Psychology News and Research

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Psychology is the study of human mental functions, behavior and processes.

Mice study explains why humans expressing CHT gene variant exhibit attentional vulnerabilities

Mutant mice are providing scientists with a new neurobiological framework to understand the brain changes observed in distractible humans who carry a common gene variant whose frequency has been associated with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

8 Apr 2022

LMU researchers show how the brain distinguishes between various social influences

LMU researchers show what happens in the human brain when we try to influence other people or when we ourselves are influenced by others.

8 Mar 2022

Genes could help determine how well someone responds to couple's therapy

How well someone responds to couple's therapy could be determined by their genes, according to a new study led by Queen Mary University of London and Denver University.

3 Feb 2022

Study employs gene reactivation to treat Fragile X syndrome

Fragile X syndrome, or FXS—a principal genetic cause of autism—impacts around one in 6,000 females and one in 4,000 males.

17 Dec 2021

Menu composition must be 75% vegetarian to encourage sustainable plant-based food choices

Researchers from the University of Westminster have found that meat eaters are significantly more likely to choose vegetarian meals when they make up the majority of food offered. A menu had to be at least 75% vegetarian for this choice tipping point to occur.

15 Dec 2021

Genetic liability to mental health conditions may affect a person's choice of residence

Living in cities has been highlighted as an environmental risk factor for schizophrenia and, to a lesser extent, other mental health conditions. However, few studies have explored genetic effects on the choice of residence.

28 Oct 2021

Study analyzes walking movements to detect nervous system disorders

Scientists from Rutgers University linked the genetic disorders Fragile X and SHANK3 deletion syndrome to walking patterns.

From Rutgers University 26 Oct 2021

Parents' stress during COVID-19 affected eating habits of children

The incredible stress parents experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative effect on the eating habits of their children, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Houston College of Education.

13 Oct 2021

Researchers discover that existing drug can enhance memory

A group of scientists identified that a prevailing drug for treating constipation might boost an individual’s capability to think with better clarity.

4 Oct 2021

People of high socioeconomic status have outsized responsibility to tackle climate change

A paper published today in the journal Nature Energy identifies five ways that people of high socioeconomic status have a disproportionate impact on global greenhouse gas emissions - and therefore an outsized responsibility to facilitate progress in climate change mitigation.

1 Oct 2021

Study examines effects of artificial sweetener on brain activity and appetite response

A synthetic aftertaste might not be the only side effect of switching to diet soda, especially if you're trying to lose weight.

29 Sep 2021

Study reveals strong link between infection rates and authoritarian attitudes, governance

According to psychologists, in addition to our physiological immune system, we also have a behavioral one: an unconscious code of conduct that helps us stay disease-free, including fear and avoidance of unfamiliar - and so possibly infected - people.

22 Sep 2021

Research reveals how plants allocate resources to their microbial partners

"Equal pay for equal work," a motto touted by many people, turns out to be relevant to the plant world as well. According to new research by Stanford University ecologists, plants allocate resources to their microbial partners in proportion to how much they benefit from that partnership.

8 Jul 2021

Single biomarker in the blood can accurately indicate underlying neurodegeneration

Levels of a protein called neurofilament light chain (NfL) in the blood can identify those who might have neurodegenerative diseases such as Down's syndrome dementia, motor neuron disease (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia, when clinical symptoms are not definitive.

8 Jun 2021

Study shows why “the brain's memory center” is vulnerable to damage, degeneration

In a world first, scientists from the University of Sussex have recorded blood oxygen levels in the hippocampus and provided experimental proof for why the area, commonly referred to as 'the brain's memory center', is vulnerable to damage and degeneration, a precursor to Alzheimer's disease.

31 May 2021

Developing a portable tool to detect street drug ‘spice’

AZoLifeSciences speaks to researchers from the University of Bath about their latest research that led to the development of a device that can detect 'spice'.

From University of Bath 28 Apr 2021

Study sheds light on the ability of cannabidiol to reduce pain

It's been hailed as a wonder drug and it's certainly creating wonder profits. By some estimates, the Cannabidiol (or CBD) market could be worth $20 billion dollars by 2024. While users tout its effectiveness in pain relief, up until now there's been limited experimental human research on the actual effectiveness of the drug

26 Apr 2021

Food tastes better if you see it before smelling it, study reveals

The order in which your senses interact with food has a tremendous impact on how much you like it. That's the premise of a new study led by the University of South Florida (USF). The findings published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology show that food tastes better if you see it before smelling it.

15 Apr 2021

Two central metrics of signal detection theory correlate with changes in cognitive fatigue

A team of New Jersey researchers has shown that changes in perceptual certainty and response bias, two central metrics of signal detection theory (SDT), correlate with changes in cognitive fatigue.

2 Apr 2021

Targeting epigenetic mechanisms to advance pharmacological treatments for alcoholism

Abusive alcohol drinking considerably impacts human health. Alcoholism, better defined as Alcohol Use Disorders (AUD), includes a group of pathological entities related to alcohol-induced damage.

1 Apr 2021