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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.

Abnormal 12-Hour Cyclic Gene Activity Found in Schizophrenic Brains

Postmortem brains of those with schizophrenia have fewer genes associated with 12-hour activity cycles in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Mitochondrial-related genes in the dlPFC did maintain a 12-hour rhythm, but their activity did not peak at normal times.

When Chronic Stress Activates These Neurons, Behavioral Problems Like Loss of Pleasure and Depression Result

Anhedonia and depression arise when POMC neurons in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus become hyperactive as a result of chronic stress. Reducing the activity also reduces feelings of depression and loss of pleasure.

Can Reading Help Heal Us and Process Our Emotions, or Is That Just a Story We Tell Ourselves?

Many say reading a good book can help us to process complex emotions, but is that really the case? Researchers investigate how cathartic reading can be.

Dogs Show Things to Humans but Pigs Do Not

While pet dogs and pet pigs pay their owners a similar amount of attention, when it comes to pointing to the location of an out-of-range treat, only dogs direct their owner's attention to the location. Findings suggest directing human attention to an interesting location is not ubiquitous in domesticated animals.

Children Learn to Read Faster – Given Appropriate Challenges

When teaching a child to read, giving them challenges individually adapted to their levels is most effective.

Mindfulness Can Help Adolescents Overcome Traumas

Researchers say mindfulness meditation has benefits for adolescents who have experienced trauma.

Childhood Trauma Linked to Civic Environmental Engagement and Green Behavior

People who experience trauma and abuse during childhood are more likely to engage in civic environmental activities and green behaviors later in life, a new study reports.

Young Chimpanzees and Human Teens Share Risk-Taking Behaviors

While adolescent chimpanzees may share similar risk-taking behaviors as human teens, they tend to be less impulsive than their human counterparts.

This shows a little girl in a field of flowers

Getting Kids Outdoors Can Reduce the Negative Effects of Screen Time

Exposure to excessive screen time at age two is associated with poorer communication and daily living skills at age four, however, spending time outdoors can mitigate some of the negative effects of screen time.

Study Explains Emotional ‘Blunting’ Caused by Common Antidepressants

SSRI antidepressants can make users less sensitive to rewards, resulting in emotional blunting many users experience. The findings provide new evidence for the role serotonin plays in reinforcement learning.

This shows a building and car on fire during the Camp Fire wildfire in 2018

In the Wake of a Wildfire, Embers of Change in Cognition and Brain Function Linger

People exposed to the Camp Fire California wildfire in 2018 showed significant brain and cognitive function changes many months after the event. Findings add to the growing body of evidence that supports a growing phenomenon known as "climate trauma".