Mental Health
A new study explains why stress makes us both cooperative and defensive
A recent study shows that acute stress doesn't just trigger "fight-or-flight" or "tend-and-befriend" instincts. Instead, stressed people adapt their behavior, cooperating with pot…
Harsh parenting predicts teenage depression and aggression through different types of repetitive thinking
A three-year study of Chinese adolescents reveals how harsh discipline shapes mental health. Researchers found that repetitive thoughts about sadness and anger act as pathways lin…
Male politicians show a spike in care-oriented language during peak periods of war
A new study of the Israeli Knesset reveals that politicians who use care-based language propose more constructive policies. While women express care more consistently, male lawmak…
Escaping absolute poverty boosts adult cognitive abilities, study finds
A recent evaluation of a nationwide anti-poverty campaign shows that escaping absolute poverty can boost adult cognitive abilities, improving both factual knowledge and abstract r…
The surprising reason our memories become blurred as we age, according to new neuroscience research
Scientists have uncovered a surprising twist in how our minds age. A new brain scanning study shows that a mechanism designed to protect our memories eventually begins to blend th…
The link between dark personality traits and online toxicity is more nuanced than expected
A new study reveals a surprising disconnect: while people with dark personality traits claim to engage in more toxic online behavior, an analysis of their actual Reddit comments s…
Historical slavery predicts modern mortality gaps between Black and White Americans
A recent study found that U.S. counties with a higher proportion of enslaved people in 1860 have wider mortality gaps between Black and White residents today. This historical lega…
Psilocybin therapy shows strong potential for treating cocaine addiction
Two new studies suggest psychedelic compounds could help treat cocaine addiction. A human trial found psilocybin combined with therapy reduced cocaine use, while an animal study i…
Physical attractiveness appears to shape family planning accuracy for young women
Young adults vastly overestimate their likelihood of having children before age 30, but a person's relationship status and physical attractiveness can strongly predict how accurat…
Heavy caffeine drinkers sleep less but have deeper sleep, study finds
Analyzing data from over 485,000 people, researchers found that habitual consumers of four or more caffeinated drinks sleep slightly less. Surprisingly, this shorter sleep feature…
Maternal sleep latency during early pregnancy is linked to child intelligence scores
Taking a long time to fall asleep during pregnancy is associated with slightly lower offspring intelligence scores at age four. New research points to specific metabolic chemicals…
Sex differences in personality traits are shrinking among younger generations
Are men and women becoming more alike? New research analyzing global survey data finds that differences in key economic preferences, such as trust and risk tolerance, are signific…
Heavy ChatGPT use linked to intellectual laziness and social isolation
New research reveals that relying too heavily on generative artificial intelligence can erode critical thinking, memory, and social skills. However, using the technology thoughtfu…
Brain scans shed light on how practice and genetics combine to influence reading ability
Scientists have mapped the reading brain, finding that genetics set the foundation for processing sounds and meaning. Meanwhile, the physical act of reading practice actually thic…
Brain waves reveal how alcohol cues hijack decision-making in addiction
People with alcohol use disorder experience automatic emotional reactions to alcohol-related images that disrupt their decision-making processes. New research shows the brain atte…
For fibromyalgia, gentle and enjoyable exercise seems to works better than pushing through pain
A new study shows that a tailored, low-intensity exercise program can provide lasting relief for people with fibromyalgia. Brain scans suggest these improvements are linked to met…
Psychedelics may cause slight personality changes, but other factors play a big role
German college students who tried psychedelics for the first time showed slight increases in openness over a year. However, researchers say these minor personality shifts may simp…
A popular facial metric for predicting male aggression fails a major test
For years, researchers believed a specific facial ratio signaled male aggression and dominance. A new evaluation overturns this idea, showing that facial proportions do not differ…
Enclosed neighborhood streets are linked to better sleep, study finds
A new study using artificial intelligence to analyze street-level images finds that visually enclosed neighborhoods—framed by trees and buildings—are linked to longer sleep and le…
Genetic evidence confirms ADHD symptoms cause poorer academic performance in kids
New research analyzing genetic data from twins and siblings suggests that ADHD symptoms directly cause a drop in student grades.
The Guardian view on loneliness: the decline in friendship leaves gen Z exposed | Editorial
Problems with housing, jobs and technology have dented young people’s confidence in the future and each otherHope, Raye told a crowd at Reading festival on Saturday, was the theme…
Gabapentin prescriptions are rising in addiction treatment despite weak evidence
Patients in addiction treatment are increasingly receiving prescriptions for the nerve pain drug gabapentin, despite a lack of evidence for its effectiveness. Meanwhile, unprescri…
Judge tells jury in Lindsay Clancy trial to keep deliberating after deadlock
Clancy does not deny strangling her three children but says postpartum psychosis led to her actionsThe judge has told the jury in the Lindsay Clancy trial to keep deliberating aft…
Vagus nerve stimulation induces brain vascular rhythms linked to later learning performance
New research in mice shows that stimulating the vagus nerve after training enhances long-term learning. The stimulation also triggers rhythmic changes in brain blood flow, suggest…