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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.

This shows a brain and people exercising.

Mental Health Benefits of Exercise Depend on Context

A new study reveals that the mental health benefits of exercise depend not just on the amount of physical activity, but also on the context in which it occurs. Researchers found that leisure-time activities like yoga or team sports tend to improve mood more than obligatory tasks like housework.

This shows a brain and exercise symbols.

Find Exercise You Enjoy: Personality Shapes Fitness Success

A new study shows matching your personality to the type of exercise you enjoy may help you stick with it and reduce stress. Researchers found extroverts preferred high-intensity workouts, while people high in neuroticism favored short bursts of activity and saw greater stress reduction from exercise.

Timing of Prozac Treatment Shapes Lasting Mood, Brain Changes

New research reveals that the developmental timing of fluoxetine (Prozac) treatment profoundly influences long-term mood and brain function. In a rodent model, early postnatal treatment in males led to persistent anxiety and depression-like behaviors, while adolescent treatment reduced these behaviors.

Emotional Neglect in Childhood Undermines Trust in One’s Own Body

A new meta-analysis links childhood emotional abuse and neglect to reduced trust in one’s bodily signals, highlighting the long-term mental health risks. Researchers analyzed 17 studies with 3,705 participants, finding that while maltreatment did not generally impair interoception, emotional maltreatment was strongly tied to lower body trust.

Anxious Mondays Leave Lasting Mark on Stress

A new study reveals that anxiety felt on Mondays uniquely elevates stress hormones, even in retirees, with potential consequences for heart health. Researchers found older adults who reported Monday anxiety had 23% higher long-term cortisol levels than peers anxious on other days.

Why Your Brain Is Better at Gossip Than You Realize

A new study reveals how humans instinctively calculate who to gossip with by weighing popularity and social distance. This cognitive process allows gossip to spread widely while minimizing the risk of it reaching the wrong person.

TikTok ADHD Misinformation Can Mislead Young Minds

College students increasingly turn to TikTok for information, including on mental health. A new study found that exposure to misinformation about ADHD on the platform reduced students’ factual knowledge but increased their confidence in that knowledge. Participants who viewed misleading content were also more likely to seek both scientifically supported and unproven treatments.

Universally Cool: Personality Traits That Cross Cultural Lines

What makes someone “cool” appears to be remarkably consistent across cultures, according to a global psychology study. Researchers surveyed nearly 6,000 people from 13 countries and found that cool individuals are consistently described as extraverted, powerful, open-minded, adventurous, and independent.

AI Facial Analysis Detects PTSD

Diagnosing PTSD in children is often hindered by limited communication and emotional awareness, but new research is using AI to bridge that gap. By analyzing facial movements during interviews, researchers created a privacy-preserving tool that can identify PTSD-related expression patterns. Their system does not use raw video but instead tracks non-identifying facial cues such as eye gaze and mouth movement.

This shows a person drawing with both hands.

Left-Handed Creativity Myth Debunked

The long-standing belief that left-handed people are more creative has been challenged by a new meta-analysis of over a century of research. After reviewing nearly 1,000 studies, researchers found no consistent advantage in creative thinking for lefties—in fact, right-handers slightly outperformed on some tests.

Tiny RNA Mark Helps Explain Brain Wiring and Mental Disorders

New research reveals how a tiny chemical mark on RNA helps wire the brain during development. Scientists discovered that m6A methylation regulates the production of proteins essential for axon growth, including APC and β-actin.

Brain Tracks Emotional Transitions Through Music

New research reveals how the brain navigates emotional transitions, using music as a tool to map changing neural patterns. Scientists found that emotional responses in the brain depend heavily on the listener’s prior emotional state.