Mental Health
Higher body fat in pregnancy may influence child ADHD risk through inflammation
A new study finds that higher maternal body fat during pregnancy increases systemic inflammation, which in turn predicts greater ADHD symptoms in toddlers. The findings highlight …
Daily, but not weekly, psilocin mucate lowers cortisol and anxiety in stressed rats
A new study reveals that daily doses of psilocin mucate, a stable derivative of the psychedelic compound psilocybin, significantly reduced anxiety and stress hormones in rats. How…
Frustration, not fear of judgment, drives the rise of independent voters
A record number of Americans now identify as political independents. A new study reveals voters are shedding their party labels not to avoid social stigma, but because they are ge…
Why do some children develop ADHD after stressful events while others do not?
While stressful life events increase the risk of ADHD, a new study reveals that a child's vulnerability largely depends on a complex mix of parental mental health, genetics, and b…
Predictive single-dose test could guide ADHD treatment in adults
Testing how a patient responds to a single dose of stimulant medication might help doctors predict treatment success. Researchers found that early behavioral changes can accuratel…
People trust human nurses more than AI, but the intuitiveness of the advice matters most
A recent study found that people trust human nurses more than AI chatbots for health advice. However, people judge both human and machine advice primarily based on whether the rec…
Parental mental illness is linked to lower cognitive scores in young men
A large study of young men in Denmark reveals that growing up with a parent who has a mental illness is linked to slightly lower cognitive scores, but this association shifts dram…
Ketogenic diets may increase blood alcohol levels while reducing the drive to drink
A ketogenic diet could surprisingly alter the body's relationship with alcohol. New research in rats indicates that switching to a high-fat diet slows down liver metabolism, spiki…
Daytime emotional suppression does not affect the emotional tone of dreams
People tend to experience fewer positive emotions and more negative emotions in their dreams than while awake. However, hiding feelings during the day does not seem to change the …
Single dose of rapamycin rapidly reduces autism-like traits in adult mice
A new study reveals that a single dose of rapamycin rapidly but temporarily reverses autism-like behaviors in adult mice. The findings suggest the adult brain remains highly adapt…
Is it so odd to talk to yourself? No one knows you better – or is better at keeping your secrets | Polly Hudson
I’ll happily chat to plants and pets, but when I really need to get something off my chest I’m my own best listener. And that’s absolutely fine, according to my new favourite expe…
Evolving political views linked to changes in brain activity
A small longitudinal study reveals that as people’s political loyalties evolve, their brain activity patterns shift in tandem. These neural changes are driven more by shifting gro…
Dogs can distinguish between specific negative human facial expressions, brain scans show
New fMRI research shows that dog brains do more than just separate good moods from bad. Canines display distinct neural patterns for human smiles and can neurologically differenti…
How sexual arousal distorts men’s perception of women’s boundaries
A new psychological study reveals that when heterosexual men are sexually aroused, they are more likely to ignore a woman’s facial expressions and incorrectly assume she is flirti…
New study reveals how running trains the body to handle psychological stress
A new study reveals how exercise boosts mental health. Researchers found that regular physical activity reduces psychological symptoms by acting as a distraction from repetitive n…
Perez Hilton’s mother files for temporary custody of his three children
Celebrity blogger was hospitalized for a mental health crisis after he harmed himself during live streamThe mother of celebrity blogger Perez Hilton is seeking temporary custody o…
Mentally engaging parenting linked to better working memory development
Children from disadvantaged backgrounds often start school with lower working memory scores. A large study tracking students through fifth grade reveals how mentally stimulating a…
USS Abraham Lincoln sailors tried to jump overboard amid extended deployment – reports
Aircraft carrier’s crew in ninth month at sea and has spent record 250 days consecutively without making landMilitary families and Congress members are sounding the alarm about an…
Newly engineered psychedelic shows therapeutic promise without gastrointestinal distress
A recently developed psychedelic compound promotes brain plasticity and reduces anxiety in mice without triggering gastrointestinal distress. The findings provide a chemical bluep…
Early giftedness rarely lasts into adulthood, large developmental study finds
A large study tracking children for over a decade reveals that early intellectual giftedness rarely lasts into adulthood. The findings suggest that genetic factors guide cognitive…
Frequent cannabis use is linked to higher morning cortisol levels
New research indicates that adults who frequently consume cannabis have higher baseline cortisol levels immediately upon waking. Interestingly, this elevated morning stress hormon…
Social anxiety, not masking, may drive mental health struggles in autistic adults
Autistic individuals often mask their traits to navigate social situations, a practice linked to poor mental health. A new study suggests these negative outcomes may actually be d…
Scientists identify 19 core dimensions of positive mental health in new consensus study
A recent study published in Nature Mental Health identifies 19 core dimensions of positive mental health. By consulting experts across multiple disciplines, the research offers a …
A new dual-process theory solves the mystery of dopamine ramps
A new computational model explains why dopamine levels gradually rise as animals approach a reward. By combining fast mental maps with slow habit formation, the dual-process theor…