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DATE:
February 13, 2024 at 08:00PM
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TITLE:
The “love hormone” holds the key to better memory, according to new neuroscience research
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/the-love-hormone-holds-the-key-to-better-memory-according-to-new-neuroscience-research-221468

<p>In the quest to unravel the mysteries of how our brains form and retain memories, a team of scientists from Tokyo University of Science, led by Professor Akiyoshi Saitoh and Junpei Takahashi, has made a groundbreaking discovery. Their research, published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0294113"><em>PLOS One</em></a>, delves into the role of a naturally occurring brain chemical known as oxytocin in enhancing memory in mice.</p>
<p>Specifically, they explored how activating oxytocin-producing neurons in a particular area of the brain could significantly improve the animals&; ability to recognize objects over time. This study not only sheds light on the intricate workings of our cognitive functions but also opens up new avenues for addressing memory-related disorders.</p>
<h3>Oxytocin: A Hormone with Far-Reaching Effects</h3>
<p>Oxytocin, often dubbed the &;love hormone,&; is famous for its role in fostering bonds between mothers and their newborns, as well as in romantic relationships. But beyond its emotional impacts, oxytocin is a peptide hormone with a complex role in the brain, influencing various cognitive functions including learning and memory. Produced in the hypothalamus and acting across different brain regions, oxytocin binds to specific receptors, triggering a cascade of cellular signals that affect neurotransmitter release and neuronal activity.</p>
<p>The motivation behind this latest study stems from previous research hinting at oxytocin&;s potential as a therapeutic target for dementia and Alzheimer&;s disease. Given the hormone&;s involvement in social memory, the researchers aimed to understand if and how endogenous oxytocin — oxytocin produced within the body — contributes to non-social aspects of memory, such as recognizing new objects in one&;s environment.</p>
<p>&;Previously we had suggested that oxytocin may be a new therapeutic candidate for dementia based on studies using a mouse model of Alzheimer&;s disease. To investigate this further, in this study, we examined the role of endogenous OXT in mouse cognitive function. This was done by using pharmacogenetic techniques to specifically activate OXT neurons in specific brain regions. The cognitive function of mice was then evaluated using the Novel Object Recognition Task,&; Saitoh explained</p>
<h3>Investigating Oxytocin&;s Role in Memory</h3>
<p>To examine the effects of oxytocin on memory, the researchers employed a sophisticated chemogenetic approach to selectively activate oxytocin-producing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus in mice. This method allowed for precise control over the activity of these neurons, providing a clear picture of how endogenous oxytocin influences cognitive function.</p>
<p>The study involved 51 male mice, specifically engineered to allow for targeted activation of oxytocin neurons. The mice underwent a series of behavioral tests, including the Novel Object Recognition Task (NORT) and the Y-maze test, to evaluate their memory capabilities. By comparing the behavior of mice with activated oxytocin neurons to those with normal neuron activity, the researchers could discern the specific contribution of oxytocin to memory processes.</p>
<h3>Findings: Oxytocin Enhances Long-term Memory</h3>
<p>Activation of oxytocin neurons in the PVN did not affect short-term spatial memory, as shown by the Y-maze test. However, it significantly improved long-term object recognition memory in the NORT. This enhancement was linked to increased activity in both the supramammillary nucleus (SuM) and the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus — areas of the brain known to be involved in memory formation and retrieval.</p>
<p>Further experiments demonstrated that directly activating oxytocin-releasing axons in the SuM led to a marked improvement in the mice&;s ability to recognize new objects. This suggests a specific pathway through which oxytocin acts to modulate memory: by influencing neuronal activity in the SuM, which in turn affects memory processing in the hippocampus.</p>
<p>&;There is a widely acknowledged belief that dementia tends to advance more rapidly in settings where individuals experience loneliness or limited social engagement. However, the scientific underpinnings of this phenomenon have remained largely elusive. Our research seeks to elucidate the crucial role of a stimulating environment that activates oxytocin in the brain, potentially mitigating the progression of dementia,&; Saitoh said.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-221469" src="https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240208_0945.png" alt="" width="960" height="540" srcset="https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240208_0945.png 960w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240208_0945-300x169.png 300w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240208_0945-768x432.png 768w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/20240208_0945-750x422.png 750w" sizes="(max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px" /></p>
<h3>Limitations and Future Directions</h3>
<p>While the study offers valuable insights into the role of oxytocin in memory, the researchers acknowledge its limitations. For instance, the study was conducted exclusively on male mice, leaving open the question of whether similar mechanisms operate in females. Additionally, the focus on chemogenetic activation of oxytocin neurons means the findings may not directly translate to natural conditions where oxytocin release is influenced by a multitude of factors.</p>
<p>Future research will need to explore these dynamics further, potentially expanding the scope to include female subjects and examining the effects of oxytocin across different stages of memory formation and retrieval. Moreover, understanding the interplay between oxytocin and other neurotransmitters involved in memory could illuminate new therapeutic targets for memory impairment and dementia.</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0294113">Oxytocinergic projection from the hypothalamus to supramammillary nucleus drives recognition memory in mice</a>&;, was authored by Junpei Takahashi, Daisuke Yamada, Wakana Nagano, Yoshitake Sano, Teiichi Furuichi, and Akiyoshi Saitoh.</p>
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DATE:
February 10, 2024 at 03:39PM
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TITLE:
Lower income people benefit most from engaging with the natural environment
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URL:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/grrlscientist/2024/02/10/lower-income-people-benefit-most-from-engaging-with-the-natural-environment/?sh=54613973e64b

Research finds a strong correlation between weekly contact with nature and improved mental and physical well-being in people with lower incomes than in those with higher incomes.
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DATE:
February 11, 2024 at 03:46PM
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TITLE:
Do aphrodisiacs really work?
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URL:
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190211-do-aphrodisiacs-really-work

Can any food really affect sexual desire and performance? And why is the idea so persistent?
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DATE:
February 09, 2024 at 03:41PM
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TITLE:
What is a typical degree of cognitive ability for a person in their 80s?
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URL:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/09/health/cognitive-ability-age/index.html

Even from day to day, our thinking abilities can change drastically, experts say, and they’re influenced by factors other than age.
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DATE:
February 09, 2024 at 03:36PM
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TITLE:
Why eating lunch at your desk is worse than you think
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URL:
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/why-eating-lunch-desk-worse-than-you-think-experts

Working through lunch may be a common practice today, but it has risks for workers.
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DATE:
February 07, 2024 at 03:42PM
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TITLE:
Guns rise to leading cause of death among US children
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URL:
https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/07/health/gun-deaths-injury-research-funding/index.html

More children die from guns than anything else in the United States, but relatively little funding is available to study how to prevent these tragedies.
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DATE:
February 13, 2024 at 04:00PM
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TITLE:
Dancing to a healthier mind and body: The surprising psychological and cognitive benefits of structured dance
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/dancing-to-a-healthier-mind-and-body-the-surprising-psychological-and-cognitive-benefits-of-structured-dance-221465

<p>Australian researchers have uncovered that engaging in structured dance, regardless of the genre, is not just a form of physical exercise but a significant booster for psychological and cognitive health. Their study, published in <em><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-023-01990-2" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sports Medicine</a></em>, demonstrates that dance can be as effective, and sometimes even more beneficial, than traditional physical activities in enhancing mental well-being and brain function.</p>
<p>The motivation behind this study was twofold: to scientifically investigate whether structured dance interventions could match or surpass traditional physical activities in improving psychological and cognitive outcomes, and to address the challenge of exercise adherence by providing an enjoyable alternative that might appeal to a broader spectrum of the population.</p>
<p>By comparing the effects of various dance genres against other forms of structured exercise across a diverse range of participants, including those with chronic health conditions, the researchers aimed to uncover evidence-based insights that could pave the way for dance to be recognized as an effective, versatile, and widely accessible means to enhance mental well-being and cognitive function, thus contributing to the broader public health agenda.</p>
<p>The research team conducted a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis, examining the effects of structured dance programs across various populations, from healthy individuals to those with chronic conditions like Parkinson&;s disease and heart failure.</p>
<p>This review spanned studies involving participants aged 7 to 85 years, covering a wide array of dance genres and comparing them to different physical activities. The selection criteria ensured that only studies with rigorous design, such as randomized controlled trials, were included, encompassing interventions that lasted at least six weeks.</p>
<p>One of the study’s key findings was that structured dance programs of at least six weeks&; duration could improve a range of psychological outcomes, such as emotional well-being, depression levels, and motivation, as effectively as other structured physical activities.</p>
<p>In some instances, dance was found to be more beneficial, particularly in fostering social cognition and certain aspects of memory and cognitive function. This suggests that the unique combination of physical exertion, cognitive challenge, social interaction, and musical engagement inherent in dance may confer distinct advantages over more conventional forms of exercise.</p>
<p>In addition to psychological benefits, the study also highlighted dance&;s positive effects on cognitive outcomes. Participants engaged in structured dance programs demonstrated improvements in areas such as verbal memory recognition, working memory, and executive function, which includes planning, problem-solving, and multitasking abilities. These cognitive benefits were observed not only in older adults, who are often the focus of cognitive health research, but also in younger populations and those with specific clinical conditions, indicating the broad applicability of dance as a cognitive enhancement tool.</p>
<p>Moreover, the study found that dance interventions could foster greater motivation and emotional well-being among participants, potentially due to the enjoyable and engaging nature of dance activities. This aspect of dance, coupled with the social and interactive environment often found in dance classes, may also contribute to higher adherence rates compared to other forms of exercise. Such findings underscore the importance of enjoyment and social interaction in promoting sustained engagement with physical activity, which is critical for realizing long-term health benefits.</p>
<p>The researchers also noted that dance might offer unique advantages in addressing specific psychological and cognitive needs across different age groups and health conditions. For example, younger participants showed improvements in reducing symptoms of somatization and hostility, suggesting dance&;s potential as a therapeutic tool for managing stress and emotional regulation. Meanwhile, older adults and those with chronic diseases benefited from dance&;s cognitive enhancements, which could play a crucial role in maintaining independence and quality of life.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Lead author Alycia Fong Yan from the University of Sydney&;s Faculty of Medicine and Health and Sydney Musculoskeletal Health said: &;Preliminary evidence suggests that dance may be better than other physical activities to improve psychological wellbeing and cognitive capacity. These findings were not just seen in older adults, but also younger populations and people with clinical conditions as well.&;</p>
<p>&;Learning dance sequences may challenge cognition, partnered or group dance may benefit social interactions, and the artistic aspect may improve psychological wellbeing. Adherence to physical activity is an ongoing challenge in clinical trials and even more so in community. Dance can provide an enjoyable physical activity that is easier to maintain.&;</p>
<p>&;Most people know that physical activity is beneficial for health compared to doing nothing, but they may not realise that dance can be an effective alternative to standard exercise like running, going to the gym, and other sports.&;</p>
<p>Despite these promising findings, the researchers acknowledged limitations within the study, including the variability in dance genres, participant demographics, and the design of the interventions studied. This variability, while offering a broad view of dance&;s potential benefits, also complicates the task of drawing firm conclusions about the specific features of dance that are most effective.</p>
<p>Consequently, the study calls for further research to explore the long-term effects of dance, its impact on various clinical populations, and how specific elements of dance—such as genre, music, and social interaction—contribute to its psychological and cognitive benefits.</p>
<p>Fong Yan added: &;Dance has far-reaching health benefits. If you stick to a physical activity, the long-term, physical health benefits will reduce the risk of health conditions related to sedentary behaviour, the social connectedness and psychological effect of dance will alleviate the symptoms of mental health conditions, and improvements in cognition could aid the independence of older adults.</p>
<p>&;Ultimately, this reduces the burden of these conditions on the health sector. Structured dance can be considered an evidence-based alternative for individuals who might prefer it to more traditional forms of exercise.&;</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40279-023-01990-2">The Effectiveness of Dance Interventions on Psychological and Cognitive Health Outcomes Compared with Other Forms of Physical Activity: A Systematic Review with Meta-analysis</a>&;, was authored by Alycia Fong Yan, Leslie L. Nicholson, Rachel E. Ward, Claire E. Hiller, Kathryn Dovey, Helen M. Parker, Lee-Fay Low, Gene Moyle, and Cliffton Chan.</p>
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DATE:
February 13, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Expressive responding: Political partisanship can lead to willful disregard for facts, study suggests
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/expressive-responding-political-partisanship-can-lead-to-willful-disregard-for-facts-study-suggests-221391

<p>Have you ever wondered if people really believe the controversial statements they make, especially in today&;s politically charged environment? A recent study sheds light on this question, revealing that political affiliation may influence how people respond to factual questions, not necessarily reflecting their true beliefs but rather their allegiance to a political group.</p>
<p>This phenomenon, known as &;expressive responding,&; was the focus of a recent replication study aimed at understanding how partisanship affects perceptions of truth in the context of politically polarizing issues.</p>
<p>Expressive responding occurs when individuals declare beliefs not because they genuinely hold them, but to signal allegiance to their social or political group. This behavior is particularly notable in politically charged environments where factual accuracy might take a back seat to group loyalty.</p>
<p>Researchers embarked on this study to explore the depths of expressive responding, motivated by the stark divide in belief reports on factual matters among Americans. Their aim? To replicate and extend findings from <a href="https://academic.oup.com/poq/article-abstract/82/1/135/4868126" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a pivotal 2018 study</a> that suggested people might choose incorrect answers on purpose if it meant showing support for their political &;team.&;</p>
<p>For their new study, the researchers recruited participants through Lucid, an online platform that uses quota sampling to ensure a representative sample in terms of age, gender, ethnicity, and geographic region. The study ran from October 23 to October 29, 2019, ultimately gathering complete data from 1,018 participants.</p>
<p>The study sought to compare responses from Republicans and Democrats regarding which of two photos showed larger crowds: one from Donald Trump&;s 2017 inauguration and another from Barack Obama&;s 2009 inauguration.</p>
<p>This choice of subject matter was no accident. It stems from a controversial claim by the White House that Trump&;s inauguration drew the largest audience ever, a claim easily disproven by available evidence showing Obama&;s inauguration attracted significantly larger crowds. By asking participants to identify which photo showed more people, the researchers aimed to test whether political partisanship would lead to expressive responding.</p>
<p>The study&;s findings confirmed the phenomenon of expressive responding among political partisans. It demonstrated that Republicans were more likely than Democrats to select the incorrect photo showing crowd sizes at presidential inaugurations, suggesting a tendency to express support for Trump even when factual evidence contradicted their choices.</p>
<p>&;In the present study we replicated the central finding of Schaffner and Luks (2018) by showing that more Republicans than Democrats provide an incorrect response when questioned about which of two photos has more people,&; the researchers wrote. &;Given that the photo of Obama’s inauguration rally clearly has more people than the photo of Trump’s inauguration rally, this finding supports the hypothesis that some Republicans engaged in expressive responding by intentionally selecting the incorrect photo to show support for Trump.&;</p>
<p>The researchers also observed a correlation between the strength of political identity and the likelihood of expressive responding. Strongly identified Republicans were more inclined to demonstrate support for Trump by choosing the incorrect photo compared to those who &;Lean Republican.&; On the other hand, strongly identified Democrats were more likely to select the correct photo compared to those who &;Lean Democratic.&;</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Notably, a specific association was found between selecting the incorrect photo and endorsing the claim that &;Obama is the Antichrist,&; hinting at expressive responding being more prevalent for extreme and outlandish claims.</p>
<p>The findings are in line with a previous study, which demonstrated that despite expressing disapproval and echoing Trump&;s criticisms of mail-in voting as prone to fraud, many of his supporters in Florida <a href="https://www.psypost.org/2024/01/study-reveals-lying-for-trump-trend-among-mail-in-voters-in-florida-221053">continued to use this voting method</a>, misrepresenting their past and intended behaviors.</p>
<p>But the new study, while illuminating, is not without its limitations. Its focus primarily on Republicans means it couldn&;t test for expressive responding among Democrats or individuals outside the United States. Future research could benefit from larger sample sizes, a broader range of contexts for testing expressive responding, and strategies to capture potential expressive responding among Democrats and other groups.</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://online.ucpress.edu/collabra/article/9/1/68054/195155/Expressive-Responding-in-Support-of-Donald-Trump" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Expressive Responding in Support of Donald Trump: An Extended Replication of Schaffner and Luks (2018)</a>&;, was authored by Robert M. Ross and Neil Levy.</p>
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DATE:
February 13, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
Individuals dissatisfied with their bodies are more prone to smartphone addiction, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/individuals-dissatisfied-with-their-bodies-are-more-prone-to-smartphone-addiction-study-finds-221458

<p>A recent study found that young people who are more dissatisfied with their bodies have an increased likelihood of developing smartphone addiction. Individuals more dissatisfied with their bodies seem to experience more intrusive imagery and to have a higher fear of negative evaluation. This might, in turn, make them turn to their phones more intensely. The paper was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1217220"><em>Frontiers in Psychology</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<p>Over the past two decades, smartphones have gained widespread popularity across the globe due to their convenience for a variety of tasks, from communicating with others to managing daily activities. However, this rise in popularity has been accompanied by an increase in usage patterns that can negatively affect one&;s quality of life. Health professionals have coined the term &;smartphone addiction&; to describe these problematic patterns of smartphone use.</p>
<p>Smartphone addiction refers to the compulsive use of mobile phones, where individuals feel unable to reduce or control their screen time despite negative consequences on their personal, social, or work life. It is characterized by an excessive preoccupation with smartphones, leading to neglect of real-life interactions, physical discomfort, and psychological issues such as anxiety and depression. This addiction is fueled by the instant access to social media, games, and endless streams of information that smartphones enable, making it challenging for users to disconnect.</p>
<p>Previous studies have shown that individuals with more pronounced smartphone addiction symptoms tend to be more dissatisfied with their bodies. Researchers attribute this to the ability of users to post images of themselves on social media using smartphones. In doing this, they can select images in which they look their best and receive praise for them from other users.</p>
<p>Due to this, individuals, and particularly adolescents, dissatisfied with their bodies might develop symptoms of smartphone addictions as they attach progressively more personal importance to the praise their images receive on social media. In the same manner, these individuals would be likely to have a more pronounced fear of negative evaluation.</p>
<p>Study author Shiyu Liu and her colleagues wanted to explore whether the link between body dissatisfaction and smartphone addiction might be mediated by intrusive imagery and the fear of negative evaluation. Intrusive imagery are unwanted and distressing visual thoughts or mental images that repeatedly enter a person&;s mind, often associated with anxiety or other adverse mental health conditions. Individuals differ in how often they experience them. The fear of negative evaluation is the fear of being judged negatively or criticized by others. Individuals with pronounced fear of negative evaluations may tend to avoid social situations. Extreme levels of this fear can seriously impair daily functioning.</p>
<p>The researchers surveyed 5,909 university students from four provinces in China—Chongqing, Guangdong, Shandong, and Zhejiang—recruited with the assistance of mental health counselors at university mental health centers. The survey was distributed via student WeChat groups. The participants&; average age was 20, ranging from 18 to 32 years, with 53% being female. The average body mass index of the students was 20, indicating a normal weight range.</p>
<p>In the survey, participants assessed their body dissatisfaction (using the Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction with Body Parts Scale), intrusive imagery (using the Intrusive Visual Imagery Scale), fear of negative evaluation (using the Fear of Negative Evaluation Scale), and smartphone addiction (using the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version), along with their age, gender, weight, and height (to calculate body mass index).</p>
<p>Results showed that younger students tended to have a bit more pronounced smartphone addiction, fear of negative evaluation, and intrusive imagery. However, older students tended to be a tiny bit more dissatisfied with their bodies on average. Male students tended to have higher body mass index values. Female students tended to be more dissatisfied with their bodies, reported more often experiencing intrusive imagery, had somewhat more pronounced fear of negative evaluation, and more pronounced symptoms of smartphone addiction.</p>
<p>As expected, individuals more dissatisfied with their bodies tended to have more pronounced smartphone addiction symptoms. Study authors tested a statistical model proposing that higher body dissatisfaction leads to more pronounced intrusive imagery. This, in turn, increases the fear of negative evaluation, leading to higher smartphone addiction. Results showed that such a state of relationships between these factors is indeed possible, but that there are direct links between them as well.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>“In summary, our investigation highlights the essentiality of incorporating the mediating factors of intrusive imagery and fear of negative evaluation to comprehensively explicate the connection between body dissatisfaction and smartphone addiction in the Chinese university students’ population. The results further reveal that strategies aimed at addressing intrusive imagery and negative affect associated with the fear of negative evaluation may prove efficacious in ameliorating the harmful impact of body dissatisfaction on smartphone addiction,&; the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study sheds light on the links between body perception and smartphone addiction. However, it should be noted that the study design does not allow any definitive cause-and-effect inferences to be drawn from the data. Additionally, the study participants were exclusively students. Findings on other age or demographic groups might not be the same.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1217220">Body dissatisfaction and smartphone addiction: the mediation role of intrusive imagery and fear of negative evaluation</a>”, was authored by Shiyu Liu, Wen Hy, Ying Yang, and Fahui Yang.</p>
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DATE:
February 13, 2024 at 10:00AM
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TITLE:
“Catastrophic effects”: Can AI turn us into imbeciles? This scientists fears for the worst
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/catastrophic-effects-can-ai-turn-us-into-imbeciles-this-scientists-fears-for-the-worst-221382

<p>Have you ever pondered the impact of relying on machines to do your thinking? With the rapid advancement of technology, this scenario is moving from the realm of science fiction straight into the realm of possibility.</p>
<p>In a new scientific paper, University of Monterrey professor Umberto León Domínguez explores the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) to not just mimic human conversation but fundamentally supplant many aspects human cognition. The work, published in the journal <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2024-50096-001?doi=1"><em>Neuropsychology</em></a>, raises concerns about the risks that AI chatbots might pose to higher order executive functions.</p>
<p>Artificial intelligence, in simple terms, refers to machines programmed to mimic human intelligence—learning, reasoning, and problem-solving. Among the AI models, ChatGPT stands out. It&;s a tool designed to understand and generate human-like text based on the data it&;s fed. Unlike older AI models that struggled to grasp the nuances of language, ChatGPT uses something called a transformer model, which allows it to understand context and produce responses that can be startlingly similar to those a human might give.</p>
<p>Domínguez&;s interest in ChatGPT stems from its potential as a technological milestone. He sees it as a signifier of the technological singularity, a concept that suggests AI development could reach a point where it begins to advance beyond human control, potentially merging human and machine intelligence.</p>
<p>&;As a university professor, I design my activities as intellectual challenges to stimulate and train cognitive functions that are useful in the daily lives of my students, such as problem-solving and planning abilities,&; explained Domínguez, the director of the Human Cognition and Brain Studies Lab and researcher in the Artificial Intelligence Group.</p>
<p>&;The emergence of a tool like ChatGPT raised concerns for me about its potential use by students to complete tasks, thereby preventing the stimulation of these cognitive functions. From this observation, I began to explore and generalize the impact, not only as a student but as humanity, of the catastrophic effects these technologies could have on a significant portion of the population by blocking the development of these cognitive functions.&;</p>
<p>&;Consequently, I researched how ChatGPT or other AI chatbots could interfere with higher- order executive functions to understand how to also train these skills, even with the use of ChatGPT.&;</p>
<p>One of the paper&;s striking assertions is that AI can act as a &;cognitive prosthesis,&; a concept introduced in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41562-019-0672-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a 2019 study by Falk Lieder and his colleagues</a>. In essence, this means AI could perform cognitive tasks on behalf of humans, much like how a prosthetic limb serves as a replacement for a lost limb. This doesn&;t just include simple tasks like calculating numbers or organizing schedules. The research suggests that AI&;s capabilities might extend to more complex cognitive functions, such as problem-solving and decision-making, traditionally seen as distinctly human traits.</p>
<p>Lieder and his colleagues specifically highlighted scenarios where people&;s natural inclination towards short-term rewards leads them away from actions that would be more beneficial in the long term. For example, choosing to watch TV and relax instead of working on a challenging but rewarding project. To address this, they proposed using AI to &;gamify&; the decision-making process. Gamification involves adding game-like elements such as points, levels, and badges to non-game activities.</p>
<p>Through a series of experiments, Lieder and his colleagues provided initial evidence of the benefits of this approach. They found that AI-enhanced decisions helped individuals make better choices more quickly, reduce procrastination, and focus more on important tasks.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>But Domínguez&;s paper warns of the potential risks associated with integrating AI so closely into our cognitive processes. A key concern is &;cognitive offloading,&; where humans might become overly reliant on AI, leading to a decline in our ability to perform cognitive tasks independently. Just as muscles can weaken without exercise, cognitive skills can deteriorate if they&;re not regularly used.</p>
<p>The danger, as Domínguez&;s paper outlines, is not just about becoming lazy thinkers. There&;s a more profound risk that our cognitive development and problem-solving abilities could be stunted. Over time, this could lead to a society where critical thinking and creativity are in short supply, as people become accustomed to letting AI do the heavy lifting.</p>
<p>&;I would like individuals to be aware that intellectual capabilities essential for success in modern life need to be stimulated from an early age, especially during adolescence. For the effective development of these capabilities, individuals must engage in cognitive effort,&; Domínguez told PsyPost.</p>
<p>&;Cognitive offloading can serve as a beneficial mechanism because it frees up cognitive load that can then be directed towards more complex cognitions. However, with technologies like ChatGPT, we face, for the first time in history, a technology capable of providing a complete plan, from start to finish.&;</p>
<p>&;Consequently, there is a genuine risk that individuals might become complacent and overlook even the most complex cognitive tasks. Just as one cannot become skilled at basketball without actually playing the game, the development of complex intellectual abilities requires active participation and cannot solely rely on technological assistance.&;</p>
<p>But don&;t all technologies pose a risk of cognitive offloading? The researcher argues that ChatGPT&;s ability to independently generate ideas, solutions, and even hold conversations sets it apart. Traditional tools, in contrast, still require human input to derive results.</p>
<p>&;Many people argue that there have been other technologies that allowed for cognitive offloading, such as calculators, computers, and more recently, Google search,&; Domínguez explained. &;However, even then, these technologies did not solve the problem for you; they assisted with part of the problem and/or provided information that you had to integrate into a plan or decision-making process.</p>
<p>&;With ChatGPT, we encounter a tool that (1) is accessible to everyone for free (global impact) and (2) is capable of planning and making decisions on your behalf. ChatGPT represents a logarithmic amplifier of cognitive offloading compared to the classical technologies previously available.&;</p>
<p>The paper was titled: &;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/neu0000948" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Potential cognitive risks of generative transformer-based AI chatbots on higher order executive functions</a>.&;</p>
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DATE:
February 13, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Fear of commitment is an important predictor of singlehood, new study confirms
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/fear-of-commitment-is-an-important-predictor-of-singlehood-new-study-confirms-221444

<p>Singlehood is a state experienced by a significant portion of the adult population. A recent study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-023-00382-z"><em>Evolutionary Psychological Science</em></a> sheds light on what leads individuals to remain single, focusing on the role played by the fear of relationship commitment.</p>
<p>“Singlehood appears to be on the rise, but there is limited research in understanding its causes,” said study author <a href="http://www.menelaosapostolou.com">Menelaos Apostolou</a>, a Professor at the University of Nicosia.</p>
<p>Conducted online at private universities in the Republic of Cyprus and Turkey, the study recruited 453 Turkish-speaking participants, with an average age in the early 30s. The study involved a questionnaire on Google Forms, encompassing six sections, including measures for mating performance, self-esteem, personality, fear of relationship commitment, demographic information, and, for those in relationships, relationship quality. Items in each section were presented in random order. Each section employed Likert scales for responses, with higher scores indicating higher levels of the construct being measured.</p>
<p>“In the current study we found that one reason why people are single is having higher fear of relationship commitment. Simply put, many people fear to commit to an intimate relationship, preferring to be single instead,” explained Apostolou.</p>
<p>“We also found that the fear of relationship commitment was predicted by mating performance, i.e., how well people do in the domain of mating. In particular, we found that poor mating performance was associated with higher fear of relationship commitment, which was associated with higher probability to be single than in an intimate relationship.”</p>
<p>Further, higher self-esteem, extraversion, and openness were associated with a greater likelihood of being in an intimate relationship, mediated by higher mating performance and lower fear of commitment.</p>
<p>Poor relationship quality was associated with a higher fear of relationship commitment, although none of the predictors directly affected relationship quality. Indirect effects of self-esteem and extraversion on fear of relationship commitment were observed through mating performance and relationship quality, indicating that higher self-esteem and extraversion can lead to lower fear of commitment by improving mating performance and relationship quality.</p>
<p>Overall, the study found evidence that mating performance, personality traits, and relationship quality play important roles in influencing fear of relationship commitment and, by extension, relationship status.</p>
<p>“There are many factors which are likely to predict fear of relationship commitment, that future studies need to identify,” the researcher said.</p>
<p>“Fear of relationship commitment can keep people from finding intimate partners and remain single instead. Singlehood is associated with several negative outcomes such as negative emotions including sadness and loneliness. Thus, it is a worthy endeavor to attempt to identify the various factors that lead people to develop a fear of relationship commitment and address them in order to reduce this fear.”</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Apostolou noted the correlational nature of the study, explaining that the observed associations between variables of interest are not necessarily causal.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s40806-023-00382-z">Fear of Relationship Commitment and Singlehood</a>”, was authored by Menelaos Apostolou and Burcu Tekeş.</p>
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DATE:
February 13, 2024 at 06:00AM
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TITLE:
Jeopardy! Winner Reveals Entwined Memory Systems Make a Trivia Champion
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URL:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/jeopardy-winner-reveals-entwined-memory-systems-make-a-trivia-champion/

<p>A former&nbsp;<em>Jeopardy!&nbsp;</em>winner led a new study that probes how linked memory systems may give trivia buffs an edge in their game</p>
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DATE:
February 13, 2024 at 06:00AM
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TITLE:
New psychology research sheds light on the link between romance and friendships during adolescence
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/new-psychology-research-sheds-light-on-the-link-between-romance-and-friendships-during-adolescence-221428

<p>Have you ever wondered how teenage romances influence friendships? A recent study published in the <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02654075231222446"><em>Journal of Social and Personal Relationships</em></a> delved into this topic. Researchers found that teenagers in romantic relationships are less likely to form new friendships, yet these relationships don&;t necessarily spell the end for existing ones. Understanding these dynamics can offer valuable insights into adolescent development and help educators, parents, and teenagers themselves foster healthier social environments.</p>
<p>Adolescence is a crucial period for social development, where friendships serve as the main stage for learning social and emotional skills. Yet, the fragile nature of these relationships, combined with the burgeoning world of romantic involvement, presents a puzzle: how do these romantic engagements shape the broader social landscape of adolescence?</p>
<p>Researchers embarked on this study to unravel this mystery, propelled by the understanding that while plenty of research has explored how friendships influence romantic relationships, the reverse—how romantic relationships affect friendships—remains less understood.</p>
<p>&;We were drawn to this topic because of the intricate association between romantic relationships and adolescent social networks,&; said lead author Haoyang Zhang, a PhD candidate in Sociology and Social Data Analytics at Pennsylvania State University.</p>
<p>&;Adolescents’ peer relationships are crucial to their development, and existing research suggests that a strong support network can bolster the stability of romantic relationships. However, little work investigates the reverse scenario—the extent to which intimate partnerships affect friendship networks. We aimed to bridge this gap by examining the extent to which involvement in a romantic relationship affects the initiation and ending of adolescent friendships.&;</p>
<p>The researchers harnessed data from the Teenage Friends and Lifestyle Study, which tracked adolescent friendships in Glasgow, Scotland, between 1995 and 1997. Focusing on the latter two waves of the survey, the researchers zeroed in on 133 students, aged roughly between 14.8 and 16.3 years. The Teenage Friends and Lifestyle Study was chosen for its rich longitudinal data that tracked the friendships and romantic involvements of adolescents.</p>
<p>Participants were asked to name up to six friends, providing a clear picture of their social networks. Additionally, they reported their romantic relationship status, enabling the researchers to explore the dynamics of friendship formation and dissolution against the backdrop of teenage romance.</p>
<p>The researchers employed sophisticated statistical models, specifically Separable Temporal Exponential Random Graph Models (STERGMs), to analyze the data. This approach allowed for a nuanced examination of how friendships evolve over time, considering both the formation of new ties and the dissolution of existing ones.</p>
<p>The study&;s findings paint a fascinating picture of teenage social life. A key discovery was the phenomenon of homophily based on dating status: teenagers were more inclined to form friendships with peers who shared their romantic involvement status. In simpler terms, those dating tended to befriend other daters, while single teens gravitated towards one another. This trend held even when controlling for other factors, such as gender and shared activities, underscoring the significant role of romantic relationships in shaping social circles.</p>
<p>&;The key takeaway from our study for the average person is that adolescents’ involvement in a romantic relationship can significantly change their friendship patterns,&; Zhang told PsyPost. &;First, our findings reveal that teenagers in romantic relationships tend to befriend others who are also in romantic relationships, while those who are not in such a relationship often form friendships with other singles. Second, our results show that young people who are in a romantic relationship are significantly less likely to make new friends over time than those who are single.&;</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>However, the study revealed a twist in the tale of teenage romance and friendship. While being in a romantic relationship made teenagers less likely to forge new friendships, it did not lead to an increased likelihood of existing friendships ending. This suggests that while love might limit the expansion of a teenager&;s social horizons, it doesn&;t necessarily undermine the friendships they already have.</p>
<p>&;Limits to people’s time and emotional capacity could cause conflict between interaction with friends and interactions with a romantic partner, according to previous scholarship,&; Zhang explained. &;Therefore, one of the unexpected findings was that adolescents in romantic relationships were <em>not</em> more likely to end existing friendships as compared to those who were single. Instead, they were significantly less likely to make new friends. The fact that these young couples were not severing established friendships, but rather withdrawing from the opportunity to form new connections, was an intriguing discovery.&;</p>
<p>The study also delved into the structural aspects of social networks, highlighting the roles of reciprocity and transitivity in friendship dynamics. Reciprocity, the mutual acknowledgment of friendship, was found to have a positive effect on the formation of friendships and a negative one on their dissolution. This means that friendships are more likely to begin and less likely to end when they form a mutual pair. Transitivity, the tendency for friends of friends to become friends, also played a significant role, indicating that friendships are more likely to develop and persist within closely knit clusters or triads.</p>
<p>Moreover, the research reaffirmed the significance of shared characteristics and activities, such as gender and leisure interests, in fostering friendships among teenagers. It was observed that adolescents tend to form new friendships with those of the same gender and with whom they share common activities, such as attending church or dance clubs. This homophily extends beyond dating status to include various dimensions of teenagers&; lives, further influencing the formation and maintenance of their social connections.</p>
<p>Despite its insights, the study faces limitations, notably its small sample size and geographical focus on Glasgow, which may restrict the applicability of its findings to broader contexts. Additionally, the data&;s age raises questions about its relevance to today&;s teenagers, who navigate social relationships in a significantly different technological landscape.</p>
<p>Future research is encouraged to build on these findings, exploring how modern influences like social media impact the interplay between romantic relationships and friendships. Moreover, investigating the underlying reasons why romantic involvement affects friendship formation and dissolution could offer deeper insights into adolescent social development.</p>
<p>&;One significant issue that we have yet to explore concerns the underlying mechanisms dictating how relationship status affects friendships,&; Zhang said. &;Future research may consider examining reasons and processes leading individuals to initiate or terminate friendships based on their dating status. Another caveat is that these findings are based on one sample of adolescents, and more research is needed to extend to other datasets.&;</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/02654075231222446">Romance matters: The role of dating in adolescents’ friendship beginnings and endings</a>&;, was authored by Haoyang Zhang and Diane Felmlee.</p>
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DATE:
February 12, 2024 at 05:00PM
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TITLE:
You Can't Fix Burnout With Self-Care
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URL:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/podcast/episode/you-cant-fix-burnout-with-self-care/

<p>Individual interventions for burnout don&rsquo;t work. Researchers explain why.</p>
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DATE:
February 12, 2024 at 04:00PM
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TITLE:
Watching others visibly dislike vegetables might make onlookers dislike them, too
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/watching-others-visibly-dislike-vegetables-might-make-onlookers-dislike-them-too-221431

<p><strong>Humans are observational creatures, and we’re no different when it comes to our choice of food. Now, researchers have investigated if observing the facial expressions of others while they eat raw broccoli encouraged or discouraged an observer from reaching for the same vegetable. They found that observing others consuming raw broccoli whilst conveying negative facial expressions resulted in a reduction in the observers’ liking of it.</strong></p>
<p>Humans learn which behaviors pay off and which don’t from watching others. Based on this, we may draw conclusions about how to act – or eat. In the case of the latter, people may use each other as guides to determine what and how much to eat. This is called social modelling and is one of the most powerful <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/subjects/social-influences">social influences</a> on eating behavior.</p>
<p>In a new study, researchers in the UK investigated whether observing others’ facial expressions while eating raw broccoli influenced young women’s liking and desire to eat raw broccoli.</p>
<p>“We show that watching others eating a raw vegetable with a negative facial expression reduces adult women’s liking of that vegetable, but not their desire to eat it,” said Dr Katie Edwards, a researcher at the <a href="https://www.aston.ac.uk/hls/school-of-psychology">Aston University School of Psychology</a> and lead author of the study published in <em>Frontiers in Psychology</em>. “This highlights the power of observing food dislike on adults’ eating behavior.”</p>
<h2>Broccoli gazing</h2>
<p>In the study led by Edwards, just over 200 young women watched a video containing clips of different unfamiliar adults consuming raw broccoli. While eating, the models displayed positive (smiling), neutral, or negative (disgust-like) facial expressions. The researchers examined only women’s reactions since gender differences may exist within the modelling of eating behavior, and modelling effects can be different among women and men.</p>
<p>Previous research shows that behaviors are more likely to be imitated if positive consequences are observed, while the reverse is true if negative outcomes are witnessed. In the present study, however, this correlation was observed only partially: Exposure to models eating <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/subjects/broccoli">broccoli</a> while conveying negative facial expressions resulted in a greater reduction in liking ratings, whereas the reverse did not hold. “Watching others eating a raw vegetable with a positive facial expression did not increase adults’ vegetable liking or eating desire,” Edwards explained.</p>
<p>One possible explanation may be that avoiding any food – irrespective of whether it is commonly liked or disliked – that appears disgusting can protect us from eating something that tastes bad or is harmful. Another reason may be that <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/subjects/smiling">smiling</a> while eating is perceived as an untypical display of liking a certain food. “This might imply that watching someone eating a raw vegetable with positive facial expressions does not seem an effective strategy for increasing adults’ vegetable consumption,” said Edwards.</p>
<hr />
<p><a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1252369/full">Read original article</a></p>
<p><a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1252369/pdf">Download original article (pdf)</a></p>
<hr />
<h2>Copy and taste</h2>
<p>There is still much that needs to be understood about the interplay of obvious enjoyment and the liking of food. For example, the researchers have focused on adults, and while this has not been tested for on this occasion, they said that given the power of negative facial expressions, and because children tend to be less willing to try vegetables by default, these findings could generalize to kids. “For example, if a child sees their parent showing disgust whilst eating vegetables, this could have negative consequences on children’s vegetable acceptance,” Edwards pointed out.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>In the present study, participants also watched short video clips, rather than watching people eat in front of them. This allowed them to observe the dynamic nature of reactive facial expressions, which is more realistic than looking at static pictures; however, in the future, an important focus will be to examine the effect of watching live food enjoyment on eating behavior, the researchers said. “We also need more research to see whether the findings from this study translate to adults’ actual intake of vegetables,” Edwards concluded.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/news/2024/01/11/visibly-dislike-vegetables-onlookers-dislike"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-60249" src="https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Frontiers-banner.png" alt="" width="855" height="70" srcset="https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Frontiers-banner.png 855w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Frontiers-banner-600x49.png 600w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Frontiers-banner-300x25.png 300w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Frontiers-banner-768x63.png 768w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Frontiers-banner-750x61.png 750w" sizes="(max-width: 855px) 100vw, 855px" /></a></p>
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DATE:
February 12, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Eye-tracking experiment reveals the influence of streamers’ attractiveness on consumer responses
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/eye-tracking-experiment-reveals-the-influence-of-streamers-attractiveness-on-consumer-responses-221311

<p>Does the attractiveness of a streamer influence your decision to watch, engage, or even purchase products during a live stream? A recent study suggests that the answer is yes. Researchers found that streamers who are perceived as more physically attractive not only draw more viewers but also significantly increase engagement and purchase intentions among their audience. The findings have been published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1297369"><em>Frontiers in Psychology</em></a>.</p>
<p>The motivation behind this study stems from the rapid growth of live-streaming marketing, a phenomenon fueled by increasing internet penetration and the sophistication of online sales platforms. With live e-commerce becoming a competitive profession, and the quality of streamers varying widely, understanding the factors that influence consumer behavior is crucial for brands.</p>
<p>Specifically, the researchers aimed to explore how streamers&; physical attractiveness impacts consumer response behavior, a topic that has received limited attention in academic research despite its apparent importance in the live-streaming environment.</p>
<p>&;Live streaming marketing has become a significantly popular method for selling products in recent years, emerging one of the most important ways for many brands to attract consumers,&; said study author Xiaoli Tang of Yanshan University. &;While watching a live broadcast one day, I noticed a viewer&;s comment that read, &;Can you change to a better-looking streamer?&; Despite the apparent rudeness of the remark, it inadvertently attracted my attention. Thus, the research topic was focused on the influence of streamers&; physical attractiveness on consumer response behavior.&;</p>
<p>To conduct their study, researchers designed an experiment involving 128 college students, evenly divided by gender, aged between 18 and 25 years. The participants were randomly assigned to one of four groups, each exposed to different experimental conditions based on the streamers&; physical attractiveness (high or low) and the participants&; level of involvement (high or low).</p>
<p>The experiment simulated a real-life shopping scenario on Taobao Live, focusing on the purchase of lipstick—a product chosen for its relevance to appearance and familiarity among the target demographic. The attractiveness of the streamers was predetermined through a pre-experiment rating process, ensuring that the experimental groups were exposed to streamers who significantly differed in perceived attractiveness.</p>
<p>During the experiment, participants viewed screenshots of live broadcasts, from which all external identifiers (e.g., the name of the live room, number of viewers, and brand information of the products) were removed to focus solely on the streamer and the product. After viewing, participants filled out questionnaires designed to measure their continued watching intention, engagement intention, purchase intention, level of quasi-social interaction, flow experience, and consumer involvement. The questionnaires utilized a seven-point Likert scale, ranging from complete disagreement to complete agreement, to ensure a nuanced capture of participants&; responses.</p>
<p>The findings revealed that streamers with higher physical attractiveness significantly enhanced viewers&; intentions to continue watching, engage with the content, and make purchases. Moreover, the study uncovered that quasi-social interaction and flow experience — internal psychological states that denote the quality of interaction and the level of immersion experienced by viewers, respectively — partially mediated the effect of the streamers&; attractiveness on consumer response behaviors.</p>
<p>&;Although it is true that having a good appearance will attract consumers&; attention, people should not judge others by their appearance or feel inferior because of their own looks,&; Tang told PsyPost.</p>
<p>Interestingly, while more attractive streamers managed to capture longer attention spans from their audience, the duration of attention did not directly translate to increased consumer response behaviors, suggesting that other factors might play more significant roles in influencing viewer actions.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Despite its insightful findings, the study includes some limitations. For instance, it focused solely on lipstick as the experimental product, which may limit the generalizability of the results to other product categories. Additionally, the study&;s participant pool, composed entirely of college students, suggests a need for research involving a broader demographic to understand more fully the diverse consumer responses in live-streaming contexts.</p>
<p>The research also concentrated exclusively on the physical attractiveness of streamers, leaving room for future studies to explore other dimensions of attractiveness, such as the influence of voice. &;The human senses do not only include visual perception, and it is hoped that the halo effect of appearance can be studied in the future by expanding the boundaries of the senses and combining multiple senses such as vision and hearing,&; Tang said.</p>
<p>Future research could also examine whether physical attractiveness can backfire in some circumstances. &;Although academics have shown that consumers may pay for appearance, there is also the phenomenon of individuals choosing to ignore good-looking people because of jealousy,&; Tang explained.</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1297369/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The influence of streamers’ physical attractiveness on consumer response behavior: based on eye-tracking experiments</a>,&; was authored by Xiaoli Tang, Zefeng Hao, and Xiaolin Li.</p>
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DATE:
February 12, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
Study shows men’s feelings of masculinity and accomplishment linked to partner’s orgasm method
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/study-shows-mens-feelings-of-masculinity-and-accomplishment-linked-to-partners-orgasm-method-221079

<p>A study focusing on young men in Florida found that they experienced heightened feelings of masculinity when imagining their partners achieving orgasm through intercourse or manual/oral stimulation they performed, compared to when they imagined their partners orgasming from the use of a vibrator. The paper was published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02070-0"><em>Archives of Sexual Behavior</em></a>.</p>
<p>Sexual activities hold great importance for many individuals. From a biological standpoint, sex is essential for reproduction and species continuation. Psychologically, it can reinforce emotional connections and intimacy between partners, thereby contributing to mental well-being and relationship satisfaction. Socially, sex plays a vital role in human relationships and cultural practices, deeply entwined with personal identity, social norms, and values.</p>
<p>An orgasm represents the climax of sexual pleasure, characterized by intense physical and emotional sensations, often accompanied by involuntary muscle contractions and a heightened sense of euphoria. Many view it as a hallmark of successful sexual encounters. Research indicates that men often perceive a woman&;s orgasm as a gift provided by the man. Young adult men report <a href="https://www.psypost.org/2017/03/men-view-womens-orgasms-masculinity-achievement-study-finds-48360">feelings of confidence and achievement</a> when their female partner experiences pleasure and <a href="https://www.psypost.org/2022/04/the-female-may-have-evolved-as-a-mate-selection-tool-62920">orgasm</a> with them. Conversely, if their partner does not achieve orgasm, some men may feel disappointed and view the sexual encounter as unsuccessful.</p>
<p>Study author Milan C. Savoury and his colleagues wanted to build on previous studies and examine whether men’s feelings of masculinity, sexual esteem, and accomplishment were influenced by the method by which their female partner experienced orgasm. They organized a study in which young adult men were asked to imagine their sexual partner orgasming in different ways – in an intercourse with them, as a consequence of their oral /manual stimulation of the partner’s clitoris, or that they orgasmed due to their use of a clitoral vibrator on the partner.</p>
<p>The study involved 193 male students, taking an introductory psychology course at a major university in the southeastern United States, who participated for partial course credit. All participants identified as heterosexual men and were assigned the male sex at birth. Their ages primarily ranged from 18 to 24 years, with 6% being older than 24.</p>
<p>Participants completed an assessment of dysfunctional sexual beliefs (the Sexual Dysfunctional Beliefs Questionnaire) and of knowledge about the female clitoris (the Clitoral Knowledge Questionnaire). They were then randomly assigned to one of three experimental scenarios (vignettes) instructing them to imagine their partner achieving orgasm through different means: sexual intercourse with them, manual/oral stimulation, or vibrator use.</p>
<p>After reading their assigned vignette, participants completed assessments of the feelings of masculinity (the Affect and Arousal Scale) and of sexual esteem (the Sexuality Scale).</p>
<p>The results showed that those who imagined their partner orgasming from intercourse or their manual/oral stimulation reported feeling more masculine and a greater sense of accomplishment compared to those envisioning orgasm from vibrator use. Notably, individuals with more extensive clitoral knowledge felt more masculine when imagining their partner orgasming from their oral/manual stimulation, but this was not the case in the other scenarios.</p>
<p>Overall, the men participating in the study had moderately high levels of dysfunctional sexual beliefs. Their knowledge of the clitoris was also relatively accurate, but there were some common mistakes. For example, 40% of participants believed that the clitoris was on the front wall of the vaginal canal.</p>
<p>“The results of this study indicate that young adult college men view women’s orgasms as an accomplishment and a reflection of their masculinity. Because this type of performance pressure has been noted to interfere with men’s sexual functioning, these results bode for better sex education to help men separate their partner’s orgasms and their feelings about themselves,&; the study authors concluded.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The study sheds light on the perceptions of sexual intercourse by young men. However, it also has limitations that need to be taken into account. Notably, all the participants were university students and sexual activities were only imagined. Studies on individuals of different age or demographics might not yield equal results. Additionally, some of the deficiencies in participants’ clitoral knowledge might be due to issues of translating practical knowledge into written language.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-021-02070-0">Feelings of Masculinity and Accomplishment in Response to Penetrative versus Non‑Penetrative Orgasms</a>”, was authored by Milan C. Savoury, Eliyabeth A. Mahar, and Laurie B. Mintz.</p>
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DATE:
February 12, 2024 at 08:32AM
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TITLE:
Artificial Intelligence Can Predict Psychosis Before It Occurs
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177341&url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/02/240208202340.htm

<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">Science Daily - Top Health</a></p>The onset of psychosis can be predicted before it occurs, using a machine-learning tool that examines MRI brain scans and flags people at risk of a psychotic episode. An international consortium of researchers used the tool to compare scans from over 2,000 people, half of whom were at high risk of psychosis. Using training data, the classifier was 85% accurate at predicting who would develope psychotic symptoms. Using new data, it was 73%...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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DATE:
February 12, 2024 at 08:31AM
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TITLE:
1 in 5 of World's Migratory Species at Risk of Extinction, U.N. Reports
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177339&url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-02-12/one-in-five-of-worlds-migratory-species-at-risk-of-extinction-un-report

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">U.S. News and World Report</a></p>More than a fifth of the world's migrating species are at risk of going extinct due to climate change and human encroachment, according to the United Nation's first-ever report on migrating animals published on Monday. Of the 1,189 species covered by a 1979 U.N. convention to protect migratory animals&mdash;who cross deserts, plains, or oceans each year to breed and feed&mdash;44% have seen numbers decline, and as many as 22% could vanish altogether,...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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DATE:
February 12, 2024 at 10:00AM
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TITLE:
Long-term meditation might change your poop, hinting at effects on the gut–brain axis
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/long-term-meditation-might-change-your-poop-hinting-at-effects-on-the-gut-brain-axis-221423

<p>Tibetan monks engaged in long-term meditation practices have a distinctly different composition of gut bacteria present in fecal samples compared to their non-meditating neighbors, according to new research published in <a href="https://gpsych.bmj.com/content/36/1/e100893"><em>General Psychiatry</em></a>. This finding not only adds a new layer to our understanding of the mind-gut connection but also hints at the profound ways in which our mental activities, such as meditation, can influence our physical well-being.</p>
<p>The inspiration for this study came from a growing body of evidence highlighting the benefits of meditation on mental health, including its ability to combat depression, anxiety, and stress. Meditation, a practice rooted in ancient traditions, is known for its ability to focus the mind and foster a state of peace.</p>
<p>Recognizing the intricate relationship between the gut and the brain, researchers were keen to explore how meditation might impact the gut microbiota, the trillions of microorganisms residing in our intestines that play a crucial role in our overall health. This interest was sparked by the possibility that meditation could offer a novel approach to improving health by influencing the makeup of our gut bacteria.</p>
<p>A team of researchers led by <span class="name">Ying Sun of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine </span>embarked on an ambitious journey to the remote monasteries of Tibet, where they collected fecal samples from 37 Tibetan Buddhist monks and compared them with samples from 19 neighboring non-meditating residents. The monks, who had been practicing meditation for an average of nearly 19 years, offered a unique population to examine the long-term effects of meditation on the gut microbiota.</p>
<p>To ensure the study&;s accuracy, participants who had taken antibiotics, probiotics, prebiotics, or antifungal medications in the three months prior to sample collection were excluded, leaving 56 eligible samples for analysis.</p>
<p>The researchers employed advanced techniques to analyze the bacterial DNA from the fecal samples, focusing on the 16S ribosomal RNA gene, a common target for identifying and comparing bacteria present in the samples. This method allowed them to determine the diversity and abundance of different bacteria in the gut. Additionally, they measured various biochemical indices in the participants&; blood to explore potential health implications of the differences in gut microbiota.</p>
<p>The analysis revealed differences between the monks and their non-meditating counterparts. Specifically, the monks&; gut bacteria were less diverse but had a higher prevalence of certain bacteria associated with positive health outcomes, such as Prevotella and Bacteroides.</p>
<p>Notably, the genus <em>Prevotella</em> was much more abundant in the monks, constituting 42.35% of their gut bacteria, compared to 29.15% in the non-meditating controls. <em>Bacteroides</em> also showed a differential abundance, making up 6.21% of the microbiome in monks, as opposed to 4.07% in the control group. These bacteria are of particular interest due to their associations with positive health outcomes.</p>
<p>For instance, higher levels of <em>Prevotella</em> have been linked to reduced risks of major depressive disorders, while certain strains of <em>Bacteroides</em> have been implicated in influencing the brain&;s reward responses, which could affect behaviors such as binge eating and anxiety.</p>
<p>Further analysis into the functional capabilities of the gut microbiota unveiled significant differences in metabolic pathways between the groups. Meditation was associated with enrichment in pathways involved in glycan biosynthesis and metabolism, as well as lipopolysaccharide biosynthesis. These pathways are crucial for maintaining the integrity of the gut barrier and modulating immune responses, suggesting that meditation could enhance anti-inflammatory processes and bolster immune function.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Biochemical indices provided additional insights into the health implications of these microbiota differences. Monks showed lower levels of total cholesterol and apolipoprotein B compared to their non-meditating counterparts. These findings suggest a potential protective effect of meditation against cardiovascular diseases, a significant health benefit given the roles of cholesterol and apolipoprotein B in heart disease risk.</p>
<p>Despite its intriguing findings, the study acknowledges several limitations. One major challenge was the difficulty in recruiting a balanced number of participants from the control group, given the unique lifestyle and diet of the Tibetan monks. The unique living conditions and diet at high altitudes, combined with the specific lifestyle of Tibetan monks, mean that these results might not be universally applicable.</p>
<p>Additionally, the study&;s reliance on 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing provides a broad overview of the gut microbiota but lacks the depth needed to understand the functional changes these bacterial communities undergo.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, researchers are eager to dive deeper into the mind-gut connection through metagenomic sequencing, a more detailed method that can unravel the functional capabilities of the gut microbiota. This future research could provide clearer insights into how meditation and other mental practices can be harnessed to enhance our physical health, paving the way for meditation to become an integral part of treatments for a range of psychosomatic disorders.</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://gpsych.bmj.com/content/36/1/e100893" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alteration of faecal microbiota balance related to long-term deep meditation</a>&;, was authored by Ying Sun, Peijun Ju, Ting Xue, Usman Ali1, Donghong Cui1, and Jinghong Chen.</p>
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DATE:
February 12, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Children of anxious mothers have weaker prefrontal connectivity as adults, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/children-of-anxious-mothers-have-weaker-prefrontal-connectivity-as-adults-study-finds-221426

<p>A neuroimaging study involving 28-year-olds in Belgium discovered that individuals with mothers who experienced higher levels of anxiety during pregnancy exhibited weaker functional connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and the left inferior frontal gyrus regions of the brain. This diminished connectivity could lead to challenges in emotional regulation, decision-making, and stress management. The findings were published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-023-00787-1"><em>Brain Imaging and Behavior</em></a>.</p>
<p>During the previous decade, many studies utilizing neuroimaging techniques reported links between maternal psychological distress or mental health issues during pregnancy and the characteristics of the brain of their children. Scientists propose that this might mean that mental health issues of mothers affect the development of the fetal brain, creating changes that last into adulthood.</p>
<p>Of these mental health issues, anxiety and depression are the most common. A study in the UK estimated that treating anxiety and depression of mothers at the time of pregnancy costs the society around 8500 GBP per woman giving birth. Anxiety is a mental health condition characterized by persistent feelings of worry, fear, or tension, often in response to perceived threats or stressors.</p>
<p>Study author Elise Turk and her colleagues wanted to investigate the links between anxiety of mothers during pregnancy and the functional characteristics of specific brain areas of their children, after they have become adults. They had a unique opportunity to study individuals participating in a longitudinal study that started 28 years before their investigation.</p>
<p>The study involved 52 participants, all 28 years old, whose mothers were part of a longitudinal study that began in 1986. During the initial study, these women were between 18 to 30 weeks pregnant, had no pregnancy-related complications or medical risks, and were not using any drugs or medications harmful to the fetus. All participants were Dutch-speaking and completed the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) to assess anxiety levels. Based on these assessments, researchers categorized them into &;high anxiety&; and &;low-to-medium anxiety&; groups. These assessments were repeated multiple times: during pregnancy, when their child was 1, 10, and 28 weeks old, and then again at ages 8/9, 14/15, 17, and 20 years.</p>
<p>In 2014 and 2015, the offspring, now 28 years old, underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans of their brains at a university hospital.</p>
<p>Results showed that individuals whose mothers were in the high anxiety group tended to have weaker functional connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and left prefrontal cortex with some other brain regions in the left hemisphere. Additional analyses using other methods of inquiry confirmed these findings and also revealed an additional association of weaker connectivity between left lateral prefrontal cortex with left somatosensory motor gyrus.</p>
<p>The medial prefrontal cortex region of the brain plays a pivotal role in decision-making, social behavior, and self-reflection. It acts as a central component in processing information about oneself and others, including empathy, moral judgments, and risk assessment. It is also involved in emotional regulation, helping to modulate responses to stress and fear.</p>
<p>On the other hand, the left prefrontal cortex is closely associated with experiences of positive emotions, motivation, and the regulation of the body&;s response to stress. It has a critical function in language processing, working memory, and executive functions, such as planning and decision-making. If the connectivity between the medial prefrontal cortex and the left prefrontal cortex is weakened, it may lead to difficulties in emotional regulation, decision-making, and coping with stress, potentially exacerbating symptoms of anxiety and depression.</p>
<p>The study sheds light on the links between mental health conditions of expectant mothers and the development of infant brains. However, it also has limitations that need to be taken into account. Notably, the number of study participants was very small and they were purposively selected for the study. Results might not be the same on a larger group of participants, more representative of the general population. Additionally, the design of the study does not allow any cause-and-effect inferences to be drawn from the results.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11682-023-00787-1">Maternal anxiety during pregnancy is associated with weaker prefrontal functional connectivity in adult offspring</a>“, was authored by Elise Turk, Marion I. van den Heuvel, Charlotte Sleurs, Thibo Billiet, Anne Uyttebroeck, Stefan Sunaert, Maarten Mennes, and Bea R.H. Van den Bergh.</p>
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DATE:
February 11, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
‘Collective mind’ bridges societal divides − psychology research explores how watching the same thing can bring people together
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/collective-mind-bridges-societal-divides-%e2%88%92-psychology-research-explores-how-watching-the-same-thing-can-bring-people-together-221413

<p><a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/508169/historically-low-faith-institutions-continues.aspx">Only about 1 in 4 Americans</a> said that they had trust in the nation’s institutions in 2023 – with big business (1 in 7), television news (1 in 7) and Congress (1 in 12) scraping the very bottom.</p>
<p>While institutional trust is decreasing, political polarization is increasing. The majority of Republicans (72%) and Democrats (64%) think of each other as more immoral than other Americans – <a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2022/08/09/as-partisan-hostility-grows-signs-of-frustration-with-the-two-party-system/">a nearly 30% rise from 2016 to 2022</a>. When compared with similar democracies, the United States has exhibited the <a href="https://www.nber.org/system/files/working_papers/w26669/w26669.pdf">largest increase in animus</a> toward the opposing political party over the past 40 years.</p>
<p>When public trust and political consensus disappear, what remains? This <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=pEGM4-gAAAAJ&amp;hl=en&amp;oi=ao">question has occupied my research</a> for the past 20 years, both as a scholar trained in social anthropology, organizational science and social cognition and as a professor of psychology.</p>
<p>Researchers don’t have all the answers, but it seems that even in the absence of public trust and agreement, people can share experiences. Whether watching a spelling bee or a football game, “we” still exist if “we” can witness it together.</p>
<p>My colleagues and I call this human capacity to take a collective perspective <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2023.06.009">theory of collective mind</a>. The foundation of collective mind, and what we study in the lab, is shared attention, instances when people experience the world with others.</p>
<h2>Shared attention amplifies experiences</h2>
<p>Experiments in the laboratory with adults show that shared experiences amplify psychological and behavioral reactions to the world.</p>
<p>My colleagues and I find that compared with attending to the world alone, or at different times than others, synchronous attention with others yields <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691615589104">stronger memories, deeper emotions and firmer motivations</a>. Studies show that seeing words together <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/a0019573">renders them more memorable</a>, watching sad movies together <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/a0037697">makes them sadder</a>, and focusing together on shared goals <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2011.04.012">increases efforts toward their pursuit</a>. Sharing attention to the behavior of others <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/1948550613479807">yields more imitation of that behavior</a>.</p>
<p>Critically, those experiencing something with you need not be physically present. Although in some experiments participants sit side by side, in other studies participants believe they are attending together from different lab rooms or even across the nation. Irrespective of the location, the sense that “we are attending” to something together at the same time – as compared with in solitude or on your own schedule – amplifies the experience.</p>
<p>Laboratories in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797614551162">United States</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-017-3049-9">Australia</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/17470218.2015.1120332">Hungary</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01697">Germany</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1162/jocn_a_01841">Denmark</a> have found similar results. Notably, some studies have found that people want to have more <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0215318">shared experiences</a>, even when they don’t actually enjoy them more than solitary experiences.</p>
<p>What’s behind these observations? As a social species that survives through joint action, human beings in general need a common baseline from which to act. When shared experiences amplify what we know together, it can guide subsequent behavior, rendering that behavior more understandable and useful to the collective.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<h2>Sharing attention builds relationships</h2>
<p>Shared attention happens within the bounds of our cherished relationships and groups, like when friends go to a movie together, but also <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/10888683211065921">outside of them</a>.</p>
<p>Research suggests that shared attention on a common subjective experience can build <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jasp.12867">relationships across the political divide</a> and strengthen <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2015.1038496">cooperation among strangers</a>. For instance, when people co-witness that they have the same gut reaction to an unfamiliar piece of music or a meaningless inkblot, they like each other more, even if they have opposing political leanings. Critically, relational benefits are more likely when such subjective experiences are shared simultaneously – instances when people are most likely to sense <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/rev0000200">a shared mind</a>.</p>
<p>People can be attending next to one another or thousands of miles apart, in groups of two or 200, and the results are the same – shared attention <a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/pspa0000065">amplifies experiences</a>, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2017.11.007">creates social bonds</a> and even <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-41960-2">synchronizes individuals’ heartbeats and breaths</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/infa.12515">Scientists studying kids</a> find that interest in attending with others begins in the first year of human life, predating the development of language and preceding any notion of shared beliefs by several years. Human relationships don’t begin with sharing values; sharing attention comes first.</p>
<h2>The role of shared attention in society</h2>
<p>Before the advent of the internet, Americans shared attention broadly – they watched the same nightly news together, even if they did not always agree whether it was good or bad. Today, with people’s attention divided into media silos, there are more obstacles than ever to sharing attention with those with whom you disagree.</p>
<p>And yet, even when we can no longer agree on what “we” believe, sharing attention to the basic sights and sounds of our world connects us. These moments can be relatively small, like watching a movie in the theater, or large, like watching the Super Bowl. However, remembering that we are sharing such experiences with Americans of all political persuasions is important.</p>
<p>Consider the Federal Communications Commission’s <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Fairness-Doctrine">fairness doctrine</a>, a policy that controversial issues of public importance should receive balanced coverage, exposing audiences to differing views. In effect, it created episodes of shared attention across social, political and economic differences.</p>
<p>Institutional trust is now <a href="https://news.gallup.com/poll/508169/historically-low-faith-institutions-continues.aspx">almost twofold lower than it was in 1987</a>, the year the fairness doctrine was repealed. It is possible that the end of the fairness doctrine <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2019/01/17/how-policy-decisions-spawned-todays-hyperpolarized-media/">helped create a hyperpolarized media</a>, where the norm is sharing attention with those who are ideologically similar.</p>
<p>Of course, sharing attention on divisive issues can be painful. Yet, I believe it may also push us beyond our national fracture and toward a revitalization of public trust.</p>
<p>Why? When we share awareness of the world with others, no matter how distinct our beliefs, we form a community of minds. We are no longer alone. If we are to restore public trust and national ideals, sharing attention across societal divides looks like a way forward.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img decoding="async" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/218688/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p>
<p>&nbsp;</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/collective-mind-bridges-societal-divides-psychology-research-explores-how-watching-the-same-thing-can-bring-people-together-218688">original article</a>.</em></p>
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DATE:
February 11, 2024 at 11:26AM
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TITLE:
Protesters Opposed to Bill Allowing Same-Sex Marriage Rally in Greece
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177334&url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/hundreds-protesters-opposed-bill-allowing-same-sex-marriage-107140105

<div><p>Source: <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/international" rel="tag" target="_blank">ABC News - International</a></p>More than 1,500 protesters gathered in Athens on Sunday to oppose legislation that would legalize same-sex marriage in Greece. The bill is set for a vote in parliament in days and has split the country. Dimitris Natsios, leader of the far-right Niki party opposed to the bill, told the Associated Press, &quot;Greece is a Christian Orthodox country and our tradition does not allow this. ... We know and respect one type of marriage: The Orthodox...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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DATE:
February 11, 2024 at 11:26AM
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TITLE:
Trump Says He'd Encourage Russian Action Against Delinquent NATO Allies
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177329&url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-nato-allies-russian-aggression-defense-spending-targets/

<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/world/" rel="tag" target="_blank">CBS News - World News</a></p>Speaking at a rally in South Carolina, presidential candidate Donald Trump recounted a story he has told before about an unidentified NATO member who confronted him over his threat not to defend members who fail to meet the trans-Atlantic alliance's defense spending targets. But this time, Trump went further, saying he had told the member that he would, in fact, encourage Russia &quot;to do whatever the hell they want&quot; to the NATO ally.</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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DATE:
February 11, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
Distinct brain systems are altered in depression for natural and monetary reward processing
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/distinct-brain-systems-are-altered-in-depression-for-natural-and-monetary-reward-processing-221376

<p>In recent study published in <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/psychological-medicine/article/abs/distinct-neurofunctional-alterations-during-motivational-and-hedonic-processing-of-natural-and-monetary-rewards-in-depression-a-neuroimaging-metaanalysis/7B90AFED7BCE6D278E535990DD3AFC5F"><em>Psychological Medicine</em></a>, my colleagues and I have found distinct neural alterations during monetary and natural reward processing in patients with depression compared to healthy controls. From a neuroimaging meta-analysis of published fMRI studies in patients with depression and a total of 1,277 participants, the study provides the first evidence that reward alterations in depression differ depending on the type of reward.</p>
<p>For years, researchers have documented reward dysfunctions in depression to mainly occur in the striatum, a brain region strongly involved in reward and motivational processes. However, there are different types of rewards, including natural rewards (e.g. good food or your favorite song) and more abstract or learned rewards such as money. While alterations in reward and motivational processes are core symptoms of depression it has not been examined if the brain basis of natural and monetary rewards differ in the disorder.</p>
<p>Depression is a devastating mental disorder that is characterized by prolonged periods of sadness and anhedonia (loss of interest in almost all of daily life activities). We found interest in this topic because depression is a leading cause of disability affecting millions of people worldwide and there is need to establish determine the neurobiological underpinnings that can inform new treatments.</p>
<p>Our research team, including members from The University of Hong Kong and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, conducted a neuroimaging meta-analysis encompassing all suitable previous studies that used fMRI to examine the brain basis of reward alterations in depression. We found that patients with depression exhibited generally decreased activation in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex and striatum during receipt of all reward types.</p>
<p>However, depression patients showed separable alterations during monetary and natural rewards in the right ventral striatum and the dorsal striatum, respectively. The striatum is a quite heterogeneous brain region and the ventral and dorsal part have distinct functions, such that the ventral striatum is primarily involved in reward and motivational processing while the dorsal striatum is involved in motor and cognitive control. Further network level analyses and behavioral decoding analyses confirmed these conclusions.</p>
<p>The present results indicate that distinguishable neurofunctional alterations may neurally mediate reward processing alterations in depression, in particular, with respect to monetary and natural rewards. Given that natural rewards prevail in everyday life, our findings suggest that reward-type specific interventions are warranted. Moreover, the results challenge whether findings from studies on reward alterations that have been observed in monetary tasks can accurately capture reward dysfunctions in everyday life.</p>
<p>Despite promising findings, the study has some limitations and points to open questions. For instance, the study also found that anti-depressive medication may affect the brain alterations in depression. Future studies are therefore required to better understand if treatment with anti-depressive medication affects brain processing of natural and monetary rewards different in depression.</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1017/S0033291723003410">Distinct neurofunctional alterations during motivational and hedonic processing of natural and monetary rewards in depression – a neuroimaging meta-analysis</a>,&; was authored by Mercy Chepngetich Bore, Xiqin Liu, Xianyang Gan, Lan Wang, Ting Xu, Stefania Ferraro, Liyuan Li, Bo Zhou, Jie Zhang, Deniz Vatansever, Bharat Biswal, Benjamin Klugah-Brown and Benjamin Becker.</p>
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DATE:
February 11, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Social anxiety makes young women more prone to establishing in-game romantic relationships with video game characters
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/social-anxiety-makes-young-women-more-prone-to-establishing-in-game-romantic-relationships-with-video-game-characters-221387

<p>A study focusing on female <em>otome</em> video game players in China discovered that those with social anxiety were more inclined to form romantic relationships within the game with its characters. It was found that players who had stronger one-sided relationships, known as parasocial relationships, with characters were also more likely to engage in romantic relationships with them in the game. The study was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.107681"><em>Computers in Human Behavior</em></a>.</p>
<p>Parasocial relationships refer to one-sided interpersonal connections that individuals form with either real or fictional characters they encounter through media. These relationships serve as the foundation through which many individuals develop feelings of intimacy towards celebrities they have never personally met or interacted with, knowing them only through their appearances on television or in movies.</p>
<p>The advent of video games has brought a new aspect to parasocial relationships. In video games, people spend time interacting with fictional characters in deeply immersive contexts, develop in-game bonds, and can often develop feelings akin to those that one would develop for a real person. Studies have shown that players often develop intense feelings about their game avatars, in-game companions, or other game characters. Some of these relationships can be romantic.</p>
<p>A particularly fruitful ground for developing romantic parasocial interactions with game characters are <em>otome</em> games. <em>Otome</em> games are a genre of story-based video games targeted primarily towards a female audience. The term &;<em>otome</em>&; itself means &;maiden&; in Japanese, reflecting the games&; focus on romantic storylines from the perspective of a female protagonist. Players navigate through complex narratives, making choices that affect the storyline&;s outcome and their relationships with various characters, typically male love interests. These games typically employ visual novel-style storytelling, featuring detailed art, character development, and sometimes voice acting.</p>
<p>Study authors An-Di Gong and Yi-Ting Huang wanted to investigate the links between social anxiety, real-life social interactions, and parasocial relationships—whether romantic or not—with game characters among young female gamers. They noted that there were 317 million female mobile game users in China in 2020 and that <em>otome</em> games are the most popular female-oriented mobile game genre in the country. Due to this, <em>otome</em> games were a uniquely convenient ground for this study.</p>
<p>The researchers hypothesized that socially anxious women are more likely to form intense parasocial relationships with game characters while having fewer real-life social interactions, both online and offline. They also anticipated that gamers with stronger parasocial relationships would be more motivated to continue playing and more likely to intend to make in-game purchases.</p>
<p>The study involved 615 female gamers who predominantly played otome games, were under 30 years old, and single. These participants hailed from 28 Chinese provinces and had varied educational backgrounds. Of these, 61% were aged between 21 and 25, and another 25% were under 20.</p>
<p>Participants completed assessments of social anxiety (the Social Interaction Anxiety Scale), real-life social interactions and online social interaction (the Social Interaction Scale), parasocial interactions (the Parasocial Interaction Scale), romantic parasocial interactions (the Romantic Parasocial Interaction Scale), the intention to continue playing (e.g., “I intend to continually play this mobile <em>otome</em> game in the future”), and in-game purchase intentions (e.g., “I intend to continue purchasing mobile <em>otome</em> game in-game apps”).</p>
<p>Results showed that participants with stronger parasocial interactions with game characters also tended to be more prone to developing romantic parasocial interactions with them. More socially anxious players tended to have less real-life social interactions. However, social anxiety was not associated with online social interactions. Participants with stronger real-life social interactions also tended to have more parasocial interactions, but less romantic parasocial interactions.</p>
<p>Participants experiencing stronger parasocial and romantic parasocial interactions showed a greater intention to continue playing and to make future in-game purchases. Gamers under 20 years old were more likely to form stronger parasocial relationships than older participants, and those with a high school education or lower tended to have more intense parasocial relationships.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>“The evidence provided in this study suggests that PSI [parasocial interactions] and romantic PSI positively influenced female players’ continued playing intention, among them, PSI had a stronger effect on continued playing intention. Based on the above results, we believe the PSI and romantic PSI between female players and game characters may enhance continued playing intention. Romantic PSI positively influenced in-game purchase intention, and strengthening the romantic PSI between users and game characters may have a positive effect on boosting game revenue. In addition, this study found that there was a strong association between continued playing intention and in-game purchase intention,&; the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study sheds light on the psychological mechanisms underlying parasocial relationships with video game characters. However, the design of the study does not allow any cause-and-effect inferences to be drawn from the results. Additionally, all the participants were Chinese young females. Studies on other age and cultural groups might not yield equal results.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2023.107681">Finding love in online games: Social interaction, parasocial phenomenon, and in-game purchase intention of female game players,</a>“ was authored by An-Di Gong and Yi-Ting Huang.</p>
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DATE:
February 11, 2024 at 06:00AM
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TITLE:
Longer football careers linked to reduced white matter brain integrity, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/longer-football-careers-linked-to-reduced-white-matter-brain-integrity-study-finds-221403

<p>Have you ever wondered how playing football affects the brain in the long run? A study from the Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center has shed new light on this question, revealing that long careers in American football are linked to changes in the brain&;s white matter. These changes are associated with cognitive and behavioral issues later in life, independent of the presence of CTE, a condition often highlighted in discussions about the risks of contact sports.</p>
<p>The findings were published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcad019"><em>Brain Communications.</em></a></p>
<p>The motivation behind this comprehensive study was the growing concern about the long-term impacts of repetitive head impacts experienced by football players. Previous research has established a connection between these impacts and symptomatic concussions, as well as the development of CTE, a progressive brain condition.</p>
<p>However, there was a gap in understanding how repetitive head impacts affects the brain&;s white matter, crucial for cognitive function and behavioral regulation. This study aimed to bridge that gap by investigating the relationship between football career length, the age at which players start playing tackle football, and changes in the brain&;s white matter.</p>
<p>To conduct this study, researchers analyzed brain tissue from 205 male former American football players who had donated their brains to the Veterans Affairs-Boston University-Concussion Legacy Foundation Brain Bank. These individuals had played football at various levels, from youth leagues to professional.</p>
<p>The study focused on measuring levels of myelin-associated glycoprotein and proteolipid protein 1 in frontal cortex tissue. These proteins are essential for the structure and function of myelin, the protective sheath around nerve fibers that speeds up electrical signals between brain cells.</p>
<figure id="attachment_221405" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-221405" style="width: 1000px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-221405" src="https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Neuron-nerve-cell-axon-and-myelin-sheath-substance-that-surrounds-the-axon-detailed-anatomy-illustration.jpg" alt="" width="1000" height="1000" srcset="https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Neuron-nerve-cell-axon-and-myelin-sheath-substance-that-surrounds-the-axon-detailed-anatomy-illustration.jpg 1000w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Neuron-nerve-cell-axon-and-myelin-sheath-substance-that-surrounds-the-axon-detailed-anatomy-illustration-300x300.jpg 300w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Neuron-nerve-cell-axon-and-myelin-sheath-substance-that-surrounds-the-axon-detailed-anatomy-illustration-768x768.jpg 768w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Neuron-nerve-cell-axon-and-myelin-sheath-substance-that-surrounds-the-axon-detailed-anatomy-illustration-75x75.jpg 75w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Neuron-nerve-cell-axon-and-myelin-sheath-substance-that-surrounds-the-axon-detailed-anatomy-illustration-350x350.jpg 350w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Neuron-nerve-cell-axon-and-myelin-sheath-substance-that-surrounds-the-axon-detailed-anatomy-illustration-750x750.jpg 750w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-221405" class="wp-caption-text">Neuron, nerve cell axon and myelin sheath substance that surrounds the axon.</figcaption></figure>
<p>Lower levels of these proteins indicate compromised white matter integrity. White matter is composed of nerve fibers that connect different parts of the brain, facilitating communication between them. The integrity of white matter is vital for cognitive functions and behavioral regulation.</p>
<p>The researchers also collected retrospective information on the players&; athletic and medical histories and conducted interviews with family members to gather data on cognitive and behavioral symptoms.</p>
<p>The duration of a player&;s career played a critical role in brain health, as more years spent playing football were associated with lower levels of proteolipid protein 1. This finding points to a dose-response relationship between the length of exposure to repetitive head impacts and the integrity of the brain&;s white matter. Surprisingly, this association was not observed with myelin-associated glycoprotein levels, indicating that different components of the myelin sheath might be differently affected by repetitive head impacts.</p>
<p>&;Damage to the white matter may help explain why football players appear more likely to develop cognitive and behavioral problems later in life, even in the absence of CTE,&; said corresponding author Thor Stein, a neuropathologist at VA Boston Healthcare System and assistant professor of pathology and laboratory medicine at Boston University Chobanian &amp; Avedisian School of Medicine.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Another significant aspect of the study was the impact of the age at which players first began to play tackle football. Starting at a younger age was associated with lower levels of proteolipid protein 1, suggesting that early exposure to head impacts could interfere with normal white matter development.</p>
<p>This is particularly concerning given that myelination, the process of forming myelin sheaths around nerve fibers, continues into early adulthood. Therefore, repetitive head impacts during critical periods of brain development could have long-lasting implications for brain health.</p>
<p>Among the older brain donors studied, decreased levels of myelin-associated proteins were correlated with greater reported functional and impulse control difficulties, underscoring the potential role of myelin degeneration in the cognitive and behavioral symptoms observed in individuals exposed to repetitive head impacts. This connection between decreased white matter integrity and clinical symptoms emphasizes the broader impacts of football on brain health, extending beyond the risk of developing CTE.</p>
<p>&;These results suggest that existing tests that measure white matter injury during life, including imaging and blood tests, may help to clarify potential causes of changes in behavior and cognition in former contact sport athletes. We can also use these tests to better understand how repeated hits to the head from football and other sports lead to long term injury to the white matter,&; said co-author Michael L. Alosco, an associate professor of neurology.</p>
<p>However, the study is not without its limitations. The sample consisted of brain donors who were symptomatic and had decided to donate their brains for research, which may not represent the broader population of former football players. Additionally, the focus on myelin-associated glycoprotein and proteolipid protein 1 measurements in the frontal cortex means that the findings may not apply to other brain regions. Future research will need to include a more diverse group of participants and explore other areas of the brain to fully understand the impact of repetitive head impacts.</p>
<p>&;More years of football play and younger age of first exposure to football were associated with decreased myelin proteins,&; the researchers concluded. &;&; Myelin degeneration is another potential pathological consequence of [repetitive head impacts] that might contribute to the manifestation of clinical symptoms. Further characterization of the pathologies that arise from [repetitive head impacts], including those of the white matter, and their relative contribution to objectively defined clinical and cognitive symptoms will inform future iterations of the traumatic encephalopathy syndrome research diagnostic criteria, as well as treatment and preventative targets in this vulnerable population.&;</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://academic.oup.com/braincomms/article/5/2/fcad019/7067353" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Decreased myelin proteins in brain donors exposed to football-related repetitive head impacts</a>&;, was authored by Michael L. Alosco, Monica Ly, Sydney Mosaheb, Nicole Saltiel, Madeline Uretsky, Yorghos Tripodis, Brett Martin, Joseph Palmisano, Lisa Delano-Wood, Mark W. Bondi, Gaoyuan Meng, Weiming Xia, Sarah Daley, Lee E. Goldstein, Douglas I. Katz, Brigid Dwyer, Daniel H. Daneshvar, Christopher Nowinski, Robert C. Cantu, Neil W. Kowall, Robert A. Stern, Victor E. Alvarez, Jesse Mez, Bertrand Russell Huber, and Ann C. McKee, and Thor D. Stein.</p>
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DATE:
February 10, 2024 at 04:00PM
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TITLE:
New research reveals how mobile sports betting fuels riskier gambling behaviors
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/new-research-reveals-how-mobile-sports-betting-fuels-riskier-gambling-behaviors-221398

<p>In an era where smartphones have become as ubiquitous as wallets, a recent study in the <em><a href="https://akjournals.com/view/journals/2006/12/4/article-p1006.xml" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Behavioral Addictions</a></em> reveals how the convenience and privacy of mobile betting platforms might be reshaping the gambling landscape — for better or for worse. Researchers have peeled back the digital curtain to show that the ease of placing a bet from anywhere, at any time, alongside the allure of promotional inducements, is linked to riskier betting behaviors and, potentially, more significant harm.</p>
<p>The digital revolution has transformed traditional gambling, with smartphones leading the charge in making betting a constant companion. This shift prompted researchers to investigate how the structural features of gambling products and the environments they create contribute to gambling harm. Specifically, the study aimed to explore the impact of situational features—like the ease of access and privacy offered by smartphones—on harmful betting behaviors.</p>
<p>To understand the complex dynamics of smartphone betting and its potential harm, the researchers used what is known as a Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA). This methodological choice allowed the researchers to capture real-time data on 1,378 betting sessions directly from participants&; natural environments, thus ensuring high ecological validity.</p>
<p>Participants were young adults aged between 18 and 29, residing in New South Wales, Australia, who engaged in betting on sports, esports, or daily fantasy sports (DFS) at least fortnightly. The study spanned several months in 2021, with participants responding to a series of surveys that asked about their betting habits, the platforms used, and their experiences of gambling harm.</p>
<p>The analysis revealed that the ability to bet from anywhere at any time and the privacy afforded by smartphone betting emerged as significant predictors of impulsive betting and increased short-term betting harm. This suggests that the very features that make smartphone betting appealing &; its convenience and discreteness &; may also lead to riskier gambling behaviors.</p>
<p>Additionally, the study found that greater access to promotions and betting options was linked to higher engagement with promotional inducements and betting with more operators, further indicating a pathway to potential gambling harm.</p>
<p>Interestingly, quick and easy access from home was associated with more betting activity but correlated with lower short-term betting harm, indicating that not all aspects of accessibility have a uniform impact on gambling outcomes.</p>
<p>The study also shed light on how the choice of betting platform plays a role in gambling behavior, albeit to a lesser extent than the situational features themselves. Specifically, betting with a smartphone was associated with a higher likelihood of impulsive betting compared to using a computer or laptop. This finding underscores the unique risks associated with mobile betting platforms, which combine high accessibility with privacy and a wide array of betting options and inducements.</p>
<p>&;This study has expanded our understanding of smartphone betting, since previous research has mainly involved small interview studies,&; the researchers concluded. &;However, numerous research questions remain unanswered about the prevalence of smartphone-related gambling harm, who are most at-risk, protective and risk factors, and the aetiology of smartphone gambling behaviour and harm.&;</p>
<p>Looking ahead, the researchers suggested directions for future research, including a deeper dive into the differences by betting form and a longitudinal approach to better understand how situational features and betting behaviors evolve. They also highlighted the potential for regulatory and educational interventions to mitigate gambling harm, particularly focusing on the modification of betting inducements and promoting safer betting practices.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The study, &;<a href="https://doi.org/10.1556/2006.2023.00065" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Situational features of smartphone betting are linked to sports betting harm: An ecological momentary assessment study</a>&;, was authored by Nerilee Hing, Matthew Browne, Matthew Rockloff, Alex M. T. Russell, Catherine Tulloch, Lisa Lole, Hannah Thorne, and Philip Newall.</p>
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DATE:
February 10, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
How antidepressants, ketamine and psychedelic drugs may make brains more flexible
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/how-antidepressants-ketamine-and-psychedelic-drugs-may-make-brains-more-flexible-221393

<p>The first-line pharmacological treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) are antidepressant drugs known as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs). But a significant proportion of people <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3363299/">don’t respond</a> to these drugs.</p>
<p>Given that major depression is a global mental health problem that is <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/475027a">on the increase</a>, it is important to find novel pharmacological treatments for those who do not respond to the current ones. But to do that, we need to understand exactly how the drugs work – which we currently don’t.</p>
<p>MDD is a debilitating and distressing mental health disorder, trapping sufferers in a rigid and negative state of mind. There’s even evidence suggesting that this lack of flexibility is <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3238070/">associated with cognitive changes</a>, including negative thoughts and biases, and problems with learning and memory.</p>
<p>In our new study, <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-023-02285-8">published in Molecular Psychiatry</a>, we show that an SSRI called escitalopram may actually make brains more “plastic” – meaning more flexible and adaptive; more able to facilitate communication between neurons (brain cells). Brain plasticity is simply the ability of neural circuits to change through growth and reorganisation. Learning involves brain plasticity, including changes in neural circuits, and can help people to recover from depression.</p>
<p>One novel treatment option for depression, approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, is intranasal esketamine (an anaesthetic made from ketamine), although it has not as yet been approved for use by the NHS. The psychedelic drugs LSD and psilocybin <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31636488/">are also being investigated</a> for treatment resistant depression in research studies, but are not yet approved by regulatory bodies. When these studies are conducted, there is careful monitoring by a medical professional to ensure participant safety.</p>
<p>We know that both SSRIs and psychedelics <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028390822003161">target the same brain receptor</a> (known as the 5HT-2A). By contrast, eskatamine, similar to ketamine, works on a different receptor (N-methyl-D-aspartate or NMDA) and affects the brain chemical glutamate.</p>
<p>So how do SSRIs and psychedelics work to reduce symptoms of depression? At present, we don’t have the full picture. But the 5HT-2A receptor is linked to the brain chemical serotonin, increasing levels of it in the brain. And a recent study has indeed shown that serotonin <a href="https://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(22)01704-8/fulltext">appears to be reduced</a> in people with depression.</p>
<p>SSRIs, however, also affect the neurotransmitters GABA and glutamate. The latter has been linked to learning, cognition and memory – suggesting SSRI may actually <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33657450/">help to restore cognitive function</a>. Although the exact mechanisms of psychedelics are not yet fully understood, their antidepressant effects seem to work in a similar way to SSRIs given their effects on 5HT-2A receptors. However, there are also <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40263-021-00877-y">other reactions</a> to psychedelics, such as hallucinations.</p>
<h2>Measuring brain plasticity</h2>
<p>All these drugs have therefore been suggested to affect brain plasticity. However, in humans, it can be difficult to estimate levels of brain plasticity. One common method that scientists have used is to measure a protein called the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in blood samples.</p>
<p>BDNF helps <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7174655/">brain plasticity</a> by increasing the number of synapses (locations where neurons can communicate with each other), as well as the branches and growth of developing neurons. Synapses are particularly important in brain functioning as they allow transmission of chemical and electrical signals from one neuron to another. Similarly, synapses also store brain chemicals for release.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>There have been some studies <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5328267/#:%7E:text=While%20both%20SSRIs%20and%20SNRIs,0.93%3B%20P%20%3D%200.009">showing that</a> antidepressant drugs increase BDNF. However, better techniques are required to study plasticity in the human brain.</p>
<p>To develop better drugs, one approach is to find anti-depressant drugs with a faster mechanism of action. According to the NHS website, SSRIs <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/talking-therapies-medicine-treatments/medicines-and-psychiatry/ssri-antidepressants/overview/#:%7E:text=When%20they're%20prescribed%2C%20you,t%20stop%20taking%20the%20medicine">usually need to be taken</a> for two to four weeks before any benefit is felt.</p>
<p>We suspected that one reason for this delayed effect may be that brain plasticity needs to occur with SSRI treatment. As this process involves rewiring, such as the creation of synapses and circuits, it isn’t instant, but <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306452204005366?casa_token=YYK8O5aH_CYAAAAA:yHDNSHP6HJjbMelk3gvE-WGnvgeHkzusUszIhnS8TySOUH9gK2B2q3rt38QB8lj-uEAR3QtEPg">is thought to take</a> approximately 14-21 days.</p>
<p>In our study, which was a collaboration between the University of Cambridge and the University of Copenhagen, we used a novel technique to measure plasticity in the human brain, following SSRI treatment, for the first time.</p>
<p>Thirty-two participants underwent positron emission tomography (PET) scanning to detect the amount of a protein called “synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A”, or SV2A, in the brain. We know that <a href="https://www.science.org/doi/full/10.1126/scitranslmed.aaf6667?casa_token=MyIx6zmoLm8AAAAA:TKIwzV_Xlsi4_3Ny40uwK-WWaUKHzSJUIyDGQw8byzbhG_B38Gk2sGmhR6zap7B1ARr36NUaynmZOA">SV2A is a marker</a> of the presence of synapses. An increased amount would suggest that more synapses are present and therefore that brain plasticity is higher.</p>
<p>Our results showed a rise in this protein as a result of taking escitalopram (an SSRI). We found that, in those taking escitalopram, increased SV2A was associated with increased duration on the drug. Our findings suggest that brain plasticity increases over three to five weeks in healthy humans following daily intake of escitalopram.</p>
<p>This is the first real evidence in humans that SSRIs really do boost neuroplasticity – seen in the brain – and that this is one of the reasons it can treat depression. Similar evidence from studies in the human brain are still required for the psychedelics.</p>
<p>It makes sense that if antidepressant treatment facilitates brain plasticity, this should make it easier for people taking these treatments to learn new things. And we know that the ability to adopt new strategies, and change them if they don’t work (supported by what researchers call cognitive flexibility), is <a href="https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&amp;type=pdf&amp;doi=ee3e78f5e20bd9019d41a4e820bbdb597ac9a2d8">key to recovering from depression</a>.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img decoding="async" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/216025/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p>
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<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/how-antidepressants-ketamine-and-psychedelic-drugs-may-make-brains-more-flexible-new-research-216025">original article</a>.</em></p>
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DATE:
February 10, 2024 at 10:00AM
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TITLE:
71% of UK men have experienced some form of sexual victimization by a woman
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/71-of-uk-men-have-experienced-some-form-of-sexual-victimization-by-a-woman-221388

<p>A study in the United Kingdom found that 71% of men had experienced some form of sexual victimization by a woman at least once in their lifetime. The most frequent forms of sexual victimization was fondling or grabbing. Participants who reported having experienced sexual victimization tended to have more pronounced symptoms of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The study was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02717-0"><em>Archives of Sexual Behavior</em></a>.</p>
<p>Sexual victimization encompasses a range of non-consensual sexual activities inflicted upon an individual. These include rape, sexual assault, and other forms of sexual violence. It can occur in various contexts, from intimate relationships to attacks by strangers, and impacts victims regardless of their age, gender, or background. This form of victimization can have profound physical effects, but can also lead to severe adverse psychological and emotional consequences, contributing to issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and anxiety.</p>
<p>While sexual victimization of women is an important topic in both the mainstream media and policy discussions, sexual victimization of men attracts relatively little interest. This is particularly the case for male sexual victimization in which women are the perpetrators. Societal reaction to these types of victimization are often very different from how society reacts to the sexual victimization of women. This is at least partly caused by the difference in gender norms.</p>
<p>There is a widespread cultural belief that male sexual victimization by women is impossible, “because men are supposed to be physically dominant and aggressive, independent, and able to protect themselves, whereas women are supposed to be the opposite: gentle, submissive, and weak,&; the authors of this study explain.</p>
<p>With this in mind, study authors Jasmine Madjlessi and Steve Loughnan conducted a study that aimed to provide an estimate of how widespread male sexual victimization by women is. They also wanted to explore the mental health disorders associated with victimization and to see whether gender norms moderate the link between sexual victimization and mental disorders.</p>
<p>The research involved 1,124 heterosexual British men, recruited through Prolific Academic, who were compensated 1 GBP for their participation. To preserve participant anonymity, no further demographic data were collected.</p>
<p>Participants completed a Qualtrics survey that included assessments of sexual victimization (adapted from the CDC’s National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey), conformity to masculine gender norms (using the short form of the Conformity to Masculine Norms Inventory), anxiety (the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), depression (the Patient Health Questionnaire – 9), and PTSD symptoms (the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5).</p>
<p>The findings indicated that 71% of men reported experiencing sexual victimization by women at least once in their lives, with 57% victimized more than once, and 45% more than twice. Forty percent experienced attempted or completed forced vaginal/anal penetration, with 5% reporting victimization through force or threats of physical harm, 33% through pressuring, and 29% through exploitation of inebriation or inability to consent.</p>
<p>Fondling or grabbing was the most frequently reported form of sexual victimization, followed by vaginal sex, kissing, oral or anal sex, and public harassment. Those reporting higher frequencies of victimization exhibited more severe symptoms of anxiety, depression, and PTSD, even after adjusting for age and gender norm conformity.</p>
<p>“The current study further illuminates the occurrence of male sexual victimization by women and counters cultural myths prescribing that men cannot experience psychological suffering as a result of sexual victimization,&; the study authors concluded. &;The findings of the present study support that sexual victimization is a prevalent issue that may impact a significant percentage of the male population. Further, the study supports that male sexual victimization is of particular importance due to the association between victimization and experiencing mental disorders, namely anxiety, depression, and PTSD.”</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The study sheds light on the little studied issue of male sexual victimization. However, it should be noted that the study was based on self-reports of an online sample, which leaves quite a bit of room for reporting bias. Additionally, the design of the study does not allow any cause-and-effect inferences to be drawn from the data.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-023-02717-0">Male Sexual Victimization by Women: Incidence Rates, Mental Health, and Conformity to Gender Norms in a Sample of British Men</a>“, was authored by Jasmine Madjlessi and Steve Loughnan.</p>
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DATE:
February 10, 2024 at 07:00AM
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TITLE:
Scientists demonstrate that a virtual “Cybertruck” can be controlled while dreaming
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/scientists-demonstrate-that-a-virtual-cybertruck-can-be-controlled-while-dreaming-221379

<p>In a pioneering study that sounds straight out of a science fiction novel, researchers from California startup REMspace have successfully demonstrated two-way control of a virtual object by individuals in the midst of a lucid dream. This groundbreaking experiment, which involved five participants, revealed that people can not only control virtual environments in their dreams but also respond to feedback within those dreams, marking a significant step towards the realization of productive or therapeutic activities during sleep.</p>
<p>The study has been accepted for publication in the <a href="https://journals.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/index.php/IJoDR/index"><em>International Journal of Dream Research</em></a>.</p>
<p>Lucid dreaming, the phenomenon where dreamers become aware that they are dreaming and can sometimes control their dreams, has fascinated scientists and the public alike for decades. The term was first coined in 1913 by Dutch psychiatrist Frederik van Eeden, but it wasn&;t until the mid-20th century that lucid dreaming was verified in laboratory conditions.</p>
<p>Since then, the interest in lucid dreaming has skyrocketed, with research expanding into how these dream states can affect waking life, from improving mental health to enhancing problem-solving skills. The team at REMspace was motivated by the potential to harness the untapped hours we spend asleep, envisioning a future where people can interact with computers or solve tasks in their dreams, much like scenes from the movie &;Inception.&;</p>
<p>The researchers have previously demonstrated that <a href="https://www.psypost.org/2023/09/lucid-dreamers-transmit-musical-melodies-from-dreams-to-reality-in-real-time-in-groundbreaking-study-183621" target="_blank" rel="noopener">lucid dreamers can potentially transmit musical melodies</a> from their dreams to reality in real time. In their new study, they focused on expanding the scope of communication between the dream state and the waking world by exploring the ability of lucid dreamers to engage in complex problem-solving tasks while dreaming.</p>
<p>&;We all live in two realms, physical reality and dreams. I think it&;s time to connect these two worlds together. Experiments like this demonstrate that it is possible. As the first step, we needed to see it by ourselves,&; said Michael Raduga, the lead author of the study and CEO of <a href="https://remspace.net/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">REMspace</a>.</p>
<p>The study involved five participants, all experienced in lucid dreaming techniques, including two of the study&;s authors. These individuals were chosen for their ability to enter and control their dream states consciously. The experiment required participants to spend one to four nights in a sleep lab. Here, they were outfitted with electrodes that measured muscle activity (electromyography or EMG) and devices that could transmit light signals.</p>
<p>Initially, participants were trained while awake to control a virtual car (a Tesla Cybertruck) by tensing their muscles—a contraction of the biceps or forearm muscles would steer the car, while tensing the quadriceps would drive it forward. The car&;s virtual environment included obstacles, which, when encountered, triggered light signals through diodes. These signals, tailored to each participant&;s sensitivity, were designed to be perceivable even with closed eyes, instructing the dreamer to turn the car away from obstacles.</p>
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<p>Once asleep, the real challenge began. The participants aimed to replicate this control within their lucid dreams. Upon successfully entering a lucid dream—verified by a series of pre-agreed eye movements to signal consciousness within the dream—they attempted to navigate the virtual car, responding to obstacles as they had trained. The dreamers&; muscle movements, picked up by the EMG sensors, were translated into movements of the virtual car on a screen, observed in real-time by the research team.</p>
<p>Over the course of the study, the participants induced 18 lucid dreams, with attempts to control the virtual car made in 12 of these instances. Despite some technical hiccups, the researchers recorded 12 successful moves and 28 appropriate turns in response to obstacles within the virtual environment.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Detailed accounts from the participants revealed varied experiences, with some managing straightforward navigation and others facing challenges such as malfunctioning equipment or difficulty in generating detectable muscle signals. Despite these hurdles, the study confirmed the feasibility of two-way interaction within lucid dreams, opening up new avenues for exploration in dream control and its applications.</p>
<p>&;The most exciting part of the experiment is that almost all lucid dreamers could do this (if they could fall asleep with all the cords, etc.). All we need is to build more convenient tech, and everybody could use it for different goals,&; Raduga told PsyPost.</p>
<p>However, the study was not without its limitations. Participants sometimes struggled to send strong enough EMG signals from within the dream state, likely due to the natural muscle paralysis that occurs during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the sleep stage most associated with vivid dreaming. Additionally, technical issues with sensor sensitivity and placement occasionally hindered the experiment&;s success. Moreover, ensuring that feedback signals (like the light indicating an obstacle) were detectable without waking the participant proved challenging.</p>
<p>Looking to the future, the REMspace team envisions a broad spectrum of applications for their findings. Beyond the realm of entertainment, the ability to interact with technology during lucid dreams could have therapeutic benefits, such as treating phobias or enhancing learning. The study lays the groundwork for more ambitious endeavors.</p>
<p>&;The primary goal was to build this technology, create a proof of concept, and test it,&; Raduga explained. &;What for? We have a huge list of how we could use it with further developments. Now we are ready for even more advanced leaps forward.&;</p>
<p>&;For example, now we can connect dreamers with real physical objects and tech. We can change settings of different gadgets from within a dream, which is very important if we talk about gadgets that help to get into lucid dreams. Now it looks possible to connect to the Internet from dreams as well. And each of these opportunities has many perspectives by its own.&;</p>
<p>&;Though many researchers were aware that two-way communication from dreams with computers was possible in theory, all other people had no idea that it could go so far,&; Raduga added. &;There was no technology to demonstrate this lucid dreaming application. So, one of the goals was to demonstrate this two-way communication in general.&;</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/377810396_Two-way_control_of_a_virtual_avatar_from_lucid_dreams">Two-way control of a virtual avatar from lucid dreams</a>&;, was authored by Michael Raduga, Andrey Shashkov, and Andrey Vanin.</p>
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DATE:
February 10, 2024 at 06:00AM
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TITLE:
Weightlifters using testosterone-boosting steroids tend to have poorer sleep, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/weightlifters-using-testosterone-boosting-steroids-tend-to-have-poorer-sleep-study-finds-221371

<p>A study from Norway has found that men who use muscle-boosting steroids are more likely to suffer from poor sleep quality. The findings, published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-024-05516-6"><em>BMC Psychiatry</em></a>, suggest that these sleep issues might persist even after steroid use ends, highlighting the need for increased awareness of the side effects associated with these substances.</p>
<p>Anabolic-androgenic steroids, commonly referred to simply as &;steroids,&; are synthetic substances that mimic the effects of the male sex hormone testosterone. They are used medically to treat conditions like delayed puberty and muscle loss from certain diseases. However, steroids are more commonly known for their use by athletes and bodybuilders to enhance muscle mass, strength, and physical performance.</p>
<p>The motivation for this study stemmed from the observation that steroid hormones naturally present in the body have a profound influence on sleep patterns. Since steroids are derivatives of these natural hormones, there was a scientific interest in understanding whether and how synthetic steroids might affect sleep. Prior evidence suggested that individuals using steroids could experience sleep disturbances, but there was a lack of extensive research exploring this connection.</p>
<p>&;Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) and their relations to sleep and psychological distress are areas that still hold many unanswered questions,&; said study author Sandra Klonteig of Oslo University Hospital.</p>
<p>&;Being a relatively new substance, introduced in the 80s, we are still exploring the long-term effects of AAS. Given the reported sleep problems among men who use AAS and the established relationship between sleep and psychological distress, it was interesting to delve deeper into these relations, in particular how sleep quality varies during on/off periods of AAS use and its relations to psychological distress.&;</p>
<p>The study included a sample of 126 adult male weightlifters, with 68 being current or past users of steroids and 58 non-users serving as a control group. Recruitment channels included social media outreach, online forums dedicated to weightlifting and bodybuilding, and direct contact within gyms in the Oslo region. The study sought participants deeply engaged in heavy resistance training, which was quantified by the ability to bench press a minimum of 220 pounds. For the steroid users, a minimum of one year of cumulative steroid use was required for inclusion.</p>
<p>The researchers collected data using detailed questionnaires, which the participants filled out to report on their sleep quality, medication use, and any side effects from steroid use. To measure sleep quality, the study employed the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and the Jenkins Sleep Scale — both established tools in the assessment of sleep issues. Participants&; mental health was also evaluated using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist, a recognized gauge for symptoms of anxiety and depression.</p>
<p>The sleep quality of steroid users, as per the PSQI , was significantly worse than that of the control group. The researchers discovered that nearly all components of the PSQI showed greater disturbance among steroid users, except for sleep latency — the time it takes to fall asleep. This was supported by Jenkins Sleep Scale scores, which also pointed to troubled sleep among steroid users.</p>
<p>Furthermore, a notable proportion of the steroid-using participants, approximately two-thirds, reported experiencing sleep problems as a side effect of their steroid use. This self-reported data provided real-world corroboration of the clinical measurements.</p>
<p>The researchers observed a strong association between poor sleep and psychological distress. Using the Hopkins Symptom Checklist, they found that symptoms of depression and anxiety were not only more prevalent among steroid users but were also closely linked to the poor sleep outcomes measured by the PSQI. Interestingly, while depression seemed to partially mediate the relationship between steroid use and poor sleep, anxiety did not have a significant mediating effect.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>For a more nuanced analysis, a subset of 22 participants was closely observed over approximately 22 weeks, covering periods of active steroid use (&;on-cycle&;) and abstinence (&;off-cycle&;). This sub-study aimed to understand the impact of hormonal fluctuations on sleep during and after steroid use.</p>
<p>The findings from this subset reinforced the broader results. It showed that sleep quality fluctuated with the cycles of steroid use. During periods of active steroid use and withdrawal, the participants&; sleep quality was worse than that of the control group, with the withdrawal periods marked by particularly poor sleep. This suggests that the hormonal fluctuations associated with periods of steroid use and cessation may play a significant role in sleep disturbance.</p>
<p>&;Our study found that poor sleep quality is a common side effect of AAS use, with 66% of men with current or previous long-term AAS use reporting sleep problems, and 38% reporting use of sleep medications,&; Klonteig told PsyPost. &;There&;s a strong association between poor sleep and psychological distress, but psychological distress does not fully mediate the relationship between AAS use and poor sleep.&;</p>
<p>&;We found that sleep quality was poorest during withdrawal from AAS, potentially due to anabolic steroid-induced hypogonadism. The link between mental health, AAS use, and sleep underlines the importance of addressing sleep problems when devising treatment strategies for AAS use and mental health issues.&;</p>
<p>However, the study wasn&;t without its caveats. The cross-sectional nature of the data meant that the researchers couldn’t confirm if steroid use caused the sleep problems, just that there was a connection. The research, focused on a Norwegian male population, may not apply universally. There were also potential lifestyle factors related to steroid use that weren&;t fully accounted for, which could influence sleep, such as diet or other substance use.</p>
<p>Despite these limitations, the research paves the way for future studies to delve deeper, perhaps including a wider demographic and employing longitudinal follow-ups with a variety of measurements to better understand the biological and psychological mechanisms at play.</p>
<p>The implications of this study are significant for public health, particularly for those involved in sports and fitness who might consider or are using steroids. It suggests that individuals using steroids could be at risk of not just short-term sleep disturbances but potentially long-term sleep-related and mental health issues. The study underscores the importance of awareness around the side effects of steroid use and provides a strong foundation for further research that might lead to better support and treatment for those affected.</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://bmcpsychiatry.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12888-024-05516-6" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sleep pathology and use of anabolic androgen steroids among male weightlifters in Norway</a>,&; was authored by Sandra Klonteig, Morgan Scarth, and Astrid Bjørnebekk.</p>
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DATE:
February 09, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Teens exposed to parental phubbing tend to have more sleep problems, study finds
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/teens-exposed-to-parental-phubbing-tend-to-have-more-sleep-problems-study-finds-221355

<p>A study in China recently found that adolescents who experience parental phubbing—when parents ignore their children in favor of their smartphones—are more likely to suffer from sleep disturbances. The research, published in the journal <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1094488/full"><em>Frontiers in Psychology</em></a>, sheds light on the growing concern over how parental phone usage can negatively impact children&;s well-being.</p>
<p>When looking at parents with children in restaurants, parks, or at family gatherings, it has become increasingly common to see parents deeply focused on their phones instead of engaging with their children and bonding with them. In the recent decade, this type of behavior has been becoming ever more frequent and it can easily be observed in many settings that were traditionally considered an opportunity for parent-child interactions.</p>
<p>The term “phubbing“ combines &;phone&; with &;snubbing,&; highlighting the neglect of face-to-face interactions for the sake of interacting with a mobile phone. The phenomenon of phubbing has attracted a lot of research attention in recent years. Studies consistently link this behavior to various adverse consequences, such as worse subjective well-being of persons exposed to it, decreased self-esteem, and worse interpersonal relationships with the person doing the phubbing. While most often researched in the context of partner relationships, parental phubbing of their children has also started to receive notable research attention.</p>
<p>Study author Qian Ding and her colleagues wanted to investigate the relationship between parental phubbing, negative emotions, self-control, and sleep quality problems in adolescents. Their expectation was that parental phubbing might be causing negative emotions in adolescents. These negative emotions would, in turn, lead to sleep problems. They also hypothesized that adolescents’ self-control might be moderating this relationship.</p>
<p>The participants were 781 students from two junior high schools (grades 7-12) and two senior high schools in central China. Of these, 506 came from rural areas, while 275 were from urban areas. 366 students were female. 389 were from junior high schools. Participants were between 12 and 18 years of age.</p>
<p>Students completed assessments of parental phubbing (the Parental Phubbing Scale), negative emotions (the Ultra-brief Screening Scale for Depression and Anxiety revised), self-control (the Self-Control Questionnaire for Chinese children), and sleep quality problems (the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index scale).</p>
<p>The results showed that adolescents who reported higher levels of parental phubbing were more likely to experience negative emotions and sleep problems. Interestingly, parental phubbing was not linked to the adolescents&; self-control.</p>
<p>The researchers also tested a statistical model to examine the potential pathway from parental phubbing to sleep quality issues through negative emotions, with self-control acting as a moderating factor. Results showed that such a state of relationships between the studied factors is indeed possible. Additionally, self-control was shown to moderate the relationship between parental phubbing and negative emotions. Parental phubbing more consistently led to negative emotions in children with lower self-control. This link was greatly diminished in children with better self-control.</p>
<p>&;In summary, parental phubbing is an important factor that influences adolescent sleep quality problems,&; the study authors concluded. &;Negative emotions mediate the relationship between parental phubbing and adolescent sleep quality problems. And self-control moderated the effect of parental phubbing on adolescent negative emotions.&;</p>
<p>&;Specifically, the mediating effect of negative emotions was more significant for adolescents low in self-control relative to those high in self-control. Therefore, in order to help adolescents decrease sleep quality problems, we can reduce their parental phubbing, reduce their negative emotions, and maintain their moderate self-control.&;</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the links between parental behavior and psychological characteristics of their children. However, it should be noted that the design of this study does not allow any cause-and-effect conclusions to be drawn from the data.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1094488">Does parental phubbing aggravates adolescent sleep quality problems?</a>“, was authored by Qian Ding, Siwei Dong, and Yongxin Zhang.</p>
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DATE:
February 09, 2024 at 07:00AM
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TITLE:
Aggression Disorders Are Serious, Stigmatized and Treatable
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URL:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/aggression-disorders-are-serious-stigmatized-and-treatable/

<p>Researchers have a clearer picture than ever before of how common conditions that involve aggressive behavior emerge and how treatment can help</p>
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DATE:
February 09, 2024 at 06:00AM
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TITLE:
Despite the hype, ketone supplements probably won’t enhance your cognitive performance, study suggests
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/despite-the-hype-ketone-supplements-probably-wont-enhance-your-cognitive-performance-study-suggests-221346

<p>In a recent study, researchers discovered that consuming a ketone supplement did not enhance cognitive performance in female athletes, despite increasing levels of ketone bodies in the blood. This finding challenges the popular notion that ketone supplements, often associated with the ketogenic diet, could offer a mental edge in high-stress situations. The research was recently published in the <em><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41465-023-00275-w" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Cognitive Enhancement</a></em>.</p>
<h3>Understanding Ketone Bodies and the Ketogenic Diet</h3>
<p>Ketone bodies are compounds produced by the body when it breaks down fat for energy, a process that occurs when glucose—the body&;s usual energy source—is scarce. This can happen during fasting, intense exercise, or when following a ketogenic diet, a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet designed to induce a state of ketosis.</p>
<p>In ketosis, the body shifts from relying on glucose to using ketone bodies as its primary energy source, which has been suggested to offer various health benefits, from weight loss to improved brain function.</p>
<h3>The Motivation Behind the Study</h3>
<p>The study was inspired by the unique energy demands of the human brain and the potential of ketone bodies as an alternative fuel source during periods of reduced carbohydrate intake or increased physical activity. Previous research suggested that ketone supplements might mimic the effects of the ketogenic diet, offering a shortcut to the cognitive benefits of ketosis without the need to strictly limit carbohydrates.</p>
<p>This possibility has garnered significant interest, particularly among athletes looking for ways to enhance performance both physically and mentally. The researchers aimed to explore whether exogenous ketone supplementation could indeed offer cognitive benefits, specifically in female athletes experiencing mental fatigue.</p>
<p>&;My research interests lie in optimizing metabolic health and cognition through nutrition interventions and dietary supplements,&; explained study author <a href="https://www.una.edu/faculty/hswaldman.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hunter S. Waldman</a>, an assistant professor of exercise science at the University of North Alabama. &;Many individuals are interested in following the ketogenic diet for brain clarity, but the actual diet is fairly tough to adhere to. I wanted to see if taking a ketone might allow the user the same cognitive clarity without following the actual diet.</p>
<h3>How the Study Was Conducted</h3>
<p>The study involved twelve female athletes, each participating in rigorous training schedules, who were given a ketone supplement known as ketone monoester (KME) or a placebo in a controlled, blind testing environment. Over several visits to the laboratory, participants underwent a series of cognitive tests before and after consuming the supplements.</p>
<p>These tests were designed to measure various aspects of cognitive performance, including attention, memory, and executive function. The researchers also measured blood levels of ketone bodies, glucose, and lactate to assess the metabolic impact of the ketone supplement.</p>
<h3>Findings of the Study</h3>
<p>The study&;s primary finding is that while ketone supplementation effectively induced ketosis, as evidenced by elevated blood βHB levels and altered glucose and lactate metabolism, it did not confer observable benefits on cognitive performance following mental fatigue. Participants reported feeling more mentally challenged and fatigued during the testing sessions, regardless of whether they had taken the ketone supplement or the placebo.</p>
<p>Interestingly, despite the lack of objective cognitive improvements, participants perceived an improvement in performance under the ketone condition, highlighting a discrepancy between subjective experience and objective cognitive metrics. Some participants were able to correctly guess when they had received the ketone supplement, suggesting that the effects were perceptible in some way, although not in the form of enhanced cognitive function.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>These results contribute to the ongoing discussion about the role of exogenous ketones in enhancing cognitive performance, particularly in contexts of physical or mental stress. The study underscores the complexity of metabolic and cognitive responses to ketone supplementation and suggests that benefits observed in some contexts (e.g., physical endurance) may not directly translate to cognitive performance benefits, especially in the absence of a baseline cognitive impairment or significant physical fatigue.</p>
<p>&;I would say that in the absence of any serious detriment to cognitive health (e.g., TBI, concussion, dementia), there is a ceiling effect for exactly how much dietary supplements can have an impact,&; Waldman told PsyPost. &;Ketone supplements were suggested to give a &;boost&; in IQ for those that take it and like other supplements, I don’t think this is the case. So be skeptical of promises that sound too good to be true.&;</p>
<h3>Future Directions</h3>
<p>Looking ahead, researchers suggest that future studies should explore different contexts and conditions under which ketone supplementation might prove beneficial for cognitive performance. For instance, investigating whether longer durations of supplementation, higher doses, or combinations with other dietary components might yield different results. Additionally, understanding the specific circumstances or types of cognitive tasks where ketone supplementation could offer an advantage remains an area ripe for exploration.</p>
<p>&;The biggest limitation to our study was simply that we were unable to induce significant mental fatigue so that even if the supplement does work, it would have been hard to find that in our own study,&; Waldman explained. &;This is really just the beginning of this research in this area with ketone supplements and I think we have a whole area to pursue, especially how these supplements work when mental fatigue or cognitive decline are absolutely present.&;</p>
<p>This research contributes to the ongoing debate about the role of diet and supplements in enhancing brain health and cognitive abilities. While the promise of a simple nutritional supplement to boost brain power is appealing, this study suggests that the reality may be more complex.</p>
<p>&;Just remember that supplements are just that – something to supplement your other behavioral choices,&; Waldman said. &;There’s really nothing that holds a light to a well-rounded diet, exercising regularly, stress management, and good sleep.&;</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s41465-023-00275-w">No Benefit of Ingesting a Low-Dose Ketone Monoester Supplement on Markers of Cognitive Performance in Females</a>,&; was authored by Hunter S. Waldman, Eric K. O’Neal, Gaven A. Barker, Craig R. Witt, David A. Lara, Anna K. Huber, Valerie N. Forsythe, Andrew P. Koutnik, Dominic P. D’Agostino, Walter Staiano, and Brendan Egan.</p>
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DATE:
February 09, 2024 at 05:01AM
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TITLE:
6 Self-Help Books That Therapists Read Themselves
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URL:
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/09/well/live/self-help-books-therapists.html

Experts recommend these contemplative texts and workbooks to help shift your perspective.
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DATE:
February 08, 2024 at 08:37AM
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TITLE:
Psychology-Based Tool Designed to Boost Global Climate Action
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177272&url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/02/240207195054.htm

<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">Science Daily - Top Society</a></p>An international team of scientists has created a tool to increase climate awareness and climate action globally by highlighting messaging themes shown to be effective through experimental research. A description of the web-based tool appears in the journal Science Advances. The tool stems from a study involving nearly 250 researchers that drew more than 59,000 participants from 63 countries, including China, Germany, Israel, Japan, and the...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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DATE:
February 08, 2024 at 08:36AM
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TITLE:
Viagra and Similar Drugs Might Help Keep Alzheimer's at Bay
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177290&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiVWh0dHBzOi8vZ2l6bW9kby5jb20vdmlhZ3JhLWFuZC1zaW1pbGFyLWRydWdzLW1pZ2h0LWhlbHAta2VlcC1hbHpoZWltZXJzLWF0LTE4NTEyMzU5MDfSAQA?oc=5

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://news.google.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">Google News</a></p>One of the world's most famous drug classes may have another trick up its sleeve. In a study published in the journal Neurology, scientists have found that erectile dysfunction drugs like sildenafil (more widely known as Viagra) are linked to a lowered risk of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia. The findings don't prove a cause-and-effect connection, the team says, but do merit clinical trials that could confirm a benefit.</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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DATE:
February 08, 2024 at 08:36AM
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TITLE:
Pregnant Women Should Avoid Fast Foods, Experts Warn
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177256&url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/02/240207195205.htm

<div><p>Source: <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">Science Daily - Top Health</a></p>If you're pregnant, you may want to think twice before making a hamburger run, according to research published in the journal Environmental International. Oddly enough, it's not the food that the report targets&mdash;not the fries, burgers, or shakes&mdash;but what touched them before consumption. Research shows that phthalates, a class of chemicals associated with plastics, can shed into food from the wrapping, packaging, and even plastic gloves worn...</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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DATE:
February 08, 2024 at 08:35AM
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TITLE:
Fewer Than Half of Americans Feel "Very Satisfied" with Their Life
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177280&url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2024/02/08/47-americans-feel-satisfied-mood-of-nation-gallup-poll/4391707401640/

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.upi.com/Science_News/" rel="tag" target="_blank">United Press International - Science News</a></p>Fewer than half of Americans said they feel &quot;very satisfied&quot; with the current state of their personal life, according to the latest &quot;Mood of the Nation&quot; Gallup poll. The survey, taken between January 2-22 and released on Thursday, shows only 47% of U.S. adults are highly content with their daily life, down from 50% this time last year and just above the all-time record low of 46% in 2011, Gallup said.</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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DATE:
February 08, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
New study shows how human-like qualities of voice assistants influence shopping habits
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/new-study-shows-how-human-like-qualities-of-voice-assistants-influence-shopping-habits-221318

<p>A recent study published in<em> <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563223004752">Computers in Human Behavior</a> </em>shows that the more human-like virtual assistants sound, the safer people feel using them for voice shopping. The research indicates that when these digital helpers exhibit characteristics similar to our own, such as having a friendly voice, users are not only more inclined to trust them with personal information but are also more likely to use them for shopping.</p>
<p>In the digital age, virtual assistants like Alexa, Google Home, and Siri have become household staples, capable of performing tasks ranging from setting alarms to purchasing products online. Yet, despite their convenience, a lingering question of safety and trust has inhibited some users from fully embracing these technologies for shopping.</p>
<p>Researchers in Spain embarked on a study to explore how the human-like qualities of these assistants might influence users&; perceptions of safety, ultimately affecting their willingness to engage in voice shopping. The team was driven by the observation that while virtual assistants are increasingly integrated into our daily lives, their use for shopping through voice commands remains relatively unexplored.</p>
<p>&;This topic is vital as it bridges the gap between technological innovation and human psychology, offering insights into how voice technology can be made more appealing and trustworthy,&; said study author Guillermo Calahorra-Candao, PhD in Economics and Business Research at the University of Zaragoza.</p>
<p>&;It emphasizes the importance of understanding user perceptions in the rapidly evolving world of e-commerce, where trust plays a critical role in adoption. The study also points to broader implications for the design of AI interfaces, suggesting that the humanization of technology could be key to its wider acceptance and use in various sectors beyond just shopping.&;</p>
<p>The study involved an online survey with participants who were already familiar with virtual assistant technology and the concept of voice shopping. Each participant was randomly assigned to interact with one of three popular virtual assistants: Alexa, Google Home, or Siri.</p>
<p>Participants listened to audio clips of these assistants reading product reviews and were then asked questions to ensure they were paying attention to the content. The survey aimed to assess participants&; perceptions of the virtual assistant&;s human-like qualities, including their voice and the sense of presence or friendliness they conveyed.</p>
<p>Participants reported feeling safer and more inclined to use virtual assistants for shopping when these devices exhibited more human-like characteristics, such as a warm and friendly voice. This sense of increased safety was directly linked to a higher likelihood of participants using virtual assistants for making purchases and recommending voice shopping to others. Essentially, the study found that the more we can relate to these assistants on a human level, the more trustworthy and useful they become in our eyes.</p>
<p>&;This study highlights that the more human-like a virtual assistant appears, particularly in terms of its voice, the more likely it is to be trusted by users,&; Calahorra-Candao told PsyPost. &;This insight is important as it shows that technological advancements in making virtual assistants seem more &;human&; can significantly impact user behavior.&;</p>
<p>&;We suggest that as virtual assistants become more prevalent in daily life, particularly in areas like voice shopping, their design will play a crucial role in user acceptance and trust. Our study indicates that users might not only feel more comfortable but also more secure when interacting with voice assistants that have human-like qualities.&;</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>However, the study is not without its limitations. The research focused primarily on general information and purchase searches, hinting at the need for future studies to delve into specific product categories. Additionally, the cross-sectional nature of the study suggests that longitudinal research, tracking changes over time, could provide deeper insights into how our interactions with virtual assistants evolve as technology advances. The researchers also highlighted the potential for further investigation into how different types of voices — beyond simply being human-like — might impact users&; perceptions of safety and their shopping behavior.</p>
<p>&;Our study&;s findings on perceived safety are based on current technology and user attitudes, which are subject to change as voice-assisted shopping evolves,&; Calahorra-Candao said. &;This dynamic nature suggests that what is perceived as safe today might be viewed differently in the future. Additionally, our study primarily focuses on the voice aspect of virtual assistants, leaving room for exploring other elements like visual representation and interactive capabilities. These areas could further influence user trust and acceptance, pointing to a broader scope for future research in human-technology interaction.&;</p>
<p>&;This research not only informs the field of technology design but also offers insights into consumer psychology and marketing strategies,&; Calahorra-Candao added. &;The findings suggest that as voice shopping and virtual assistants become more integrated into our lives, businesses and developers need to pay close attention to how these technologies are humanized to foster trust and ease of use among consumers. Furthermore, this study serves as a foundation for exploring other aspects of human-technology interactions, encouraging a multidisciplinary approach to understand the full impact of anthropomorphism in digital interfaces.&;</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0747563223004752" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The effect of anthropomorphism of virtual voice assistants on perceived safety as an antecedent to voice shopping</a>&;, was authored by Guillermo Calahorra-Candao and María José Martín-de Hoyos.</p>
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DATE:
February 08, 2024 at 10:00AM
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TITLE:
New study sheds light on depression’s potential impact on political attitudes
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/new-study-sheds-light-on-depressions-potential-impact-on-political-attitudes-221322

<p>How does our mental health shape our view of politics? A <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electstud.2023.102737">new study</a> suggests that depression not only affects our emotional well-being but also might influence how we perceive our political world. Researchers from the University of Liverpool and Stanford University have discovered a complex web linking pandemic-related stress, depression, and political attitudes, shedding light on the ways in which our psychological state impacts our political perceptions and behaviors.</p>
<p>The motivation behind this study stems from an urgent need to understand the consequences of depression. With over 280 million people affected globally, understanding the broader implications of this condition is more crucial than ever. Previous research hinted at a connection between political attitudes and depression, but a comprehensive framework to explore this relationship was missing. This study aimed to fill that gap, proposing a cognitive model to examine how depression shapes political perceptions.</p>
<p>&;Depression has always <a href="https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/jonathan-rottenberg/the-depths/9780465069736/?lens=basic-books">existed</a> and is deemed to be one of the most <a href="https://www.who.int/health-topics/depression#tab=tab_1">common</a> mental health difficulties,&; said study author <a href="https://www.liverpool.ac.uk/politics/staff/luca-bernardi/">Luca Bernardi</a>, a senior lecturer in politics at the University of Liverpool.</p>
<p>&;For decades, <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/abs/10.1146/annurev.clinpsy.121208.131305">psychologists</a> have been studying how depression changes how we perceive ourselves and the world around us. Despite politics being omnipresent in people’s everyday life, political perceptions have been by and large overlooked. Our task is to understand how depression may influence people’s perceptions of their own ability to engage in politics and how representative government is perceived.&;</p>
<p>The researchers developed a cognitive model of depression and political attitudes in which they posited that life stressors can trigger depressive symptoms, which in turn shape political perceptions through specific cognitive processes. These processes include brooding, a form of negative repetitive thinking, and negativity biases in news selection, which refer to a tendency to prefer negative over positive news.</p>
<p>The model suggests a sequential relationship where stress leads to depression, depression exacerbates maladaptive cognitive strategies like brooding and negativity biases, and these cognitive processes then influence political attitudes. Political attitudes, in this context, are understood in terms of how individuals perceive their own efficacy in political matters (internal political efficacy), their trust and satisfaction with the government, and their overall attention to politics.</p>
<p>To test this cognitive model, the researchers conducted an online survey among a demographically and politically representative sample of 1,692 British adults in March 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. This timing allowed the researchers to capture the impact of pandemic-related stressors on depression and political attitudes in a real-world context.</p>
<p>The survey measured various factors, including stress and worry related to the pandemic, depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-9), brooding rumination, and negativity biases in news selection. Political attitudes were assessed through questions related to political attention, internal and external political efficacy, satisfaction with the government&;s handling of the pandemic, and trust in government.</p>
<p>The findings confirmed a significant association between COVID-19-related stressors—such as worry about personal and family health, financial concerns, and the effects of lockdown measures—and symptoms of depression. This crucial link establishes the foundational premise of the researchers&; model: that external stressors, especially those as unprecedented as the pandemic, can exacerbate or trigger depressive symptoms.</p>
<p>The researchers found that individuals with higher levels of depressive symptoms were more likely to engage in brooding and exhibit a negativity bias when selecting news stories. Brooding, in turn, was negatively associated with internal political efficacy, indicating that individuals who engage in this form of rumination feel less capable of understanding and participating effectively in politics.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Similarly, negativity biases in news selection were linked to lower political attention and diminished trust in and satisfaction with the government. This relationship suggests that the cognitive effects of depression can influence how individuals engage with external information. The preference for negative news could potentially overwhelm or discourage individuals, leading them to disengage from political content and, by extension, political participation.</p>
<p>Surprisingly, however, the study did not find a statistically significant direct link between brooding and political attention.</p>
<p>&;Because rumination consumes cognitive resources and fixates attention on depressive symptoms, we were expecting that attention to politics would be reduced,&; Bernardi told PsyPost. &;Instead, what we found is that depressive symptoms may influence attention to politics through negativity biases in news selection. In this respect, depression may not necessarily make people less <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261379423000203">interested in politics</a>, but it is possible that it leads to political avoidance.&;</p>
<p>These associations suggest that the cognitive effects of depression can extend into the political domain, affecting how individuals perceive their role in the political process and their evaluations of political institutions. Interestingly, the researchers also identified direct associations between depression and certain political attitudes, independent of cognitive processes. In particular, depression was directly linked to reduced external political efficacy and trust in government.</p>
<p>&;The take away of our study is that depression may influence political attitudes both directly and indirectly,&; Bernardi explained. &;On the one hand, due to its symptoms, depression may impinge upon <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/pops.12837">feelings of representation</a> and <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01402382.2022.2055372?casa_token=HAjaOC0-g9QAAAAA:qExGqkPQVGENMyGKxuNgQ8m-87VIrBEH5RGMmLD6VlYaX13pqSdZlMdZStO_Vtbn7XMnP_OUpepcMQ">trust in government</a>. On the other hand, the manner in which individuals experiencing depressive symptoms process information can tell us something about how they evaluate themselves and the political world.</p>
<p>&;In particular, repetitive negative thinking (<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17457289.2023.2246371">rumination</a>) partly explains why depression may reduce one’s confidence to engage in politics; in turn, negativity biases in the way people attend to the news partly explains why depression may reduce one’s feelings of representation, trust in and satisfaction with government.&;</p>
<p>However, the study&;s insights come with a caveat. The researchers caution against drawing firm causal conclusions from their findings due to the observational nature of the study. They also note the reliance on self-reported measures of depression, which may not capture the full spectrum of depressive experiences or account for potential biases in self-reporting.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, future research could delve deeper into these relationships, potentially employing longitudinal or experimental designs to more confidently assert causality. &;In the future, we aim to provide more evidence of causal relationships among the links explored in our model and to further study the role played by cognitive regulation processes in explaining the relation between depression and politics,&; Bernardi said.</p>
<p>The study, &;<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0261379423001592" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A cognitive model of depression and political attitudes</a>,&; was published in the journal <em>Electoral Studies</em> and was authored by Luca Bernardi, Giovanni Sala, and Ian H. Gotlib.</p>
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DATE:
February 08, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Borderline personality features amplify mate retention behaviors via suspicious jealousy
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URL:
https://www.psypost.org/2024/02/borderline-personality-features-amplify-mate-retention-behaviors-via-suspicious-jealousy-221330

<p>New research on romantic couples has found that individuals with more pronounced borderline personality features are more inclined to experience suspicious jealousy. In turn, This form of jealousy increases their likelihood of engaging in behaviors aimed at retaining their mate, both by providing benefits and inflicting costs. In other words, suspicious jealousy made these individuals both more likely to show affection and support their partner and to criticize, neglect, or abuse him/her. The study was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes4040033"><em>Sexes.</em></a></p>
<p>Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is characterized by a pervasive pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and emotions, as well as marked impulsivity beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts. Individuals with this disorder may experience intense episodes of anger, depression, and anxiety that can last from a few hours to days.</p>
<p>However, less pronounced levels of psychological features that are the hallmark of this disorder can also be found in individuals not diagnosed with it. These features include difficulty regulating one’s emotions and thoughts, proneness to engage in reckless behavior or have patterns of unstable relationships. These individuals may experience fear of abandonment, persistent feelings of emptiness, frequent mood swings, and inappropriate anger or difficulty controlling anger.</p>
<p>Borderline personality features impact romantic relationships. For example, a pattern of conduct indicative of frantic attempts to prevent rejection or abandonment in a romantic relationship is one of the diagnostic criteria for borderline personality disorder. These individuals may engage in elaborate activities aimed at retaining a romantic partner, more elaborate than a person without this feature would. Individuals with borderline personality features also find it difficult to understand what others are thinking or feeling, making them more prone to attribute malevolent intents to others. Because of this, it is diffult for them to trust others and makes them more prone to become jealous of their partners.</p>
<p>Study authors Virgil Zeigler-Hill and Jennifer Vonk wanted to examine the relationships between borderline personality features and mate retention behaviors i.e., actions aimed at retaining a mate. They believed that this link might be mediated by jealousy.</p>
<p>The researchers categorized mate retention behaviors into two types: benefit-provisioning and cost-inflicting. Benefit-provisioning behaviors positively affect the partner&;s well-being, including expressions of affection, support during tough times, and making the partner happy. These actions are crucial for fostering trust, intimacy, and satisfaction in the relationship, strengthening the bond between partners.</p>
<p>Conversely, cost-inflicting behaviors negatively impact the partner or the relationship through criticism, neglect, dishonesty, or any form of abuse, undermining trust, reducing satisfaction, and potentially leading to the relationship&;s downfall if not addressed.</p>
<p>The concept of jealousy explored by the authors encompasses two forms: suspicious and reactive jealousy. Suspicious jealousy is characterized by doubts about a partner&;s fidelity without solid evidence, often arising from personal insecurities or fears. Reactive jealousy, in contrast, is triggered by an actual threat to the relationship, such as flirtatious behavior or emotional involvement with another person.</p>
<p>The initial study involved 453 participants recruited through Prolific, 79% of whom were married, with an average age of 43. They were assessed for borderline personality features (using the Five Factor Borderline Inventory – Short Form), jealousy (through the Multidimensional Jealousy Scale), and mate retention behaviors (via the Mate Retention Inventory – Short Form).</p>
<p>The second study comprised 197 romantic couples (394 individuals), who had been in a relationship for an average of 12 years, with 73% being married. They underwent the same assessments as the first study.</p><div class="addrop-wrap" data-id="64749"><p style="text-align: center;">
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<p>Findings from the first study indicated that individuals with pronounced borderline personality features are more susceptible to engaging in cost-inflicting behaviors, such as criticizing, neglecting, or abusing their partner to retain them. They were also more prone to suspicious jealousy. Statistical analyses suggested that borderline personality traits could lead to a higher tendency towards suspicious jealousy, which, in turn, makes an individual more likely to engage in both benefit-provisioning and cost-inflicting behaviors.</p>
<p>The second study&;s results confirmed the relationship between borderline personality features, jealousy, and mate retention behaviors. However, gender-specific analysis revealed that both types of jealousy mediated the relationship between borderline personality traits and mate retention behaviors in females, whereas in males, the relationship was mediated solely by suspicious jealousy, alongside a direct link between borderline personality traits and cost-inflicting behaviors.</p>
<p>“We have shown that BPF [borderline personality features] are associated with suspicious jealousy and that this jealousy may mediate the associations that BPF have with both benefit-provisioning and cost-inflicting behaviors in romantic relationships. Suspicious jealousy is often problematic for romantic relationships and may stem from a poor understanding of others’ mental states and motives that is compounded by a tendency to misattribute malevolent intentions to others, which characterizes individuals high in BPF,&; the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study sheds light on the links between borderline personality features and behavior in romantic relationship. However, the study solely relied on online samples and self-reports. Studies based on observational data might not yield equal results.</p>
<p>The paper “<a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/sexes4040033">Borderline Personality Features and Mate Retention Behaviors: The Mediating Roles of Suspicious and Reactive Jealousy</a>“ was authored by Virgil Zeigler-Hill and Jennifer Vonk.</p>
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DATE:
February 07, 2024 at 02:22AM
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TITLE:
Japan Court Approves First Gender Change Not Requiring Surgery
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177243&url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2024-02-07/japan-court-approves-a-transgender-mans-request-for-legal-recognition-without-needing-surgery

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://www.usnews.com/" rel="tag" target="_blank">U.S. News and World Report</a></p>A court in Japan on Wednesday approved a transgender man's request to have his gender changed in official records without undergoing sterilization surgery, the first known ruling of its kind since the country's top court struck down a surgery requirement for such record changes. &quot;It's like I'm standing at the start line of my new life,&quot; said Tacaquito Usui, 50, during a televised news conference after the ruling came out. &quot;I'm so excited.&quot;</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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Psychology News Robot
DATE:
February 07, 2024 at 02:23AM
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TITLE:
World's First 3D-Printed Neural Tissue Grows and Works Like Human Brain
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URL:
http://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?from=rss_feed&id=177246&url=https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiaWh0dHBzOi8vd3d3LnNjaWVuY2VhbGVydC5jb20vd29ybGRzLWZpcnN0LTNkLXByaW50ZWQtbmV1cmFsLXRpc3N1ZS1ncm93cy1hbmQtZnVuY3Rpb25zLWxpa2UtYS1odW1hbi1icmFpbtIBAA?oc=5

<div><p>Source: <a href="http://news.google.com/?ned=us&topic=m" rel="tag" target="_blank">Google News - Health</a></p>Researchers have created the first functional 3D-printed brain tissue that can develop and form connections in the same way as real human brain tissue. This remarkable accomplishment by a team at the University of Wisconsin&ndash;Madison provides neuroscientists with a new tool for studying communication between brain cells and other parts of the human brain, potentially leading to better ways of treating diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.</div><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><br /><a href="https://www.socialpsychology.org/client/redirect.php?action=rssHomepage" target="_blank"><img title="Brought to you by Social Psychology Network" alt="Brought to you by SocialPsychology Network" src="https://www.socialpsychology.org/images/rss-footer-large.png" border="0" width="400" height="45" /></a><br><br>
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