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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.

Molecular link between chronic pain and depression revealed

Inhibitory inputs to the neural circuit between the dorsolateral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (dlBNST) to the ventral tegmental area (VTA) increase when a person is in chronic pain. This alteration is mediated by enhanced corticotropin-releasing factor signaling within the dlBNST, leading to suppression of the mesolimbic dopaminergic system. The result is depressive mood and anhedonia associated with chronic pain.

This shows a person playing a video game

New research analyzes video game player engagement

Study examines how video game players engage in their chosen game and how they respond to different motivations. For games with in-game purchasing features, the more rounds or levels a person plays, the more likely they are to spend on purchases.

This shows the word truth made out of the word lies

True lies: How letter patterns color perceptions of truth

The sequence of letters influences whether people believe a message to be true or fake.

AI helps scientists predict depression outcomes

Artificial intelligence technology was able to identify specific brain regions which were most important for predicting whether a person with depression would respond to SSRI antidepressants.

This shows scrabble tiles spelling out politics

Stressed out: Americans making themselves sick over politics

Exposure to political news may be having a detrimental effect on the public health of the American people, researchers say. A new study reveals 40% of Americans surveyed say politics increases their stress levels, with 1 in 5 people actively losing sleep as a result of political exposure. 20% of those surveyed say politics has damaged interpersonal relationships, and 4% of the sample reported suicidal thoughts because of the current political climate.

Impostor syndrome is more common than you think

Impostor syndrome, feeling as though you are a fraud even though you are capable and qualified for a position, is more common than previously believed. Reaching out to family and friends outside the situation can help to reduce feelings of impostorism.

New study on sharing shows social norms play a role in decision making

Influence of social norms shapes a child's desire to share by the age of eight.

Context may explain why dads are happier and less stressed than moms

The differences between each parents' stress and happiness may boil down to how, and when, childcare activities are split between the parties. Fathers tend to be less stressed and happier, especially if their childcare activities are more recreational. Maternal stress is higher, and happiness is lower, as they tend to provide more of the hands-on parenting.

Hormone potentially linked to hypersexual disorder identified

Study implicates dysregulation of epigenetic mechanisms of both DNA methylation and microRNA activity, in addition to oxytocin to hypersexuality.

This shows the researcher and a very cute, black and white cat

Cats, like children and dogs, develop attachments to their caregivers

Popular belief suggests cats are more independent and less likely to form close attachments with humans. However, a new study casts doubt on this myth. Researchers have found cats display the same main attachment styles to their owners as dogs, and babies to their parents.

Gene regulators work together for oversized impact on schizophrenia risk

Using CRISPR to alter the expression of four schizophrenia implicated genes which harbor expression quantitative trait loci, researchers were able to mirror gene expression changes seen in postmortem brains of those suffering from three mental health disorders.

Three faces of teen popularity: Being feared, being loved, and being feared and loved

Study identifies three distinct types of teen popularity, prosocial popular, aggressive popular, and bistrategic popular or Machiavellian. The Machiavellian teens were considered most popular, despite being above average on both physical and relational aggression traits, as they displayed the most prosocial behavior.