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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:08PM
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TITLE:
Study hints at tools to prevent diabetes caused by psychiatric meds
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140840.htm

New research points to a potential approach to reducing the risk of diabetes associated with widely prescribed antipsychotic medications. The study presents early evidence in support of co-administering antipsychotic medications that block dopamine receptors in the brain alongside drugs that stop antipsychotics from blocking those same receptors in the pancreas. This approach could limit metabolic side effects, including impaired control over blood sugar, or dysglycemia.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:08PM
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TITLE:
Confronting trauma alleviates chronic pain among older veterans
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140835.htm

A new study found chronic pain among older adults could be significantly reduced through a newly developed psychotherapy that works by confronting past trauma and stress-related emotions that can exacerbate pain symptoms.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:08PM
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TITLE:
After major traumatic brain injury, more blood transfusions could mean better outcomes
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140824.htm

Increased use of blood transfusions after major traumatic brain injury could help people hospitalized in intensive care units regain greater functional independence and a better quality of life, according to new research.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:08PM
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TITLE:
Neural balance in the brain is associated with brain maturity and better cognitive ability
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140849.htm

The E/I ratio of children decreases with healthy development. Children with a lower E/I ratio were observed to have better performance than their peers in cognitive tests such as memory and intelligence, according to researchers.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:08PM
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TITLE:
Confronting trauma alleviates chronic pain among older veterans
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140835.htm

A new study found chronic pain among older adults could be significantly reduced through a newly developed psychotherapy that works by confronting past trauma and stress-related emotions that can exacerbate pain symptoms.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:08PM
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TITLE:
After major traumatic brain injury, more blood transfusions could mean better outcomes
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140824.htm

Increased use of blood transfusions after major traumatic brain injury could help people hospitalized in intensive care units regain greater functional independence and a better quality of life, according to new research.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:08PM
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TITLE:
Confronting trauma alleviates chronic pain among older veterans
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140835.htm
A new study found chronic pain among older adults could be significantly reduced through a newly developed psychotherapy that works by confronting past trauma and stress-related emotions that can exacerbate pain symptoms.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:09PM
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TITLE:
Studies uncover the critical role of sleep in the formation of memories
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140906.htm

A lack of sleep can make it extraordinarily difficult to retain information. Two new studies uncover why this is and what is happening inside the brain during sleep and sleep deprivation to help or harm the formation of memories.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:08PM
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TITLE:
Parliamentary members use simpler language on hot days
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140846.htm

Climate change has many widespread and complicated effects on the well-being of people and the planet, and a new study has now added a surprising one to the list. After analyzing the language used in seven million parliamentary speeches around the world, it shows that high temperatures lead to a significant and immediate reduction in politicians' language complexity.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:08PM
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TITLE:
Pediatric brain tumors rely on different metabolic 'route' to fuel treatment resistance
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140858.htm

Researchers are one step closer to understanding how pediatric DIPG tumors work.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:09PM
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TITLE:
Studies uncover the critical role of sleep in the formation of memories
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140906.htm

A lack of sleep can make it extraordinarily difficult to retain information. Two new studies uncover why this is and what is happening inside the brain during sleep and sleep deprivation to help or harm the formation of memories.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 04:11PM
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TITLE:
Technologies enable 3D imaging of whole human brain hemispheres at subcellular resolution
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613161138.htm

A suite of three innovations enables high-resolution, high-throughput imaging of human brain tissue at a full range of scales and mapping connectivity of neurons at single cell resolution. To demonstrate the advance, researchers compared a brain region in an Alzheimer's and a control sample.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 04:11PM
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TITLE:
Technologies enable 3D imaging of whole human brain hemispheres at subcellular resolution
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613161138.htm

A suite of three innovations enables high-resolution, high-throughput imaging of human brain tissue at a full range of scales and mapping connectivity of neurons at single cell resolution. To demonstrate the advance, researchers compared a brain region in an Alzheimer's and a control sample.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:09PM
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TITLE:
Being given a choice makes touch more pleasant, study finds
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140918.htm

When people are asked for consent before being touched, they have a more pleasant experience of the interaction, researchers have discovered.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 06:00PM
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TITLE:
New insights into how parasocial interactions influence our empathy
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/new-insights-into-how-parasocial-interactions-influence-our-empathy/
<p>Recent research published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2024.2360466" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Journal of Social Psychology</a></em> has shed light on the intriguing world of parasocial interactions, where individuals form emotional and psychological connections with people they have never met. The new study provides evidence that these interactions can influence state-level empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of others in specific situations.</p>
<p>Parasocial relationships are one-sided connections that individuals form with media figures, celebrities, or fictional characters. Unlike traditional relationships, parasocial relationships are not reciprocal; the individual feels a bond with the figure, but the figure does not know of their existence.</p>
<p>These relationships can develop through repeated exposure to media, such as watching a favorite TV show or following a celebrity on social media. Despite their one-sided nature, parasocial relationships can evoke strong emotional responses and can influence people&;s behaviors and attitudes similarly to real-life interactions.</p>
<p>Previous research has shown that parasocial relationships can trigger cognitive, emotional, and behavioral responses, but the specific impact on temporary, or state-level, empathy was less understood. The researchers aimed to fill this gap.</p>
<p>&;Our interests were primarily piqued by the idea that situational factors can influence the extent to which empathize with a target,&; said study author Tyler Robinson, a PhD student at the University of North Carolina Greensboro, and Jana Hackathorn, a professor and chair of Murray State University. &;Empathy (both cognitive and affective) can be an important instrument bearing critical consequences for social interaction. We believe that a more informed understanding of the situations in which empathy can fluctuate is crucial for advancing research in social influence, close relationships, and social perception.&;</p>
<p>The study involved 135 undergraduate students from a midwestern university, primarily white females around 19 years old. The researchers used a combination of surveys and an experimental task to measure changes in empathy.</p>
<p>Participants first completed a survey collecting demographic information and assessing their baseline trait empathy using the Trait Empathy Scale. This scale includes questions about general tendencies to understand and share others&; emotions. Trait empathy is a stable characteristic that reflects a person&;s general tendency to empathize with others. It includes consistent aspects of empathy such as emotional concern (feeling compassion for others), emotional contagion (sharing others&; emotions), and perspective-taking (seeing things from others&; viewpoints).</p>
<p>To establish a neutral emotional baseline, participants watched a short, silent video showing someone experiencing writer&;s block. The video was chosen to avoid eliciting strong emotions, ensuring that any changes in empathy could be attributed to the experimental task rather than pre-existing emotional states. Participants then completed the State Empathy Scale, which measures immediate empathic responses. This scale asked participants to rate their feelings about the video across various components of empathy.</p>
<p>Participants were randomly assigned to imagine and write about spending three days with either a favorite or least favorite person, who could be either a real person or a parasocial target, such as a celebrity. This created four different conditions: favorite-real, favorite-parasocial, least favorite-real, and least favorite-parasocial. Participants described their thoughts and feelings about spending time with this person in detail, with most responses meeting the two-paragraph requirement.</p>
<p>After completing their essays, participants took the State Empathy Scale again, this time reflecting on their feelings towards the person they wrote about in the task. This allowed researchers to measure any changes in empathy resulting from the imaginary interaction.</p>
<p>The researchers found that these imaginary interactions significantly influenced state-level empathy. Participants who imagined interactions with a favorite person, whether real or parasocial, reported higher state-level empathy compared to those who imagined interactions with a least favorite person.</p>
<p>State-level empathy scores differed between favorite-real and favorite-parasocial targets, with higher empathy reported for real targets. However, no such difference was found between least favorite-real and least favorite-parasocial targets. This suggests that while we might empathize more with real people we like, our negative feelings towards disliked individuals are consistent, regardless of whether they are real or parasocial.</p>
<p>&;Our research indicates that individuals disproportionately (though perhaps justifiably) dispensed their empathy towards those they consider worthy,&; Robinson and Hackathorn told PsyPost. &;It is possible that we reserve empathy for positive relationships, can distinguish real from parasocial targets and empathize accordingly, and are naturally inclined to withhold empathy for those we perceive negatively. Simply, individuals may be frugal with their empathy.&;</p>
<p>The researchers also uncovered some unexpected findings regarding the relationship between trait empathy and state empathy before and after the experimental manipulation.</p>
<p>&;We were most surprised by the correlations emerging between trait and state empathy (pre-manipulation and post-manipulation),&; the researchers explained. &;The relationship between these two constructs were stronger prior to our manipulation. And the relationships between emotional concern, emotional contagion, and state empathy ceased to remain related at all.&;</p>
<p><em>&;It is curious.</em> These findings may suggest that participants’ temporary affective empathy strayed from their normal empathic tendencies compared to cognitive empathy. Future research would be needed to examine that, though.&;</p>
<p>But the study, like all research, includes some caveats.</p>
<p>&;For one, since our manipulation exclusively tapped attitudes, we failed to capture more concrete relational distinctions (e.g., family member versus close friend; social pest versus intense rival), as well as discriminate between parasocial relationships that one selectively exposes themselves to (e.g., Taylor Swift) versus parasocial relationships that one may admire/disdain but is not frequently exposed to (e.g., Gandhi; Heinrich Himmler),&; Robinson and Hackathorn noted. &;Secondly, we are unsure how these findings parallel real-world occurrences. Future work is desirable if we are to understand the limits of the present study’s external validity, that is, its generalizability.&;</p>
<p>In addition, &;it would be great to understand the additional factors that might heighten or depress one’s short-term empathic sensibilities,&; the researchers said. &;Perhaps, testing whether these temporary shifts in empathy go on to determine other aspects of thoughts (e.g., beliefs), feelings (e.g., attitudes), and behavior (e.g., prosocial or antagonistic).&;</p>
<p>&;I would like to extend my thanks to Dr. Jana Hackathorn for her contribution to this project,&; Robinson added. &;Dr. Hackathorn has always pushed and inspired me to conduct exemplary research and I am sincerely grateful for my time spent working with her at Murray State University. The opportunities, wisdom, and guidance provided by her, as well as other esteemed psychology faculty at Murray State University, are bar-none and she certainly played a crucial role in achieving my goals.&;</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224545.2024.2360466" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The name’s bond. parasocial bond: imagined interactions and state-level empathy</a>,&; was authored by Tyler J. Robinson, Xavier Brown, and Jana Hackathorn.</p>

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June 13, 2024 at 04:11PM
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TITLE:
Are mixed emotions real? New research says yes
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613161150.htm

Neuroscientists found that brains display distinct neural activity when experiencing emotions such as bitter-sweetness. The advance could help solve a longstanding scientific debate: whether 'mixed emotions' arise from unique activity in the brain, or if we're just flip-flopping back and forth between positive and negative feelings.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 04:11PM
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TITLE:
Are mixed emotions real? New research says yes
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613161150.htm

Neuroscientists found that brains display distinct neural activity when experiencing emotions such as bitter-sweetness. The advance could help solve a longstanding scientific debate: whether 'mixed emotions' arise from unique activity in the brain, or if we're just flip-flopping back and forth between positive and negative feelings.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:07PM
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TITLE:
Promising gene therapy for FOXG1 syndrome
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140743.htm

A viral gene therapy has reversed some brain abnormalities in infant mice with FOXG1 syndrome, a significant step toward one day treating children with this severe neurodevelopmental disorder.
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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 05:28PM
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TITLE:
Mouse study identifies unique approach for preventing life-threatening complications after spinal cord injury
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612172856.htm

A new study identifies a druggable cellular target that, if controlled properly, could prevent or lessen autonomic dysfunction and improve quality of life for people with spinal cord injury.
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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 02:08PM
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TITLE:
Incorporating 'touch' into social media interactions can increase feelings of support and approval
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612140829.htm

Including 'tactile emoticons' into social media communications can enhance communication, according to a new study.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:07PM
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TITLE:
Promising gene therapy for FOXG1 syndrome
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140743.htm

A viral gene therapy has reversed some brain abnormalities in infant mice with FOXG1 syndrome, a significant step toward one day treating children with this severe neurodevelopmental disorder.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 04:00PM
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TITLE:
Video games linked to better neuropsychological performance in adults with multiple sclerosis
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/video-games-linked-to-better-neuropsychological-performance-in-adults-with-multiple-sclerosis/
<p>A study of adults with multiple sclerosis found that participants who spent more time playing video games tended to have better neuropsychological functioning. Specifically, gamers showed improvements in visuospatial learning, short-term memory, and executive functioning. The paper was published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-024-00291-4"><em>Journal of Cognitive Enhancement</em></a>.</p>
<p>Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, including the brain and spinal cord. It involves an abnormal immune response that attacks the myelin sheath, the protective covering of nerve fibers, leading to inflammation and damage. This disruption in communication within the brain and between the brain and the rest of the body can result in a wide range of symptoms, such as fatigue, weakness, balance and coordination problems, vision disturbances, and cognitive decline.</p>
<p>The course of multiple sclerosis can vary. Some individuals will experience periods of relapse and remission, while others have a more progressive form of the disease with symptoms gradually worsening over time. At the moment there is no cure for multiple sclerosis. Treatments focus on managing symptoms.</p>
<p>Study author Thomas J. Covey and his colleagues noted that accumulating cognitive reserve might help individuals become more resilient to cognitive decline. Cognitive reserve is the brain&;s ability to adapt and find alternative ways of functioning to compensate for damage. Engaging in stimulating activities such as cognitive leisure activities, education, and occupational attainment can help build cognitive reserve.</p>
<p>The authors hypothesized that video games could be among these stimulating activities due to their enjoyable and cognitively challenging nature. Previous research has shown that playing a &;Super Mario&; video game over several months was associated with increases in brain gray matter volume and functional changes in several brain regions. Based on this, the researchers hypothesized that individuals with multiple sclerosis who spend more time playing video games would have better neuropsychological performance.</p>
<p>The study involved 42 adults with multiple sclerosis, 34 of whom were female. Participants, with an average age of 45, had been managing their symptoms with various medications for an average of 12-13 years. On average, they reported playing video games for five hours per week, although this ranged from 0 to 40 hours.</p>
<p>Participants completed a questionnaire about their current and lifetime history of video game playing, as well as their preferred games. They also underwent a series of neuropsychological tests to estimate their intelligence level before the onset of multiple sclerosis (using the North American Adult Reading Test) and assess their current neuropsychological functioning (using the Minimal Assessment of Cognitive Functioning in Multiple Sclerosis).</p>
<p>Thirty-two participants reported having completed at least one video game during adulthood, and 24 of these had regularly played video games in the past three months.</p>
<p>Participants who reported playing video games for longer hours tended to have better overall cognitive performance, including improved executive functioning, short-term memory, and visuospatial and verbal learning abilities. These relationships held even after controlling for age, time since the onset of multiple sclerosis, and pre-disease intelligence levels. Additionally, hours spent playing video games were a better predictor of these cognitive abilities than some factors traditionally considered beneficial for cognitive reserve.</p>
<p>“The findings suggest that playing video games consistently through adulthood is associated with better cognitive outcomes in PwMS [people with multiple sclerosis], particularly in the domains of new learning and executive functioning,&; the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study sheds light on the links between video gaming and neuropsychological functioning in adults with multiple sclerosis. However, the study&;s design does not allow for cause-and-effect conclusions. While playing video games might help prevent cognitive decline, it is also possible that individuals with better cognitive abilities are more capable of playing and enjoying video games.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s41465-024-00291-4">History of Playing Video Games is Associated with Better Neuropsychological Performance in People with Multiple Sclerosis,</a>” was authored by Thomas J. Covey, Janet L. Shucard, Elizabeth Bukoskey, and David W. Shucard.</p>

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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:09PM
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TITLE:
Short-term loneliness associated with physical health problems
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613140903.htm

Loneliness may be harmful to our daily health, according to a new study focused on understanding the subtleties of loneliness and how variations in daily feelings of loneliness effect short- and long-term well-being. The researchers said the work provides more evidence in support of the devastating impact of loneliness and isolation on physical health in the country, calling it a public health crisis.
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DATE: June 13, 2024 at 02:59PM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
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Lykos Therapeutics has released a statement to provide additional insights on the outcome of the FDA Psychopharmacologic Drugs Advisory Committee meeting on MDMA-assisted therapy. Learn more here: https://t.co/3ZH1M2N63X
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Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news

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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Study finds decline in support for political violence in the United States
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/study-finds-decline-in-support-for-political-violence-in-the-united-states/
<p>A recent study published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s40621-024-00503-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Injury Epidemiology</a></em> revealed a significant shift in Americans&; attitudes towards political violence between 2022 and 2023. While the overall support for political violence declined, the expectation of firearm use in such scenarios saw an alarming rise. These findings highlight a complex and evolving landscape of support for political violence in the United States.</p>
<p>Political violence, defined as the use of force or violence to advance political objectives, poses a severe threat to democratic processes and public safety. Previous reports and surveys have documented a worrying trend of rising political violence and extremist beliefs, prompting the need for a deeper exploration of public attitudes towards these issues.</p>
<p>&;We&;ve studied firearm violence for decades, and anomalous trends in purchasing in 2021 led us to conduct a survey on support for and personal willingness to engage in political violence in 2022,” said study author Garen J. Wintemute, the Baker–Teret Chair in Violence Prevention and Distinguished Professor of Emergency Medicine at the University of California, Davis</p>
<p>&;The results surprised us: 32.8% of the population thought violence was usually or always justified to advance at least one specific political objective. We thought it important to study change over time, and the new paper reports our findings on those same measures in 2023.&;</p>
<p>The study is the second wave of a nationally representative cohort survey conducted by researchers from the University of California, Davis, and administered by the survey research firm Ipsos. The first wave took place in 2022, with 12,947 respondents participating. For the second wave in 2023, the researchers re-surveyed 9,385 of the original respondents, maintaining a high retention rate of 84.2%.</p>
<p>Participants were drawn from the Ipsos KnowledgePanel, an online research panel representative of the U.S. adult population. The survey was available in both English and Spanish and included a wide range of demographic variables to ensure comprehensive coverage of the population.</p>
<p>The survey focused on three broad domains: beliefs regarding democracy and the potential for violence, views on American society and institutions, and support for and willingness to engage in political violence. Participants were asked about their views on the justification of political violence for various objectives and their personal willingness to engage in such violence, including the likelihood of using firearms.</p>
<p>One of the study&;s central findings was a decrease in general support for political violence. In 2022, nearly one-third of Americans considered violence justified to advance certain political objectives. By 2023, this number had dropped to 25.3%. Similarly, the belief that civil war is imminent in the United States declined from 13.7% in 2022 to 5.7% in 2023.</p>
<p>&;Support for political violence declined from 2022 to 2023, but 2023 wasn’t an election year. We’re in the field right now with the 2024 questionnaire, and we’ll see if there’s been a rebound as elections approach again,&; Wintemute told PsyPost.</p>
<p>&;We were surprised in 2022 by the finding that 14% of respondents strongly or very strongly agreed with the assertion that &;in the next few years, there will be civil war in the United States.&; That proportion fell to 5.7% in 2023 (again, not an election year), but of those who still thought civil war was coming, nearly 40% also agreed strongly or very strongly that &;the United States needs a civil war to set things right.'&;</p>
<p>Despite the decline in support for political violence, the study found an increase in the predicted use of firearms in such scenarios. In 2023, 9% of respondents believed it very likely they would be armed with a gun in a situation where they considered political violence justified, up from previous years. The proportion of respondents who thought it likely they would shoot someone in such a situation also increased slightly, highlighting a concerning trend towards the normalization of armed violence in political conflicts.</p>
<p>While the study provides valuable insights, it also has limitations. The findings are subject to sampling error and nonresponse bias, though the high response rate for the second wave (84%) mitigates some concerns. Additionally, external events such as high-profile mass shootings and political developments may have influenced respondents&; views.</p>
<p>&;It’s a longitudinal survey; we’re contacting the same people each year at about the same time,&; Wintemute noted. &;Wave 3 is in the field now, and we hope to have results from 2024 data by the end of the summer. There’s much more to come from this project.&;</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://injepijournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s40621-024-00503-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Single-year change in views of democracy and society and support for political violence in the USA: findings from a 2023 nationally representative survey</a>&;, was authored by Garen J. Wintemute, Sonia L. Robinson, Andrew Crawford, Elizabeth A. Tomsich, Paul M. Reeping, Aaron B. Shev, Bradley Velasquez, and Daniel Tancredi.</p>

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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
Gratitude robustly predicts reduced loneliness, comprehensive study shows
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/gratitude-robustly-predicts-reduced-loneliness-comprehensive-study-shows/
<p>A recent study published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/aphw.12549" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being</a></em> has provided new insights into the relationship between gratitude and loneliness. The meta-analysis, which synthesized data from 26 studies, found a moderate inverse association between gratitude and loneliness. In other words, individuals who tend to feel more gratitude also tend to experience less loneliness.</p>
<p>Loneliness is a pervasive and distressing emotional experience that can lead to a host of negative outcomes, including depression, cardiovascular problems, and cognitive decline. Conversely, gratitude is often associated with positive emotional states and has been linked to better physical and psychological health.</p>
<p>Researchers have been intrigued by the potential connection between these two experiences. Despite some individual studies suggesting that gratitude can reduce feelings of loneliness, a comprehensive analysis had not been conducted to consolidate these findings and examine their overall significance. This study aimed to fill that gap by providing a quantitative synthesis of existing research on the topic.</p>
<p>&;I am generally interested in the interface between Positive Psychology and Health Psychology. Gratitude is an important positive psychology construct that has implications for both psychological and physical health,&; said study author <a href="https://charleston.edu/psychology/faculty/hittner-james.php" target="_blank" rel="noopener">James B. Hittner</a>, a professor of psychology at the College of Charleston.</p>
<p>&;Loneliness, on the other hand, is an aversive emotional experience resulting from a perceived lack of social connectedness. Although studies over the years have found inverse associations (negative correlations) between gratitude and loneliness, the literature had yet to be consolidated and summarized using meta-analytic methods. We conducted our meta-analysis to address this gap in the literature.&;</p>
<p>The researchers conducted a meta-analysis, which is a statistical method used to combine results from multiple studies to identify general trends. They began by searching several academic databases for studies that examined the relationship between gratitude and loneliness. This search yielded 26 relevant studies, which included a total of 9,679 participants.</p>
<p>To be included in the analysis, studies had to report a simple correlation between gratitude and loneliness. Studies that used more complex statistical models or focused on interventions were excluded to maintain consistency in the data. The included studies varied in their sample sizes, population types, and geographical locations, providing a broad overview of the research on this topic.</p>
<p>The meta-analysis revealed a statistically significant, moderate inverse association between gratitude and loneliness. The overall effect size indicated that individuals who reported higher levels of gratitude tended to experience lower levels of loneliness.</p>
<p>&;The magnitude of association between gratitude and loneliness appears to be robust, meaning that the strength of correlation between gratitude and loneliness did not systematically vary in accordance with study size (sample size), date of a study’s publication (publication year), or the country in which a study was conducted,&; Hittner explained.</p>
<p>To further interpret their findings, the researchers calculated a common language effect size, which translates the statistical results into a more intuitive probability-based measure. They found that if a random individual scores above average in gratitude, there is a 62.4% chance that this person will also score below average in loneliness.</p>
<p>&;We were pleasantly surprised by how robust the overall, meta-analytic association between gratitude and loneliness appears to be,&; Hittner told PsyPost. &;Our results suggest that heightened levels of gratitude are associated with greater interpersonal resiliency, thereby lessening perceived levels of loneliness.&;</p>
<p>The findings also suggest that &;it would be beneficial to modify gratitude enhancement intervention programs with an eye toward reducing loneliness (and we offer several recommendations for doing so),&; Hittner said.</p>
<p>The researchers suggest several directions for future research. One area of interest is the exploration of the mechanisms underlying the relationship between gratitude and loneliness. Longitudinal studies could also provide valuable insights by tracking individuals over time to see how changes in gratitude levels affect loneliness. This approach would help to clarify the direction of causality and identify potential mediating factors.</p>
<p>&;One research question of interest is whether the strength of association between gratitude and loneliness is similar to the strength of association between gratitude and other aversive emotions, such as depression, anxiety and fearfulness,&; Hittner said.</p>
<p>&;Relatedly, would it matter if these and perhaps other emotions were assessed individually or as part of a factor variable, such as neuroticism? Also, in the context of a longitudinal study, which personal and socially-based variables would significantly mediate the association between initial levels of gratitude and the eventual experience of loneliness?&;</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://iaap-journals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/aphw.12549" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Meta-analysis of the association between gratitude and loneliness</a>,&; was authored by James B. Hittner and Calvin D. Widholm.</p>

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DATE: June 13, 2024 at 11:00AM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
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Actual article link at end of text block below.
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The Youth Mental Health Corps, a first-of-its-kind initiative, will launch this fall in 4 states. The program will recruit young volunteers to help their peers who are struggling with mental health issues. https://t.co/EkBz8ULE7A
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Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news

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DATE: June 13, 2024 at 10:02AM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
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"The answer to problems with benzodiazepines is not to ignorantly assume that these medicines are uniformly destructive to patients."

Learn more about misconceptions around benzodiazepines in one of our June cover stories. https://t.co/3WAXCyHIOC
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 10:00AM
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TITLE:
Women prefer feminine male faces in times of material scarcity, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/women-prefer-feminine-male-faces-in-times-of-material-scarcity-study-finds/
<p>A recent study examined the effects of different types of scarcity—material, time, and psychological—on women’s preferences for masculinity in male faces, finding that when resources are scarce, women exhibit a greater preference for feminine male faces. This research was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/14747049231175073"><em>Evolutionary Psychology</em></a>.</p>
<p>Research suggests women select for facial masculinity as it predicts health and genetic quality, a desirable trait in potential partners. However, men with more masculine faces are also perceived as less faithful and more inclined towards short-term relationships. There appears to be a trade-off between choosing a mate with good health and genetic benefits versus a mate who is more likely to invest in long-term parental care. Previous research has shown that women’s preferences can shift based on their environmental context, particularly in relation to resource availability.</p>
<p>In contexts where resources are scarce, women may prioritize traits that signal a man’s ability to provide material support. Conversely, in environments where resources are abundant, women might favor traits associated with genetic quality and health.</p>
<p>Lee and McGuire (2023) recruited 802 women (average age ~ 25 years) through social media. Participants were attracted to men, with 35.08% being single and 62.30% in committed relationships. They completed the Perceived Scarcity Scale, which measures three domains of scarcity: material, time, and psychological. Participants rated their agreement with various statements on a 7-point scale [e.g., “I have had my utilities (e.g., heat, water, etc.) turned off because I could not pay my bill”].</p>
<p>Participants also completed a Face Rating Task, where they were shown 42 male faces sequentially and prompted to rate their attractiveness on a 9-point scale. Two facial metrics were used: objective sexual dimorphism, calculated using geometric morphometric techniques, and perceived masculinity, based on ratings from a normative dataset. The researchers controlled for order effects by presenting the tasks in random order.</p>
<p>Lee and McGuire found that material scarcity was significantly associated with a decreased preference for facial sexual dimorphism; as material scarcity increased, women showed a greater preference for more feminine male faces. There was a significant interaction between objective sexual dimorphism and material scarcity, indicating that women experiencing higher material scarcity rated more feminine faces as more attractive.</p>
<p>This finding supports the hypothesis that in contexts where material resources are scarce, women may prioritize traits that indicate a man’s potential for resource provisioning. No significant effects were found for time scarcity or psychological scarcity on preferences for facial masculinity.</p>
<p>One limitation is the low levels of material scarcity in the sample, likely due to the requirement of internet access and the predominance of a Western population, which limits generalizability to non-Western populations or those experiencing higher scarcity. Further research is needed in more diverse populations and under varying levels of resource scarcity.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/14747049231175073">Women’s Preferences for Masculinity in Male Faces Are Predicted by Material Scarcity, But Not Time or Psychological Scarcity</a>”, was authored by Anthony J. Lee and Nikita K. J. McGuire.</p>

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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 09:00AM
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TITLE:
Insights into Molecular Basis of PTSD and Major Depression Could One Day Aid in Diagnosis and Treatment
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URL:
https://directorsblog.nih.gov/2024/06/13/insights-into-molecular-basis-of-ptsd-and-major-depression-could-one-day-aid-in-diagnosis-and-treatment/

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1024" height="576" src="https://directorsblog.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Molecular-process-in-PTSD-1024x576.jpg" alt="A man looks depressed. Behind him is a microscopic image of neurons" class="wp-image-26004" srcset="https://directorsblog.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Molecular-process-in-PTSD-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://directorsblog.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Molecular-process-in-PTSD-300x169.jpg 300w, https://directorsblog.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Molecular-process-in-PTSD-150x84.jpg 150w, https://directorsblog.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Molecular-process-in-PTSD-768x432.jpg 768w, https://directorsblog.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Molecular-process-in-PTSD-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https://directorsblog.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Molecular-process-in-PTSD-180x100.jpg?crop=1 180w, https://directorsblog.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Molecular-process-in-PTSD.jpg 1920w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>Credit: S. Thomas Carmichael/UCLA, Yuliia/Adobe Stock</em></figcaption></figure>

<p>We know stress can take a toll on our mental health. Yet, it’s unclear why some people develop stress-related mental health disorders and others don’t. The risk for developing a stress-related mental health disorder such as <a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/post-traumatic-stress-disorder-ptsd" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">post-traumatic stress disorder</a> (PTSD) or <a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/major-depression" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">major depressive disorder</a> (MDD) depends on a complex interplay between the genetic vulnerabilities we are born with and the impact of traumatic stress we experience over our lifetimes.</p>

<p>Given this complexity, it’s been difficult for researchers to pinpoint the underlying biological pathways in the body that ultimately produce changes associated with PTSD, major depression, or other mental health conditions. Now, a study reported in a special issue of <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adh3707" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>Science</em></a> on decoding the brain uses a comprehensive approach to examine multiple biological processes across brain regions, cell types, and blood to elucidate this complexity. It’s an unprecedented effort to understand in a more holistic way the essential biological networks involved in PTSD and MDD.</p>

<p>While earlier studies looked at stress hormones, the immune system, and other molecular signatures of stress in blood samples, what had been largely missing from the picture of PTSD and MDD were links between those changes in the body and changes in the brain. To get a more complete picture, a multisite research team led by <a href="https://www.mcleanhospital.org/profile/nikolaos-daskalakis" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Nikolaos P. Daskalakis</a> and <a href="https://www.mcleanhospital.org/profile/kerry-ressler" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Kerry Ressler</a> of McLean Hospital, Belmont, MA, developed a vast molecular dataset including DNA variants, RNA, proteins, and chemical modifications to DNA. This “multi-omic” dataset was generated by the NIH-supported PTSD Brainomics Project of the <a href="https://www.nimhgenetics.org/resources/psychencode" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">PsychENCODE Consortium</a>, and included postmortem data from 231 individuals with PTSD and/or MDD, as well as from individuals who didn’t have known mental health conditions.</p>

<p>In the study, the researchers looked at three essential brain regions: the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), the hippocampal dentate gyrus, and the central nucleus of the amygdala. They conducted single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of 118 dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) samples to look at cell-type-specific patterns and evaluated protein changes in the blood of more than 50,000 UK Biobank samples to look for biomarkers of stress-related disorders. After identifying key brain-based genes whose expression was altered in PTSD and/or MDD, the researchers compared them to genes linked to increased risk for these conditions.</p>

<p>Among many findings, the study results show an important role for the mPFC in both stress-related conditions, which is interesting, as the mPFC is essential for integrating signals from other brain areas and is known to play a role in cognitive processes, emotional regulation, motivation, and sociability. The findings also highlight important roles for molecular pathways known to play a role in immune function, the regulation of neurons and neural connections, and stress hormones. The single-cell RNA sequencing in the dlPFC also uncovered dysregulated stress-related signals in neurons and other brain cell types.</p>

<p>Furthermore, the findings reveal shared changes in gene activity between PTSD and MDD, as well as notable differences in the patterns of methyl marks on the DNA, suggesting changes in the way genes are switched on or off, and at the level of cell-type-specific gene activity. The researchers also found that history of childhood trauma and suicide were drivers of molecular changes in both disorders.</p>

<p>The data point to a short list of proteins that may be important in regulating key genetic pathways underlying these disorders. They also reveal links to gene networks related to aging, inflammation, stress, and more. Similarities in disease signals in the brain and blood suggest that blood-based tests might one day offer an additional avenue for assessing these disorders. Interestingly, there was little overlap between PTSD and MDD risk genes and those involved in the underlying molecular-level changes in the brains of people with one or both conditions. This shows that there’s a need for more research into how genetic risk factors are related to molecular-level disease processes.</p>

<p>There’s clearly much more to discover in the years ahead. But these insights already point to important roles for known stress-related pathways in fundamental brain changes underlying PTSD and MDD, while also revealing more novel pathways as potentially promising new treatment targets. With further study, the researchers hope these findings can also begin to answer vexing questions, such as why some people develop PTSD or major depression after stressful events and others don’t.</p>

<p><strong>Reference:</strong></p>

<p>Daskalakis NP, <em>et al</em>. <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38781393/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Systems biology dissection of PTSD and MDD across brain regions, cell types, and blood</a>. <em>Science</em>. DOI: 10.1126/science.adh3707 (2024).</p>

<p><em>This paper is part of a </em><a href="https://www.science.org/collections/psychencode2" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><em>larger collection</em></a><em> of studies from the PsychENCODE Consortium looking at the underlying mechanisms of neuropsychiatric diseases.</em></p>

<p><em>NIH Support: National Institute of Mental Health</em></p>

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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 12:14AM
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TITLE:
Younger workers feel stressed, lonely and undervalued
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240613001402.htm

Younger workers are struggling with feelings of loneliness and a lack of appreciation at work and tend to feel more comfortable working with people their own age, according to a recent survey.
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DATE:
June 11, 2024 at 07:46PM
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TITLE:
Preparing for a world where Alzheimer's disease is treatable
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240611194612.htm

Drugs with the potential to change the course of Alzheimer's disease are expected to be approved by mid-year in the UK. Healthcare services may need to change to ensure that all patients have equitable access to these new modifying anti-amyloid therapies, according to new research.
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DATE:
June 13, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
The surprising link between narcissism and cognitive performance
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/the-surprising-link-between-narcissism-and-cognitive-performance/
<p>Recent research published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0302644"><em>PLOS One</em></a> has shed light on an intriguing connection between narcissism and cognitive performance in stressful situations. The study found that individuals with higher levels of grandiose narcissism performed better on intelligence tests when under stress thanks to a broader distribution of visual attention.</p>
<p>Grandiose narcissism is a personality trait characterized by an inflated sense of self-importance, a constant need for admiration, and a lack of empathy for others. Individuals with high levels of grandiose narcissism often exhibit behaviors such as boasting, dominating social interactions, and feeling entitled to special treatment.</p>
<p>Unlike its counterpart, vulnerable narcissism, which includes traits like insecurity and hypersensitivity to criticism, grandiose narcissism is marked by overt confidence and assertiveness. These individuals are often seen as charismatic and ambitious, but their relationships and social interactions can suffer due to their self-centeredness and tendency to exploit others.</p>
<p>The motivation behind this study stemmed from a curiosity about how grandiose narcissism might influence cognitive performance, particularly under stress. Previous research has shown mixed results regarding the relationship between narcissism and intelligence. While some studies suggested no direct link, others hinted at an indirect association, especially in challenging situations where narcissists might leverage their traits to maintain or even enhance performance.</p>
<p>&;I am interested in individual differences in people&;s personality and ability. Within this area, I study dark traits such as narcissism and how individual differences in dark traits impact negatively or positively important life outcomes such as resilience and performance,&; said study author <a href="http://www.interractlab.co.uk/team/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kostas Papageorgiou</a>, an associate professor of psychology at Queen&;s University Belfast.</p>
<p>To investigate the relationship between grandiose narcissism, visual attention, and cognitive performance under stress, Papageorgiou and his colleagues designed a quasi-experimental study involving 54 participants, mostly female, with an average age of 21 years. These participants had previously provided self-report data on their personality traits and agreed to participate in follow-up studies.</p>
<p>For the experiment, the researchers used the Raven’s Progressive Matrices test, a well-established measure of cognitive ability. The test consists of a series of visual puzzles, each presented as a matrix or grid of geometric shapes. Each matrix has a missing piece, and the task of the test-taker is to identify the correct piece that completes the pattern from a set of multiple-choice options.</p>
<p>Participants completed the Raven’s test while their eye movements were recorded using sophisticated eye-tracking technology. The eye-tracking setup included a high-definition LCD screen and equipment that monitored eye movements at a sampling rate of 1000 Hz. This setup allowed the researchers to capture detailed data on various aspects of visual attention, such as the number and duration of fixations and saccades.</p>
<p>The researchers found that grandiose narcissism predicted higher cognitive performance indirectly through its effect on visual attention. Participants with higher scores in grandiose narcissism exhibited greater variability in their visual attention. This was evidenced by a broader distribution of eye fixations across different parts of the test items. Participants who demonstrated more variability in their eye movements, in turn, tended to perform better on the test.</p>
<p>In other words, while grandiose narcissism appears to contribute to better problem-solving abilities indirectly by promoting a more flexible and efficient distribution of visual attention.</p>
<p>&;It was surprising to see they way that individual differences in personality, narcissism in this case, contributed to differences in the way that participants distributed their attention,&; Kostas told PsyPost. &;Specifically, we used eye-tracking and we were able to observe in detail participants&; eye-movements while completing the Raven&;s test. Individuals scoring high on narcissism exhibited significantly more fixations and performed better overall.&;</p>
<p>The findings provide evidence &;that having the ability to ignore misleading and/or negative feedback might be beneficial in certain conditions. In this instance, individuals scoring higher than average on narcissism were able to score higher on an IQ test during a stressful situation.&;</p>
<p>But the study, like all research, includes limitations. The sample size was relatively small and predominantly female, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. In addition, the reliance on self-report measures for personality traits may introduce biases such as social desirability. Future research could address these limitations by using larger, more diverse samples. Additionally, exploring different facets of narcissism and their specific impacts on cognitive performance could provide a deeper understanding of how personality traits interact with cognitive processes.</p>
<p>Kostas hopes this line of research will help to &;contextualize dark traits within a complex web of costs and benefits for individuals and societies.&;</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0302644" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Grandiose narcissism associates with higher cognitive performance under stress through more efficient attention distribution: An eye-tracking study</a>,&; was authored by Vasilena Stefanova, Christoph Scheepers, Paul Wilson, and Kostas A. Papageorgiou</p>

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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 05:31PM
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TITLE:
Does having a child with low birth weight increase a person's risk of dementia?
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612173116.htm

People who give birth to infants less than 5.5 pounds may be more likely to have memory and thinking problems later in life than people who give birth to infants who do not have a low birth weight, according to a new study. The effect on memory and thinking skills was equivalent to one to two years of aging for those with low-birth-weight deliveries.
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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 05:31PM
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TITLE:
Depressive symptoms in young adults linked to thinking, memory problems in midlife
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612173113.htm

People who experience prolonged depressive symptoms starting in young adulthood may have worse thinking and memory skills in middle age, according to a new study. The study also found that depressive symptoms were experienced more often by Black adults than white adults.
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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 05:31PM
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TITLE:
Exposure to heat and cold in early life may affect development of white matter in the brain
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612173110.htm

Brain scans of more than 2,000 preadolescents suggests that early life exposure to heat and cold may have lasting effects on the microstructure of white matter in the brain, especially when living in poorer neighborhoods. The study highlights the vulnerability of fetuses and children to extreme temperatures.
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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 05:31PM
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TITLE:
Exposure to heat and cold in early life may affect development of white matter in the brain
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612173110.htm

Brain scans of more than 2,000 preadolescents suggests that early life exposure to heat and cold may have lasting effects on the microstructure of white matter in the brain, especially when living in poorer neighborhoods. The study highlights the vulnerability of fetuses and children to extreme temperatures.
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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 08:00PM
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TITLE:
Mindfulness enhances romantic relationships through need fulfillment, study suggests
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/mindfulness-enhances-romantic-relationships-through-need-fulfillment-study-suggests/
<p>A recent study published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12546"><em>Personal Relationships</em></a> sheds light on how mindfulness, self-compassion, and other-compassion intersect with psychological need fulfillment to influence relationship and sexual satisfaction in midlife married couples.</p>
<p>The study was grounded in Self-Determination Theory, a broad framework for understanding human motivation and well-being. The theory posits that individuals have three fundamental psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Autonomy refers to the need to feel in control of one’s actions and decisions. Competence is the need to feel effective and capable in one’s activities. Relatedness involves feeling connected to others and having meaningful relationships.</p>
<p>Given that mindfulness and self-compassion have been shown to enhance individual well-being and relational outcomes, this study aimed to explore their roles within the context of Self-Determination Theory. The researchers sought to investigate how mindfulness and self-compassion contribute to fulfilling the basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness in relationships, and how these needs, in turn, influence relationship and sexual satisfaction.</p>
<p>For their study, the researchers recruited 640 married Canadians aged 40 to 59 through an online survey. Participants were predominantly white (83%), with smaller representations from Southeast Asian (7%) and Black (3%) communities. The sample was mostly heterosexual, with nearly equal numbers of men and women, and a few gender nonbinary individuals. Participants completed various questionnaires measuring mindfulness, self-compassion, other-compassion, need fulfillment, relationship satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction.</p>
<p>Mindfulness was assessed using the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire, which evaluates observation, description, awareness, non-judging of inner experience, and non-reactivity. Self-compassion was measured using the Self-Compassion Scale, which includes items about being kind and understanding toward oneself. Compassion toward others was evaluated using the Compassion Scale, which assesses the tendency to comfort others in distress.</p>
<p>Need fulfillment in relationships was measured using the Basic Psychological Need Satisfaction in Relationships scale, which focuses on autonomy, competence, and relatedness. Relationship satisfaction was assessed with the Couple&;s Satisfaction Index, and sexual satisfaction was measured using the Global Measure of Sexual Satisfaction.</p>
<p>The researchers found evidence suggesting that the fulfillment of basic psychological needs played a pivotal role in enhancing relationship and sexual satisfaction. These needs, when fulfilled within a relationship, formed a strong network of positive associations that contributed significantly to overall relational well-being.</p>
<p>Among the three needs, relatedness — the sense of being valued and cared for by one&;s partner — emerged as the most central and impactful factor. The study showed that individuals who felt a strong sense of relatedness with their partners experienced higher levels of relationship satisfaction.</p>
<p>Competence, or the feeling of being effective and capable within the relationship, also showed significant influence. It acted as a bridge connecting mindfulness and self-compassion with the other needs, demonstrating that when individuals feel competent in their relationships, they are more likely to fulfill their needs for autonomy and relatedness as well.</p>
<p>Mindfulness and self-compassion were found to be indirectly associated with relationship and sexual satisfaction through their positive effects on need fulfillment. Higher levels of mindfulness and self-compassion were linked to greater competence need fulfillment, which subsequently influenced the fulfillment of autonomy and relatedness needs.</p>
<p>This suggests that mindfulness and self-compassion help individuals to better meet their needs in a relationship, thereby enhancing overall relationship and sexual satisfaction. The strong association between mindfulness and self-compassion also highlighted their complementary roles in promoting personal and relational well-being.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the study found that other-compassion (compassion toward others) had weaker associations with relationship and sexual satisfaction compared to self-compassion. While being compassionate towards others is generally beneficial, it was the fulfillment of one’s own needs and self-compassion that had stronger and more direct impacts on relationship outcomes. This finding suggests that self-compassion may be a more critical factor for personal and relational well-being in midlife marriages than compassion towards others.</p>
<p>The study utilized psychological network modeling to map out these complex interrelationships, showing how various factors are interconnected within a broader system. It was found that the needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness were strongly interlinked, indicating that fulfilling one need is likely to positively influence the fulfillment of the others. The most significant pathways identified were those connecting need fulfillment with relationship satisfaction, underscoring the importance of these basic psychological needs in maintaining healthy and satisfying relationships.</p>
<p>“Romantic relationships are wonderfully complex and affected by a great many personal and interpersonal variables. We utilized an analytic approach that could model that complexity,” said corresponding author Christopher Quinn-Nilas of Memorial University. “Our results, although preliminary and exploratory, suggest that there may be positive relational benefits to being mindful and self-compassionate. But these positive benefits appear to occur indirectly (via associations with more proximal variables, like need fulfillment in the relationship), which is consistent with emerging theory in this area.”</p>
<p>While the study provides valuable insights, it has several limitations. The cross-sectional design prevents conclusions about causality or temporal precedence. The sample was limited to married Canadians in midlife, mostly heterosexual and cisgender, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. Future research should include more diverse samples and consider longitudinal designs to better understand the causal relationships between these variables.</p>
<p>Additionally, the study focused on individual-level data, which means that partner effects and dyadic interactions were not directly assessed. Future studies should explore these dynamics within couples to provide a more comprehensive understanding of how mindfulness and compassion influence relationship outcomes.</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/pere.12546" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mindfulness networks: Analyzing associations with self-compassion, other-compassion, need fulfillment, and satisfaction in midlife married Canadians</a>,&; was authored by Christopher Quinn-Nilas and Robin R. Milhausen.</p>

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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 06:00PM
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TITLE:
LSD shows promise as anxiety treatment in new study
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/lsd-shows-promise-as-anxiety-treatment-in-new-study/
<p>LSD was accidentally discovered by Albert Hofmann at the Sandoz pharmaceutical company in Switzerland in 1938. It was <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/09/the-accidental-discovery-of-lsd/379564/">apparently useless</a>, but from 1947 it was <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/19990427145322/http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/lsd/lsd-4.htm">marketed</a> as “a cure for everything from schizophrenia to criminal behavior, ‘sexual perversions’, and alcoholism”. It failed to find its niche.</p>
<p>Now, over 80 years later, it may finally have found one – other than <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2014/10/02/352924426/can-psychedelics-expand-our-consciousness">expanding consciousness</a>, that is. A new study shows that it is highly effective at treating <a href="https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/lsd-based-medication-gad-receives-fda-breakthrough-status-2024a10004hf">generalised anxiety disorder</a> for up to 12 weeks with just a single dose. And it is fast acting.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.mentalyc.com/blog/icd-10-code-for-generalized-anxiety-disorder">General anxiety disorder</a> (hereafter referred to simply as “anxiety”) is a mental health condition characterised by excessive worry, fear and anxiety about everyday situations. It affects about 6% of adults during their life. Treatments include psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, as well as medications, such as antidepressants and benzodiazepines.</p>
<p>Psychotherapy is expensive and takes weeks or months, while drugs need to be taken daily for weeks, months or even years. And these can have side-effects. Benzodiazepines are very <a href="https://americanaddictioncenters.org/benzodiazepine/symptoms-and-signs">addictive</a>, while SSRIs (the latest generation of antidepressants) have a <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/ssri-antidepressants/side-effects/">variety of side-effects</a> including sexual dysfunction.</p>
<p>In addition, there are many anxious patients for whom <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40501-017-0129-6">none of the established drugs work</a>. Clearly, new drugs for anxiety are needed.</p>
<p>A clinical trial in the US by the biopharmaceutical company MindMed has shown that a form of LSD (lysergide d-tartrate), given at a relatively low dose, can effectively treat people with anxiety.</p>
<p>Patients were given the drug at 25µg, 50µg, 100µg or 200µg. This was a phase 2b clinical trial, which is where different doses of a drug are tested in a group of people with the illness in question. The purpose is to find a dose that works while having acceptable side-effects. It was found that the 100µg dose was very effective while having only relatively minor side-effects.</p>
<p>The study used the <a href="http://www.assessmentpsychology.com/HAM-A.pdf#:%7E:text=The%20Hamilton%20Anxiety%20Scale%20%28HAM-A%29%20is%20a%20rating,0%20%3D%20Not%20present%20to%204%20%3D%20Severe">Hamilton anxiety scale</a> to measure anxiety levels. Researchers found improvements in anxiety levels within only two days of administration of their drug.</p>
<p>Further improvements were seen four and 12 weeks into the study. At 12 weeks, 65% of the patients were less anxious, with 48% of patients no longer meeting the clinical criteria for anxiety.</p>
<p>The results were so remarkable that the <a href="https://www.fda.gov/">Food and Drug Administration</a> (the organisation that approves new drugs in the US) has designated this a “breakthrough” drug. This means the FDA will work closely with MindMed during the next phase of testing in humans (called “phase 3”). This is where a larger group, usually up to 3,000 patients, is tested.</p>
<p>In phase 3, LSD may also be tested against established drugs for anxiety to determine if it works as well or possibly even better than those already in clinical use.</p>
<h2>Psychedelics shown to treat a range of disorders</h2>
<p>Previous studies have examined certain illicit drugs, usually hallucinogens or psychedelics, as treatments for depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and addiction. LSD, ecstasy (MDMA), ketamine, ayahuasca and psilocybin <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38574699/">all seem useful</a> in various mental health conditions.</p>
<p>A single dose of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5116384/">ketamine</a> can alleviate depressive symptoms for up to a week. The current study by MindMed is the first positive single-dose study, with no psychotherapy, of LSD for anxiety.</p>
<p>It is incredible to think that the <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/06/17/1006495476/after-50-years-of-the-war-on-drugs-what-good-is-it-doing-for-us">US war on drugs</a> which started with Richard Nixon in 1970, and the consequent difficulties in scientifically examining these illicit drugs, has lasted this long.</p>
<p>Most of these drugs were outlawed and <a href="https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling">scheduled</a> as having “no accepted medical use”. Five decades later, we are finally finding clinical uses for these drugs.</p>
<p>The data from the MindMed study has been sent to a top science journal for peer review, so we should not get carried away just yet. A phase 3 trial is still needed. However, if a single dose of LSD does work for 12 weeks, then this is truly remarkable. We could be on the verge of a new era of treatments for mental health problems.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/single-dose-of-lsd-highly-effective-at-treating-anxiety-227974">original article</a>.</em></p>

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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 11:32AM
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TITLE:
Smartwatches offer window into Parkinson's disease progression
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612113239.htm

New research adds to growing evidence that widely used and user-friendly consumer devices, in this instance an Apple Watch paired with an iPhone, can detect changes in Parkinson's symptoms over time in individuals in the early stages of the disease.
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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 11:32AM
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TITLE:
Hybrid work is a 'win-win-win' for companies, workers
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612113235.htm

In the largest study yet of working-from-home professionals, economists reveal that employees who work from home two days a week are just as productive, likely to get promoted, and far less prone to quit.
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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 04:00PM
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TITLE:
Scientists discover nutrients that may protect your brain as you age
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/scientists-discover-nutrients-that-may-protect-your-brain-as-you-age/
<p>A recent study by researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has found that specific nutrients may play a key role in promoting healthy brain aging. The study, published in the journal <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-024-00150-8"><em>npj Aging</em></a>, suggests that certain dietary components could help maintain cognitive function and brain health as we age.</p>
<p>As people age, cognitive decline and brain health deterioration are common concerns. Researchers have long studied various factors contributing to brain aging, including genetics, lifestyle, and environmental influences. While much is known about risk factors that accelerate brain aging, there is less understanding of factors that might prevent or mitigate cognitive decline.</p>
<p>In their new study, the researchers aimed to fill that gap by focusing on the potential protective effects of specific nutrients, inspired by the known benefits of the Mediterranean diet, which includes high levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids, antioxidants, and other essential nutrients.</p>
<p>&;The emerging field of Nutritional Cognitive Neuroscience aims to uncover specific foods and nutrients that promote brain health across the lifespan,&; said study author Aron Barbey, the director of the Center for Brain, Biology and Behavior and Mildred Francis Thompson University Professor at University of Nebraska-Lincoln.</p>
<p>&;Central to this effort is the discovery of nutrient profiles that can be targeted in nutritional interventions designed to enhance brain health. Our study contributes to this effort, identifying a key nutrient profile that may slow cognitive decline in older adults, offering a promising path towards designing nutritional interventions to promote healthy brain aging.&;</p>
<p>The study included 100 healthy older adults, aged 65 to 75 years, who were part of the Illinois Brain Aging Study cohort. These participants were neurologically healthy, had no cognitive impairments, and had not been involved in previous cognitive training or dietary intervention studies. The researchers excluded individuals with conditions that could affect the results, such as recent strokes or psychiatric illnesses.</p>
<p>Participants underwent a comprehensive battery of brain imaging tests, including MRI scans to assess brain structure, function, and metabolism. The researchers used a Siemens Magnetom 3T Trio scanner to collect high-resolution images of the participants&; brains. These images helped in measuring brain volume, white matter integrity, and functional connectivity.</p>
<p>Additionally, fasting plasma samples were collected to analyze nutrient biomarkers. The focus was on three major classes of nutrients: fatty acids, carotenoids, and vitamins. High-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography were used to measure the concentrations of these nutrients in the blood. The nutrient profiles were then compared to the brain imaging data to identify patterns associated with healthier brain aging.</p>
<p>The researchers identified two distinct phenotypes of brain aging: Accelerated Aging and Delayed Aging. Participants in the Delayed Aging group had larger brain volumes, greater white matter integrity, higher concentrations of brain metabolites, and better functional connectivity compared to those in the Accelerated Aging group. These findings suggest that the Delayed Aging phenotype is characterized by healthier brain structure and function.</p>
<p>In terms of nutrient profiles, the Delayed Aging group had higher concentrations of specific nutrients known to benefit brain health. These included polyunsaturated fatty acids like EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), monounsaturated fatty acids such as vaccenic acid and gondoic acid, carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin, and vitamins including Vitamin E and choline. These nutrients are known for their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which help protect the brain from oxidative stress and support cellular health.</p>
<p>The study also found that individuals in the Delayed Aging group performed better on cognitive tests measuring intelligence, executive function, and memory. This correlation between nutrient profiles, brain health, and cognitive performance underscores the potential of targeted nutritional interventions to promote healthier brain aging.</p>
<p>&;Our research builds on prior work in several ways,&; Barbey explained. &;First, it’s one of the largest and most comprehensive studies to use blood-based biomarkers to investigate the connection between diet and brain health. Second, it goes beyond traditional cognitive tests by employing multimodal neuroimaging measures. This provides a more complete picture of brain health, encompassing measures of brain structure, function, and metabolism. Finally, the study goes beyond focusing on single nutrients and identifies a specific nutrient profile associated with slower brain aging.&;</p>
<p>While the study provides valuable insights, it has several limitations. Firstly, it is a cross-sectional study, meaning it provides a snapshot of data at a single point in time. Longitudinal studies are needed to better understand how nutrient intake influences brain aging over time. Additionally, the sample size was relatively small and consisted mainly of Caucasian participants, which may limit the generalizability of the findings to other populations.</p>
<p>Future research should focus on larger, more diverse cohorts to validate these results. It is also important to conduct randomized controlled trials to determine the effectiveness of specific nutritional interventions in promoting brain health. Moreover, while the study identified key nutrients associated with healthier brain aging, the underlying mechanisms by which these nutrients exert their effects need further exploration.</p>
<p>&;Recent evidence in Nutritional Cognitive Neuroscience demonstrates that many aspects of nutrition – from entire diets to specific nutrients – affect brain structure and function, and therefore have profound implications for understanding the nature of healthy brain aging,&; Barbey said.</p>
<p>&;Indeed, the Office of Nutrition Research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) recently launched a 10-year strategic plan to significantly accelerate nutrition research for optimal health. Our work directly aligns with this NIH initiative, aiming to contribute valuable insights into how dietary patterns influence brain health and cognitive function throughout life.&;</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41514-024-00150-8">Investigating nutrient biomarkers of healthy brain aging: a multimodal brain imaging study</a>,&; was authored by Christopher E. Zwilling, Jisheng Wu, and Aron K. Barbey.</p>

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DATE: June 12, 2024 at 03:15PM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
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Discover evidence-based treatment options and strategies for effective clinical depression management in our latest article featuring expert insights from Michael Asbach, DMSc, PA-C. Read the article https://t.co/35q3fzreBR https://t.co/hBXRnjbu5m
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Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news

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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 11:32AM
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TITLE:
Just thinking about a location activates mental maps in the brain
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612113244.htm

Researchers found that mental representations known as cognitive maps, located in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, are activated when the brain performs mental simulations of a navigational route.
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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 11:32AM
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TITLE:
Just thinking about a location activates mental maps in the brain
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URL:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/06/240612113244.htm

Researchers found that mental representations known as cognitive maps, located in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex, are activated when the brain performs mental simulations of a navigational route.
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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Massive cross-cultural study finds participation with news is declining
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/massive-cross-cultural-study-finds-participation-with-news-is-declining/
<p>A massive cross-cultural study reported a 12% decline in overall news participation—including liking, sharing, and commenting on social media, and discussing news offline—a trend spanning 46 countries between 2015 to 2022. This research was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448241247822"><em>New Media &amp; Society</em></a>.</p>
<p>“I was interested in news participation because in recent years many have expressed concerns about dark forms of participation, such as the sharing of ‘fake news’. Yet, what we see on social media isn’t a representative sample of reality,” said Sacha Altay (<a href="https://x.com/Sacha_Altay">@Sacha_Altay</a>), a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Zürich in the department of political science. “For instance, we know that a small group of very active and vocal internet users drive most forms of dark participation online. I wanted to understand general trends in participation beyond these potentially unusual and unrepresentative cases.”</p>
<p>The research team used data from the Digital News Report surveys conducted by YouGov and its partners, which encompassed responses from 577,859 individuals across 46 countries over an eight-year period. These surveys were designed to be nationally representative, with quotas for age, gender, region, and, in some cases, education and political orientation.</p>
<p>Participants were asked about their engagement in various forms of news participation, such as talking about news face-to-face, sharing news on social media, commenting on news articles, sharing news via email, and so on. The researchers computed a participation score based on the sum of these activities. The study also gauged trust in news on a 5-point scale. At the country level, it included variables from the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) project, including political polarization and freedom of discussion.</p>
<p>“The main takeaway is that in many countries, news participation is declining,” explained Altay. “For example, people report sharing, commenting, or liking news on social media less. This decline is not only confined to online spaces: people also report talking less about the news in face-to-face interactions with their friends or colleagues. The only form of participation that has increased is news sharing via private messaging applications such as WhatsApp.”</p>
<p>Specifically, sharing news on social media dropped by 29%, commenting decreased by 26%, and offline discussions fell by 24%. Conversely, sharing news through private messaging apps increased by 20%, suggesting a preference for private communication channels.</p>
<p>Participants with higher education levels, younger individuals, women, and those with a keen interest in news were more likely to participate in news activities. However, over time, the decline in participation was more pronounced among women, those without a bachelor’s degree, and individuals with low trust in news. This shift resulted in men eventually participating more than women, a reversal of the trend observed in 2015. Further, political polarization within countries was linked to lower levels of news participation, suggesting that increasing societal divides may discourage news engagement.</p>
<p>What questions still need to be answered? Altay said, “First, our findings suggest that we should pay more attention to the role that private messaging applications play in news participation. Second, we should try to understand why people seem to be moving away from public online spaces, and whether new forms of (online or offline) participation are emerging.”</p>
<p>The researcher noted a potential limitation. “We rely on self-reported measures of news participation, which is not ideal, but at the same time it’s the only way to conduct a longitudinal analysis of news participation in 46 countries. Moreover, rich countries of the Global North are over-represented in the data, so despite the cross-cultural scope of the dataset we cannot make claims about the whole world.”</p>
<p>“The decline in news participation that we document is likely a symptom of growing negative perceptions of the news: in the last seven years, trust in news has slowly but steadily declined, news avoidance has grown, and interest in news has fallen sharply,” Altay told PsyPost. “I see these trends as worrying given the role that the news plays in informing people and, among other things, holding politicians accountable.”</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/14614448241247822">News participation is declining: Evidence from 46 countries between 2015 and 2022</a>”, was authored by Sacha Altay, Richard Fletcher, and Rasmus Kleis Nielsen.</p>

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DATE: June 12, 2024 at 01:00PM
SOURCE: Psychiatric Times
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DATE:
June 12, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
Women view men as more attractive when they see them with kids, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/women-view-men-as-more-attractive-when-they-see-them-with-kids-study-finds/
<p>A recent study published in <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40806-024-00391-6"><em>Evolutionary Psychological Science</em></a> has found that women perceive men as more attractive when they are shown interacting with children. The research highlights how a man&;s caring behavior toward children can significantly influence his attractiveness to women.</p>
<p>The researchers conducted this study to investigate an intriguing aspect of human attraction that has not been extensively explored: the influence of a man&;s caregiving behavior toward children on his perceived attractiveness to women. This focus stems from evolutionary theories suggesting that certain traits in potential partners, such as nurturing behavior, are highly valued because they signal reliability and suitability for long-term relationships and parenting.</p>
<p>Parental investment theory posits that women, due to their greater biological investment in offspring (e.g., pregnancy and breastfeeding), tend to prefer partners who can provide resources and protection. However, this theory also implies that women might value traits indicative of good caregiving, as these traits would ensure better care for their children. The researchers hypothesized that men who display nurturing behavior toward children would be perceived as more attractive, especially by women who have strong nurturance motivations or a desire to have children.</p>
<p>&;I heard from women active on dating apps that men often used profile pictures of themselves accompanied by their children (even men that were not looking for &;a serious partner&;),&; said study author Peter Bos, a professor at the Institute of Education and Child Studies at Leiden University.</p>
<p>&;I was surprised and wondered why men would do this? Could it be that women judge men as more attractive, because picture accompanied with children might signal caregiving motivation, a capacity that is very helpful in human partners given the big investment needed to raise children.&;</p>
<p>&;In classic evolutionary psychology, there is less attention to these aspects of human partner preferences, as the idea very often still is that fathers are not very reliable or useful caregivers, and that women thus would do little effort to select on these qualities.&;</p>
<p>The study involved Dutch-speaking women who were at least 18 years old and self-identified as attracted to men. The researchers recruited 433 participants through social media platforms and networks of the researchers and their assistants. Out of these, 360 participants provided at least one valid response regarding attractiveness scores, and 314 completed the entire questionnaire.</p>
<p>Participants were presented with two tasks to measure male attractiveness. In the first task, they viewed pictures of men either alone or interacting with a child. In the second task, participants read vignettes that described the men&;s activities, which included either caregiving or non-caregiving behaviors. Each task included 20 trials, and participants rated the attractiveness of the men on a scale from 0 (not at all attractive) to 100 (very attractive).</p>
<p>To ensure a balanced assessment, the researchers used different versions of each task. In one version, men were shown in a caregiving context, and in the other, they were shown in a non-caregiving context. The order of the tasks was consistent for all participants, with the picture task always presented first to keep the study&;s aim implicit.</p>
<p>Additionally, the researchers measured the participants&; nurturance motivation using the Parental Care and Tenderness Questionnaire. This scale consists of six items that gauge the inclination to provide care and support to infants. Participants also answered questions about their desire to have children, their menstrual phase, and their use of hormonal contraceptives, which could influence their perceptions of attractiveness.</p>
<p>The researchers found that men depicted interacting with children were rated as significantly more attractive than those shown alone. This effect was particularly pronounced among women with a high nurturance motivation or those who had or desired to have children.</p>
<p>The findings provide evidence that &;even very little information on personality aspects involving care affect judgments of attractiveness, and that such qualities are of fundamental importance in a species that relies on each other for survival,&; Bos told PsyPost. &;Kindness and care are therefore important aspect of fitness.&;</p>
<p>Bos was surprised that &;the effect was so clear! I expected a subtle effect perhaps, but it was robust. For women that scored higher on caregiving motivation themselves, it was even stronger.&;</p>
<p>Interestingly, while the picture task showed a clear effect of caregiving context on attractiveness, the vignette task did not produce the same result. This suggests that visual cues of caregiving might have a more immediate impact on attractiveness perceptions than written descriptions of caregiving behavior. The researchers noted that the explicit information provided in the vignette task might have seemed artificial to participants, possibly explaining why it did not yield significant results.</p>
<p>Furthermore, the study found that women’s ratings of attractiveness varied with their menstrual cycle. Women reported being in the ovulation phase rated men higher in attractiveness overall, regardless of caregiving context. The use of hormonal contraceptives did not significantly affect attractiveness ratings in either task.</p>
<p>&;We also found an effect of hormonal cycle, in that women around the ovulation phase rated the men more attractive, but our measure of cycle was unreliable, and this finding should therefore be interpreted with caution,&; Bos noted.</p>
<p>As with any study, the findings come with a few caveats. &;Women judged these men based on pictures, without the possibility of real contact,&; Bos said. &;This is different than the context on a dating app, where contact is possible. Nonetheless, this way of judging potential partners is more similar to the situation nowadays, compared to 20 years ago, when you had to meet other in real life to get in touch.&;</p>
<p>The study&;s findings open up several interesting avenues for further research. For example, investigating how men perceive women in caregiving contexts and examining the impact of different types of caregiving behaviors could provide deeper insights into the complex dynamics of attraction and partner selection.</p>
<p>&;This was a bit of side-project, my main research is on the role of endocrinology and human caregiving and empathy,&; Bos explained. &;But I am currently setting up a follow-up study to see whether a similar effect is seen in men rating women. I think it could be, but the other team members are very skeptical about that.&;</p>
<p>He added: &;Don&;t be fooled by online men with cute kids, check them out first! And if you are looking for a serious partner, make sure he really is motivated to care.&;</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-024-00391-6">Attractive Caregiving: Women’s Preference for Men that Care for Children and the Role of Nurturance Motivation and Menstrual Cycle Phase</a>,&; was authored by Peter A. Bos and Hannah Spencer.</p>

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