Mind & Brain
- Mindfulness training can ease anxiety that causes eating disordersby Shyla Cadogan on February 7, 2023 at 8:34 pm
KYOTO, Japan — Eating disorders, especially anorexia nervosa (AN), often fall into the category of psychiatric illnesses that have an association with poor self-esteem. This can stem from harmful societal expectations, making it much more complex to resolve. Fortunately, researchers from Kyoto University say meditation therapy is effective in reducing common anxieties seen in anorexia… The post Mindfulness training can ease anxiety that causes eating disorders appeared first on Study Finds.
- Once robots make mistakes, humans kick them out of the ‘circle of trust’by John Anderer on February 3, 2023 at 2:36 pm
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Everybody makes mistakes, even machines! When our robotic friends make an error, however, researchers from the University of Michigan find people tend to be much less forgiving than if a fellow human messed up. Moreover, once a robot loses a human’s trust, it’s very difficult to rebuild the robotic relationship. Study… The post Once robots make mistakes, humans kick them out of the ‘circle of trust’ appeared first on Study Finds.
- Want to stop drinking alcohol? All you may need is a greater sense of purposeby Jocelyn Solis-Moreira on February 2, 2023 at 9:16 pm
PHILADELPHIA — Instead of completely banning alcohol from their lives, binge drinkers may just need to find a sense of purpose to keep themselves in check. Neurologists from the University of Pennsylvania say that reevaluating your life’s purpose could curb the overwhelming craving for alcohol. The findings open up new non-pharmaceutical strategies to reduce binge… The post Want to stop drinking alcohol? All you may need is a greater sense of purpose appeared first on Study Finds.
- Want to feel happier? Your location may be affecting your emotions, according to millions of Tweetsby Study Finds on February 1, 2023 at 8:40 pm
KYOTO, Japan — Want to feel happier? A new study of millions of tweets finds it all comes down to that age-old real estate saying — location, location, location. Researchers say our physical location affects our emotions. A team in Japan analyzed nearly two million Twitter posts by people in the cities of London and San… The post Want to feel happier? Your location may be affecting your emotions, according to millions of Tweets appeared first on Study Finds.
- Calling people on phone sparks anxiety in many today — but research shows it can boost mental healthby The Conversation on January 30, 2023 at 3:17 pm
Some people might remember the days of coming back from school eager to call a friend, sometimes sitting for hours talking about anything and everything. However, today most young people rarely call each other. The very idea of calling someone or receiving a call seems to cause anxiety in many. When Alexander Graham Bell invented… The post Calling people on phone sparks anxiety in many today — but research shows it can boost mental health appeared first on Study Finds.
- Doing this effortless habit can help relieve stress, improve your heart healthby John Anderer on January 28, 2023 at 1:47 am
MAYNOOTH, Ireland — People often say we can’t control everything that happens in life, but we can control how we react to it. It may sound like a cliché, but new findings out of Ireland show that perspective matters when life throws us unexpected and stressful curveballs. Researchers say gratitude offers a “unique stress-buffering effect”… The post Doing this effortless habit can help relieve stress, improve your heart health appeared first on Study Finds.
- Starbucks fans steamed! The psychology behind why rewards program changes turn customers boiling madby The Conversation on January 26, 2023 at 5:09 pm
By H. Sami Karaca, and Jay L. Zagorsky, Boston University Starbucks, the coffee chain giant, is modifying its rewards program, and the news is full of stories of outraged consumers. The main focus of their ire is that, starting Feb. 13, 2023, it will cost twice as many of the program’s reward points, called stars, to… The post Starbucks fans steamed! The psychology behind why rewards program changes turn customers boiling mad appeared first on Study Finds.
- Adult mouse brains are teeming with ‘silent synapses’by Claudia López Lloreda on December 16, 2022 at 2:00 pm
Nerve cell connections thought to be involved mainly in development could explain how the brain keeps making new memories while holding onto old ones.
- Rats can bop their heads to the beatby Deborah Balthazar on November 23, 2022 at 1:00 pm
Rats’ rhythmic response to human music doesn’t mean they like to dance, but it may shed light on how brains evolved to perceive rhythm.
- New brain implants ‘read’ words directly from people’s thoughtsby Laura Sanders on November 15, 2022 at 12:00 pm
In the lab, brain implants can translate internal speech into external signals, technology that could help people who are unable to speak or type.
- A new treatment for debilitating nightmares offers sweeter dreamsby Jackie Rocheleau on October 27, 2022 at 3:00 pm
A new study combines standard nightmare disorder therapy with a memory-enhancing technique to create happier dreams and bring greater, lasting relief.
- Clumps of human nerve cells thrived in rat brainsby Laura Sanders on October 12, 2022 at 3:00 pm
New results suggest that environment matters for the development of brain organoids, 3-D nerve cell clusters that grow and mimic the human brain.
- Why traumatic brain injuries raise the risk of a second, worse hitby Laura Sanders on October 7, 2022 at 8:36 pm
Recent hits to Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa have reignited discussions of brain safety for professional football players. Brain experts weigh in.
- ‘Wonderful nets’ of blood vessels protect dolphin and whale brains during divesby Claudia López Lloreda on September 30, 2022 at 1:00 pm
Complex networks of blood vessels called retia mirabilia that are associated with cetaceans’ brains and spines have long been a mystery.
- Emily Jacobs wants to know how sex hormones sculpt the brainby Cassie Martin on September 29, 2022 at 1:00 pm
Emily Jacobs studies how the brain changes throughout women’s reproductive years, plus what it all means for health.
- An AI can decode speech from brain activity with surprising accuracyby Jonathan Moens on September 8, 2022 at 5:14 pm
Developed by Facebook’s parent company, Meta, the AI could eventually be used to help people who can’t communicate through speech, typing or gestures.
- COVID-19 gave new urgency to the science of restoring smellby Laura Sanders on August 29, 2022 at 11:00 am
With newfound pressure from the pandemic, olfactory training and a host of other newer treatments are now getting a lot more attention.
- Sleep deprivation may make people less generousby Sujata Gupta on August 23, 2022 at 6:00 pm
Helping each other is inherently human. Yet new research shows that sleep deprivation may dampen people’s desire to donate money.
- We prioritize family over self, and that has real-world implicationsby Sujata Gupta on February 6, 2023 at 1:00 pm
Two studies show how family bonds improve personal and mental health, suggesting policy makers should shift away from individualistic mindsets.
- Brain scans suggest the pandemic prematurely aged teens’ brainsby Freda Kreier on January 3, 2023 at 12:00 pm
A small study suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic may have aged teen brains beyond their years.
- A new treatment for debilitating nightmares offers sweeter dreamsby Jackie Rocheleau on October 27, 2022 at 3:00 pm
A new study combines standard nightmare disorder therapy with a memory-enhancing technique to create happier dreams and bring greater, lasting relief.
- The pandemic shows us how crises derail young adults’ lives for decadesby Sujata Gupta on October 18, 2022 at 11:00 am
Age matters for when we experience calamities, such as pandemics. Young adults are especially vulnerable to getting thrown off their life course.
- The pandemic may be stunting young adults’ personality developmentby Sujata Gupta on September 28, 2022 at 6:00 pm
People typically become less neurotic and more agreeable with age. The COVID-19 pandemic may have reversed those trends in adults younger than 30.
- Sleep deprivation may make people less generousby Sujata Gupta on August 23, 2022 at 6:00 pm
Helping each other is inherently human. Yet new research shows that sleep deprivation may dampen people’s desire to donate money.
- Demond Mullins climbed Everest to inspire more Black outdoor enthusiastsby Melba Newsome on July 11, 2022 at 1:00 pm
Mullins hopes his successful Mount Everest summit will encourage more Black people to experience the great outdoors.
- The idea that many people grow following trauma may be a mythby Sujata Gupta on July 6, 2022 at 11:00 am
Studies of posttraumatic growth are fundamentally flawed and can contribute to toxic cultural narratives, researchers say.
- COVID-19 has killed a million Americans. Our minds can’t comprehend that numberby Sujata Gupta on May 18, 2022 at 11:00 am
We intuitively compare large, approximate quantities but cannot grasp such a big, abstract number as a million U.S. COVID-19 deaths.
- Pressure to conform to social norms may explain risky COVID-19 decisionsby Sujata Gupta on May 17, 2022 at 11:00 am
As a science reporter covering COVID-19, I knew I should mask up at Disney World. Instead, I conformed, bared my face and got COVID-19.
- Latin America defies cultural theories based on East-West comparisonsby Sujata Gupta on May 6, 2022 at 11:00 am
Theories for how people think in individualist versus collectivist nations stem from East-West comparisons. Latin America challenges those theories.