PsyPost
@psypost.bsky.social
Reporting research on human behavior and cognition. #PsychSciSky #Psychology #SciComm
Many video game trolls are actually just vigilantes acting on a misunderstanding, study suggests
Many video game trolls are actually just vigilantes acting on a misunderstanding, study suggests
New research suggests much of the toxic behavior in online video games stems from a simple misunderstanding. When players misinterpret ambiguous actions as trolling, they often retaliate, accidentally sparking a contagious cycle of digital harassment.
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Democrats and Republicans show different reactions to unfavorable news
Democrats and Republicans show different reactions to unfavorable news
People actively alter how much and what kind of news they read depending on whether the day’s headlines are favorable to their preferred political party, shifting their browsing habits in response to negative coverage.
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Most Americans don’t actually understand the judicial philosophies they endorse
Most Americans don’t actually understand the judicial philosophies they endorse
A recent study in Political Research Quarterly suggests that while Americans claim to support specific judicial philosophies, most struggle to apply them consistently. For the general public, terms like originalism act more as symbolic labels than structured legal frameworks.
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Miniature brain models reveal varied electrical activity in different types of autism
Miniature brain models reveal varied electrical activity in different types of autism
Miniature brain models grown from human stem cells show that different genetic forms of autism spectrum disorder produce vastly different patterns of electrical activity, revealing how various mutations alter neural networks.
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Semaglutide use is associated with a lower risk of adult-onset seizures
Semaglutide use is associated with a lower risk of adult-onset seizures
Adults with type 2 diabetes taking semaglutide might have a lower risk of developing seizures later in life. New research indicates this protective association is not entirely explained by weight loss, hinting at unique benefits for brain health.
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Study reveals a psychological link between feeling disadvantaged and using people
Study reveals a psychological link between feeling disadvantaged and using people
When people feel disadvantaged compared to their peers, they are more likely to view relationships as mere transactions. A new psychology study reveals how this sense of relative deprivation causes individuals to treat others as tools for personal gain.
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Study of “super movers” suggests exceptional mobility in late life is a powerful marker of brain health
Study of “super movers” suggests exceptional mobility in late life is a powerful marker of brain health
New research published in Neurology suggests that adults over 80 who walk unusually fast experience slower mental decline. These "super movers" demonstrate powerful brain resilience, maintaining sharp minds despite typical markers of aging and disease.
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A simple 30-minute daily routine may help slow cognitive decline
A simple 30-minute daily routine may help slow cognitive decline
A 12-week program requiring older adults to read out loud, write by hand, and solve basic math problems for 30 minutes a day resulted in measurable improvements on cognitive tests.
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New study details how ketamine alters neural networks differently in males and females
New study details how ketamine alters neural networks differently in males and females
A recent study indicates that female mice experience distinct brain rewiring after ketamine anesthesia. Researchers found that a surge in the stress hormone corticosterone drives immune cells to build new neural connections, a process absent in males.
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Severe COVID-19 linked to anxiety in offspring via altered sperm RNA
Severe COVID-19 linked to anxiety in offspring via altered sperm RNA
A small study found that male mice infected with a severe form of SARS-CoV-2 passed anxiety-like behaviors to their offspring. The researchers traced these intergenerational changes to altered molecular messengers inside the fathers' sperm.
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Retirees are building new identities on the pickleball court
Retirees are building new identities on the pickleball court
Pickleball offers retirees a way to forge a new identity after leaving the workforce. But a new study suggests that building skills and social bonds is more important than simply spending hours on the court.
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Higher availability of male partners is linked to better pregnancy outcomes and healthier infants
Higher availability of male partners is linked to better pregnancy outcomes and healthier infants
A study published in the Journal of Public Economics suggests that local dating markets shape pregnancy health. Having more available male partners is associated with stronger relationships, lower maternal infection rates, and healthier newborns.
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Inflammation corresponds to altered brain wiring in borderline personality disorder
Inflammation corresponds to altered brain wiring in borderline personality disorder
People with borderline personality disorder may experience low-grade systemic inflammation that corresponds to structural differences in the brain's internal wiring. A recent study links elevated immune markers to reduced integrity in brain pathways that regulate human emotion.
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Study suggests waist-to-bust ratio, not waist-to-hip ratio, drives female body attractiveness among Japanese men
Study suggests waist-to-bust ratio, not waist-to-hip ratio, drives female body attractiveness among Japanese men
Japanese men prefer a female body proportion that is exceptionally rare in real life. New research suggests that waist-to-bust ratio, rather than waist-to-hip ratio, drives attractiveness ratings, pointing to media influence over evolutionary biology.
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Death anxiety is linked to worse insomnia through more severe nightmares
Death anxiety is linked to worse insomnia through more severe nightmares
Is the fear of death keeping you awake? Recent research suggests that intense death anxiety predicts stronger insomnia symptoms, a link partially explained by a rise in severe nightmares.
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People who feel lonely show altered brain activity when processing internal physical signals
People who feel lonely show altered brain activity when processing internal physical signals
A recent study indicates that loneliness alters how we perceive internal physical signals. Lonely individuals tend to distrust their bodily sensations and show reduced brain responses to their heartbeats, offering a physiological explanation for the distress of isolation.
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New blood tests accurately detect Alzheimer’s disease in adults with Down syndrome
New blood tests accurately detect Alzheimer’s disease in adults with Down syndrome
People with Down syndrome face an elevated risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. A recent study indicates that simple blood tests can accurately detect early brain changes, paving the way for easier diagnosis and inclusive clinical trials.
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Brain signals help reproductive cells survive heat stress, new worm study suggests
Brain signals help reproductive cells survive heat stress, new worm study suggests
Scientists have discovered a hidden communication network in worms where the nervous system uses small RNA molecules to protect fertility. This shows that an animal's sensory perception can physically buffer its reproductive system against extreme heat.
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Past interpersonal trauma can shape current relationship conflict tactics
Past interpersonal trauma can shape current relationship conflict tactics
How people manage disagreements with romantic partners relies heavily on their attachment orientation. A recent study reveals that individuals with insecure attachments are less likely to compromise and more prone to confrontational or submissive behaviors during relationship disputes.
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Friends tend to be somewhat closer if their demographic characteristics are similar
Friends tend to be somewhat closer if their demographic characteristics are similar
Do birds of a feather really flock together? A new study suggests that sharing demographic traits, such as age and gender, is linked to higher emotional closeness in friendships, especially for women and outgoing individuals.
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Men with atypical testosterone levels face a higher risk of depression
Men with atypical testosterone levels face a higher risk of depression
Men whose testosterone levels fall unusually high or low for their age group face an increased risk of developing depression. A large study suggests that midlife is a particularly vulnerable period for these hormone-related mental health risks.
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A study of 57,000 U.S. director elections finds that women nominees generally get stronger shareholder support than men, but that advantage shrinks in counties with higher religiosity, more Republican voters, and denser social networks.
Shareholder support for women directors shrinks in religious and conservative corporate hometowns
A study of 57,000 U.S. director elections finds that women nominees generally get stronger shareholder support than men, but that advantage shrinks in counties with higher religiosity, more Republican voters, and denser social networks.
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Parental high-fat diets leave lasting marks on offspring brain development
Parental high-fat diets leave lasting marks on offspring brain development
A parent's diet before and during pregnancy leaves lasting physical marks on offspring brains. A new mouse study shows that parental high-fat diets alter brain structure into adulthood, even if the offspring transition to healthy eating.
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People cooperated with machines and humans alike in one-shot games, but in repeated play they exploited artificial agents more, defecting even when they expected the machine to cooperate, a new lab study finds.
A lab experiment reveals a hidden bias against artificial agents
People cooperated with machines and humans alike in one-shot games, but in repeated play they exploited artificial agents more, defecting even when they expected the machine to cooperate, a new lab study finds.
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Eye tracking reveals the hidden power of painted hands
Eye tracking reveals the hidden power of painted hands
A new eye-tracking experiment reveals that the pointing gestures painted into classic artworks secretly act as guides for human vision. Even though viewers barely look at the painted hands, these small details completely reshape how we understand the artwork.
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Body dysmorphia is linked to an exaggerated cognitive bias for self-related information
Body dysmorphia is linked to an exaggerated cognitive bias for self-related information
A basic bias in how the brain processes self-relevant information might contribute to severe body image preoccupations. New research shows that individuals with body dysmorphic traits learn and process self-related information much faster than information about others.
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Migraines are linked to accelerated brain aging in regions tied to memory and emotion
Migraines are linked to accelerated brain aging in regions tied to memory and emotion
Migraines are more than just painful headaches. A new study reveals that the condition is linked to accelerated brain aging, with structural changes appearing in regions responsible for memory, attention, and emotional regulation.
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A study of Korean household data finds that rising home prices boost consumption almost exclusively among multi-property owners, while renters and single-home owners show little or slightly negative responses.
When housing booms lift spending, only landlords seem to notice
A study of Korean household data finds that rising home prices boost consumption almost exclusively among multi-property owners, while renters and single-home owners show little or slightly negative responses.
dlvr.it
New study reveals how culture shapes our attraction to people who flaunt their wealth
New study reveals how culture shapes our attraction to people who flaunt their wealth
A recent study published in the International Marketing Review suggests that flaunting luxury experiences online, rather than material goods, can make people appear more attractive. However, this effect depends heavily on a potential partner's cultural background and gender.
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