Does Listening to True Crime Make You a More Creative Criminal?
Researchers from the University of Graz examined whether true‑crime media fuels malevolent creativity. Across two studies involving 160 and 307 participants, heavy true‑crime consumers generated slightly more revenge ideas, but only when they already possessed aggressive personalities. The link between overall verbal/affective creativity and the originality of harmful ideas was actually weakened for frequent true‑crime fans. By contrast, a preference for fictional horror, not true crime, correlated with more damaging and novel revenge concepts.
Autism Spectrum Disorder Is Associated with Specific Congenital Malformations
A population‑based case‑control study in Israel found that children later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are significantly more likely to have been born with congenital malformations. Overall, ASD cases had 75% higher odds of any malformation, driven mainly by...
People Remain “Blissfully Ignorant” Of AI Use in Everyday Messages, New Research Shows
A recent study in *Computers in Human Behavior* shows that people judge senders harshly when they know a message was generated by AI, but remain blissfully unaware when the source is hidden. Researchers Zhu and Molnan ran two online experiments...
Believing in a “Chemical Imbalance” Might Keep Patients on Antidepressants Longer
A cross‑sectional survey of 497 UK patients receiving public psychotherapy found that those who view depression as a chemical imbalance or brain disease stay on antidepressants twice as long as patients who attribute their distress to life events. The biologically‑oriented...
Can a Common Parasite Medication Calm the Brain’s Stress Circuitry During Alcohol Withdrawal?
Researchers at UC San Diego discovered that rodents with high P2rx4 gene expression exhibit markedly increased alcohol consumption during withdrawal. Administering the antiparasitic drug ivermectin produced a dose‑dependent reduction in lever‑pressing for alcohol, especially in animals that responded behaviorally. Electrophysiological...
Cognition Might Emerge From Embodied “Grip” With the World Rather than Abstract Mental Processes
A new article in the Journal of Humanistic Psychology argues that cognition emerges from an embodied "grip" on the world, not from abstract mental processing. Drawing on phenomenology, the author describes "optimal grip" as the skillful attunement between body, perception,...
Early Exposure to Forever Chemicals Linked to Altered Brain Genes and Impulsive Behavior in Rats
Researchers exposed pregnant Long‑Evans rats to 15 mg/L PFOS in drinking water, a dose comparable to high environmental contamination. Offspring showed altered gene expression—62 genes in the nucleus accumbens, 34 in the hippocampus, and 59 in the prefrontal cortex—affecting extracellular matrix...
Disclosing Autism to AI Chatbots Prompts Overly Cautious, Stereotypical Advice
Researchers at Virginia Tech found that when autistic users disclose their diagnosis to popular AI chatbots, the models overwhelmingly shift to overly cautious advice, urging avoidance of social events, workplace conflict, and romance. The study evaluated six leading large language...
Can Choking During Sex Cause Brain Damage? Emerging Evidence Points to Hidden Neurological Risks
Emerging research links consensual neck compression during sex—often called "choking"—to measurable neurological strain. Large surveys show nearly half of women and over 60% of men have engaged in aggressive sexual behaviors, with younger adults reporting the highest rates of neck...
Maturing Brain Pathways Explain the Sudden Leap in Children’s Language Skills
Researchers have identified that the maturation of dorsal white‑matter pathways between ages three and four underlies the rapid leap in preschoolers’ grammar abilities. Using diffusion MRI on 120 German‑speaking children, the study linked structural development of these upper brain routes...
People with Better Cardiorespiratory Fitness Tend to Be Less Anxious and More Resilient in Emotional Situations
A Brazilian study of 40 healthy adults found that higher cardiorespiratory fitness, measured by estimated VO2max, is linked to lower trait anxiety and greater emotional resilience. Participants with above‑average fitness showed muted spikes in state anxiety and anger when exposed...
Longitudinal Study Finds Procrastination Declines with Age but Still Shapes Major Life Outcomes over Nearly Two Decades
An 18‑year longitudinal study of 3,023 Germans tracked procrastination from late adolescence into adulthood, revealing that while individuals’ relative rankings stay stable, overall procrastination levels decline with age. Increases in conscientiousness and reduced neuroticism, as well as transitioning into the...
Finnish Cold-Water Swimmers Reveal How Frigid Dips Cure the Modern Rush
A study published in the European Journal of Marketing examined 20 regular cold‑water swimmers in Finland. Researchers found that repeated icy plunges teach participants to deliberately slow their perception of time and to use breathing techniques that create calm before,...
New Psychology Study Links Relationship Insecurity to the Pursuit of Wealth and Status
A cross‑cultural series of six studies shows that attachment anxiety—fear of rejection and abandonment—drives a heightened desire for high‑status possessions such as luxury cars and upscale homes. The effect intensifies when participants perceive greater intrasexual competition, and it operates through...
Scientists Wired up Volunteers’ Genitals and Had Them Watch Animals Hump to Test a Long-Held Theory
Researchers at Charles University tested whether mute videos of animal copulation trigger genital arousal in heterosexual men and women. Using penile plethysmography and vaginal photoplethysmography, they found no increase in blood flow during animal clips, while human sexual scenes produced...
New Study Sheds Light on the Mechanisms Behind Declining Relationship Satisfaction Among New Parents
A new analysis of the German Family Panel shows that relationship satisfaction consistently falls after couples become parents, affecting both men and women. The decline is driven primarily by rising conflict and a loss of emotional intimacy and appreciation, while...
A Daily Mindfulness Habit Can Improve Your Memory for Future Plans
A week-long mindfulness meditation program significantly improved participants' time‑based prospective memory when they could not rely on an external clock, achieving a 52% success rate versus 28% for controls. The advantage vanished in an unrestricted condition where both groups hit...
Researchers Find DMT Provides Longer-Lasting Antidepressant Effects than S-Ketamine in Animal Models
A recent Neuropharmacology study shows that a single dose of the psychedelic N,N‑dimethyltryptamine (DMT) produces rapid antidepressant effects in mice that last up to eight days, outperforming S‑ketamine’s shorter‑lived impact. Both compounds reversed learned‑helplessness behavior within 24 hours, but only...
Online Gaming Might Contribute to Creativity, Study Finds
A Taiwanese study published in Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience found that individuals motivated to play online games exhibit higher post‑game imagination, which in turn predicts greater creativity. The research combined a survey of 202 university students with a four‑week EEG...
More Time Spent on Social Media Is Linked to a Thinner Cerebral Cortex in Young Adolescents
A new NeuroImage study of 7,614 U.S. children aged 10‑13 finds that more daily social‑media use correlates with a thinner cerebral cortex across frontal, temporal, occipital and parietal regions. The researchers used high‑resolution structural MRI and controlled for age, sex,...
This Mediterranean‑style Diet Is Linked to a Slower Loss of Brain Volume as We Age
A recent analysis of the Framingham Heart Study found that seniors who closely follow the Mind diet – a hybrid of Mediterranean and DASH eating patterns – retain more grey‑matter and experience slower overall brain‑volume loss. The diet emphasizes vegetables,...
Psychologists Map Out the Pathways Connecting Sacred Beliefs to Better Sex
A new study of 452 heterosexual couples finds that viewing sexual intimacy as sacred is linked to higher sexual satisfaction and passionate connection. The effect operates through relationship habits—especially sexual mindfulness, open communication, frequent intercourse, and consistent orgasms—rather than sheer...
Why Thinking Hard Feels Bad: The Emotional Root of Deliberation
Researchers Cédric Cortial, Jérôme Prado and Serge Caparos found that the unpleasant emotion of doubt prompts people to abandon intuitive shortcuts and engage in effortful deliberation. In two experiments using conflict‑laden syllogisms, higher self‑reported doubt correlated with increased physiological arousal...
Ketone Esters Show Promise as a New Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder
A pilot study published in Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging found that a single dose of a ketone ester (395 mg per kg body weight) rapidly shifted brain metabolism from glucose to ketones and cut alcohol cravings in participants with alcohol use disorder...
Psychedelic Therapy and Traditional Antidepressants Show Similar Results Under Open-Label Conditions
A meta‑analysis of 24 trials found that psychedelic therapy and open‑label antidepressants produce statistically indistinguishable reductions in depressive symptoms. The study compared 8 psychedelic trials (249 patients) with 16 antidepressant trials (7,921 patients) under equal unblinding conditions, revealing only a...
New Research Links Personality Traits to Confidence in Recognizing Artificial Intelligence Deception
Researchers published in F1000Research found that two HEXACO personality dimensions—honesty‑humility and agreeableness—significantly predict young adults' confidence in detecting deepfake media. Participants (200 Indonesian students, average age 22) completed personality and self‑efficacy questionnaires, revealing that higher honesty‑humility correlates with lower confidence,...
Trust and Turbines: How Conspiratorial Thinking and Wind Farm Opposition Fuel Each Other
A new longitudinal study of 297 German adults shows that a general conspiracy mentality predicts opposition to nearby wind farms, and that opposition in turn amplifies conspiracy beliefs. The researchers surveyed participants at three four‑month intervals, isolating short‑term attitude shifts...
Advanced Meditation Techniques Linked to Younger Brain Age During Sleep
Researchers measured sleep EEGs of 34 long‑term meditators and found their brains appeared biologically about six years younger than their chronological age. The younger brain age was driven by high‑amplitude bursts during light sleep, despite the meditators sleeping fewer hours...
Even Mild Opioid Use Disorder Is Linked to a Significantly Higher Risk of Suicide
A new analysis of the 2021‑2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, covering 139,524 U.S. adults, shows that any severity of opioid use disorder (OUD) dramatically raises suicidality. Odds of suicidal thoughts are 1.9‑4.2 times higher, suicide plans 3.3‑6.7...
Disrupted Sleep Is the Primary Pathway Linking Problematic Social Media Use to Reduced Wellbeing
A longitudinal study of 437 Bangladeshi young adults found that problematic social media use (PSMU) leads to higher depression and anxiety, and that disrupted sleep—especially insomnia—acts as the primary pathway linking PSMU to poorer psychological wellbeing. Participants completed four surveys...
Bladder Toxicity Risk Appears Low for Psychiatric Ketamine Patients, Though Data Is Limited
A systematic review of 27 clinical studies found that short‑term ketamine and esketamine treatments for psychiatric disorders do not significantly increase bladder or urinary tract toxicity compared with placebo. Reported urinary symptoms ranged from 0 % to 25 % and were generally...
Low Doses of LSD Alter Emotional Brain Responses in People with Mild Depression
A double‑blind study administered a 26‑microgram dose of LSD to 34 young adults with mild depressive symptoms and measured brain activity with EEG. The low dose amplified the late‑stage emotional wave linked to the amygdala, especially when participants received negative...
Narcissistic Traits Are Linked to a Brain Area Governing Emotional Control
A study of 172 healthy adults links the size and folding of the anterior insula to both grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic traits. MRI scans showed that higher narcissism scores correspond with smaller right‑side insula volume, and for vulnerable narcissism, also...
Can Video Games Make Kids Feel Better About Their Bodies?
A randomized trial with 1,059 U.S. children aged 9‑13 compared a purpose‑built Roblox game, Super U Story, against another Roblox title, Rainbow Friends 2 Story, and a word‑search control. After a single 30‑minute session, Super U Story produced a modest...
Reduced Gray Matter and Altered Brain Connectivity Are Linked to Problematic Smartphone Use
A new review of 35 neuroimaging studies links problematic smartphone use to distinct brain alterations. Structural scans consistently show reduced gray‑matter volume in the insular cortex, anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal regions, while functional imaging reveals disrupted executive‑control networks and heightened...
Your Breathing Pattern Is as Unique as a Fingerprint
Researchers at the Weizmann Institute have shown that each person’s nasal breathing pattern acts like a biometric fingerprint. By recording airflow from both nostrils continuously for 24 hours, a machine‑learning model identified individuals with 96.8% accuracy, even when data were collected...
Extreme Athletes Just Helped Scientists Unlock a Deep Evolutionary Secret About Human Survival
A study in Evolutionary Human Sciences examined 147 ultra‑endurance athletes across multiday races, revealing that extreme energetic stress triggers the body to prioritize immune defense while suppressing reproduction, energy storage, and tissue repair. Researchers measured cortisol, leptin, testosterone, interleukin‑6 and...
How Different Negative Emotions Change the Size of Your Pupils
University of Suffolk researchers found that self‑reported disgust and sadness consistently widen pupils, while anger narrows them. In two controlled experiments with 200 participants, participants rated five emotions after viewing images or listening to audio, allowing researchers to isolate each...
Artificial Intelligence Makes Consumers More Impatient
Researchers at Southern University of Science and Technology discovered that AI advisors speed up consumers' internal clocks, making future delays feel longer and prompting more impatient financial choices. In lab experiments, participants who consulted a chatbot were significantly more likely...
Stacking Bad Habits Triples the Risk of Co-Occurring Anxiety and Depression in Teenagers
A year‑long study of 6,656 Chinese adolescents found that clustering of unhealthy habits dramatically raises the odds of developing both anxiety and depression. Teens who combined poor diet, excessive screen time, and insufficient exercise were more than three times as...
Drumming with Friends Increases Oxytocin Levels in Children, Study Finds
A Japanese study found that elementary school girls who participated in drum circles with friends showed a measurable increase in salivary oxytocin, while those who drummed with strangers did not. Cortisol levels remained unchanged for both groups. Self‑reported happiness rose...
Cognitive Dissonance Helps Explain Why Trump Supporters Remain Loyal, New Research Suggests
A new study in the Journal of Social and Political Psychology examined how Donald Trump supporters reconcile their loyalty with allegations of sexual misconduct, abuse of power, and election interference. Across three online surveys conducted in 2019, late 2019 and...
Longitudinal Study Links Associative Learning Gains to Later Improvements in Fluid Intelligence
A three‑year longitudinal study of 160 Chinese elementary students found that improvements in associative learning and fluid intelligence reinforce each other over time. Children who exceeded their baseline in forming associations showed greater gains in reasoning the following year, and...
People with Social Anxiety Scan Moving Faces Differently than Others
Researchers at Brazil's Federal University of Paraíba found that people with elevated social anxiety detect faint sadness expressions more accurately than non‑anxious peers and scan moving faces with rapid, scattered eye movements. Using eye‑tracking, the study compared static photographs and...
Feeling Like You Slept Poorly Might Take a Heavier Toll on New Parents than Actual Sleep Loss
A longitudinal study of 232 Israeli couples tracked sleep and mental health from pregnancy through the infant's first year. Researchers found that parents' perception of poor sleep, rather than objectively measured sleep duration, strongly correlated with higher depression and anxiety...
The Unexpected Link Between Loneliness, Status, and Shopping Habits
A new study published in *Deviant Behavior* shows that loneliness initiates a chain of consumer behaviors that ends in online shopping addiction. Surveying 364 Taiwanese adults, researchers found social isolation first sparks compensatory consumption, which then morphs into conspicuous buying...
Scientists Uncover the Neurological Mechanisms Behind Cannabis-Induced “Munchies”
A University of Calgary team published a study in PNAS showing that inhaled THC vapor triggers a robust, short‑lived increase in food consumption in both humans and rats. In a controlled trial with 82 volunteers, any dose of cannabis vapor...
Psychedelic Retreats Linked to Mental Health Improvements in People with Severe Childhood Trauma
An observational study of 570 participants at psychedelic retreats in the Netherlands and the Caribbean found that individuals with higher numbers of adverse childhood experiences showed greater reductions in anxiety and larger gains in overall well‑being after the ceremonies. The...
Children Are Less Likely to Use Deception After Being Given Permission to Deceive, Study Finds
Three experiments with Singaporean children aged 3‑6 showed that giving explicit permission to lie actually reduced their deceptive behavior in a competitive sticker‑under‑cup game. Across 279 participants, children who were told lying was allowed lied less often than controls, contrary...
Why some Neuroscientists Now Believe We Have up to 33 Senses
Neuroscientists are challenging the classic five‑sense model, arguing that humans may possess between 22 and 33 distinct sensory modalities. The expanded list includes proprioception, vestibular balance, interoception, sense of agency, and ownership, among others that blend traditional touch, taste, and...