospinal fluid, but not inside brain tissue itself.

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Oxytocin Protects Mood During Sleep Loss

New research suggests oxytocin, the so-called “love hormone,” may help protect women from mood disturbances caused by sleep disruption and hormonal changes during postpartum and menopause. In a controlled study, women with higher oxytocin levels before sleep fragmentation reported fewer mood symptoms the following day.

Maternal Depression Linked to Weaker Bonds

A comprehensive global review confirms that maternal depression undermines parenting, impairing mother-infant bonding and reducing sensitivity to a child’s needs. Researchers analyzed nearly a decade of observational studies, finding consistent links between depressive symptoms and lower involvement, commitment, and emotional connection.

Spotting Silent Scars: A New Way to Detect Childhood Abuse

Childhood maltreatment leaves profound and often unseen scars, affecting mental health, physical well-being, and social development long into adulthood. Traditional assessments are invasive and often miss the full scope of harm as it happens.

Oxytocin Boosts Mother-Infant Bond in Postpartum Depression

A new study shows that oxytocin nasal spray helps mothers with postpartum depression interact more positively with their babies. After receiving oxytocin, mothers expressed more warmth, affection, and physical contact, reporting a greater sense of positivity during playtime.

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Familiar Faces and Fights: What Monkeys Like to Watch Most

A new study reveals that long-tailed macaques, like humans, are most captivated by videos featuring social conflict and familiar group members. Researchers showed the macaques videos of monkeys engaged in fighting, grooming, running, or sitting, and found they spent the most time watching aggressive encounters.

Learning Music Boosts Kids’ Wellbeing, Confidence, and Belonging

A new study highlights the powerful role of music learning in improving children’s social, emotional, and educational wellbeing. Beyond listening or casual participation, learning music builds self-confidence, emotional awareness, and a sense of belonging.

Most Antidepressant Users Don’t Face Severe Withdrawal

The largest review of antidepressant withdrawal studies shows most people don’t experience severe symptoms when stopping these medications. Analyzing data from nearly 18,000 participants, researchers found the most common withdrawal symptoms were mild, including dizziness, nausea, and nervousness.

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Child Maltreatment Accelerates Aging and Hinders Social Development

New research shows that childhood maltreatment leaves lasting biological and social scars. In a study of young children, those who experienced abuse showed accelerated cellular aging and reduced social attention.

Brain Pathway Reveals How Pain Feels Emotionally

Pain is more than a physical signal — it also carries emotional weight that shapes our response and memory of discomfort. A new study identifies a group of neurons in the thalamus that directly links pain signals to the brain’s emotional center.

This shows a teen watching a video on a laptop.

Short Video Fosters Growth-Oriented Thinking in Adolescents

A brief online intervention may help teenagers see themselves as capable of change, according to a new study. Researchers found that watching a single ten-minute video based on growth mindset principles shifted young people’s beliefs about their own personality traits.

Perception or Reality? Rethinking How Polarized We Really Are

A new study challenges the notion that society is as polarized as many believe, revealing that perceptions of division often stem from the consensus within one’s own social circles. Researchers developed a novel method to distinguish actual opinion divergence from how polarized people feel society is.