Pure Science

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A new study published in the Journal of Experimental Political Science casts doubt on a widely accepted idea in political psychology: that White Americans respond with a sense of threat when told they will no longer be the majority in the...

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A brief, imagery-based psychotherapy known as Regenerating Images in Memory (RIM) appears to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms after a single session, while triggering altered states of consciousness and distinct shifts in...

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An eye-tracking study in China found that individuals with depression looked at threatening and neutral images longer than healthy individuals in an experimental setting. They also tended to spend more time viewing these images compared to...

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A new series of studies challenges a long-standing belief in social psychology known as the “beautiful is moral” stereotype—the idea that people who are physically attractive are also seen as having better moral character. Across three...

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A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences provides one of the most comprehensive assessments to date of the accuracy of vote counting in the 2020 United States election. By compiling and analyzing data...

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New research published in the Journal of Applied Physiology suggests that erythritol, a popular sugar substitute, may negatively affect the cells lining blood vessels in the brain. In laboratory experiments, researchers found that...

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A new study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology suggests that some natural plant extracts may help improve cognitive function in healthy adults. Using a comprehensive comparison of 27 randomized controlled trials, researchers found that...

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People who strongly identify with cultural values emphasizing personal strength and reputation may be less likely to get a flu shot—unless those values center on family protection. A new study published in Current Research in Ecological...

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A study in China reported that early social ostracism, being ignored and excluded by others, may lead to loneliness. In turn, loneliness may foster the development of Dark Triad personality traits. These traits may develop as coping...

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Parents across the world sing to their babies every day—soothing them, amusing them, or simply connecting with them. But does this instinctive behavior have measurable long-term benefits for infants’ emotional well-being? A new study...

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A new study published in Sexual and Relationship Therapy sheds light on how certain personality traits are associated with people’s openness to casual, uncommitted sexual relationships. The researchers found that among the so-called “Dark...

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A new study published in Nature Neuroscience suggests that different aspects of socioeconomic status are associated with distinct patterns of brain structure, connectivity, and behavior—and these associations can vary depending on whether...

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A new study published in the International Journal of Psychology sheds light on how personality traits, moral decision-making, and political attitudes are linked to voting behavior in the 2020 United States presidential election. The...

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New research published in Nature Communications sheds light on why individuals with anxiety and depression often remain underconfident in their abilities—even when their actual performance is intact. The study found that people with more...

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An online survey of ayahuasca users found that non-religious individuals tend to become more religious after experiencing entity encounters while under the influence of the substance. Although men were less likely to be religious before...

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A new study published in Sexual and Relationship Therapy sheds light on the dynamics of age-gap relationships and how they relate to sexual satisfaction, confidence, and overall relationship well-being. The results show that relationship...

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A large study in the Netherlands has found that inflammation is consistently linked to symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as subtle impairments in cognitive function—particularly memory and attention. The researchers used both...

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A new neuroimaging study published in Molecular Psychiatry provides evidence that anorexia nervosa is associated with altered activity in the brain’s opioid system. Women with anorexia had higher levels of mu-opioid receptor availability...

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A new study published in American Behavioral Scientist sheds light on why some citizens embrace right-wing populist attitudes, particularly in Western democracies. Researchers found that when people feel disrespected or unrecognized by...

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A study of older individuals in Australia found that diet influences the relationship between depressive symptoms and Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers. In men with low adherence to the Mediterranean diet, higher levels of depressive symptoms...

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People who regularly practice mindfulness meditation appear to experience bodily sensations more readily than others, but this heightened awareness may not actually make them more accurate. A new study published in Psychophysiology found...

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A new study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology suggests that people who had consumed classic psychedelics before experiencing an extreme traumatic event reported lower levels of anxiety and post-traumatic stress symptoms in the...

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A new study published in The Journal of Neuroscience offers insight into how small grooves in the brain’s surface — known as tertiary sulci — might help explain individual differences in reasoning ability. Researchers from the University...

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From the moment we are born (and even before that, in utero), we tune into the languages around us. This includes the accents they are spoken in. Studies have found that infants show a preference for a familiar accent from as young as five...

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A new study published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior highlights how sexuality plays a pivotal, and often painful, role in the lives of individuals who leave ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities. Drawing from 37 in-depth interviews with...

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A new study published in Brain Imaging and Behavior has uncovered differences in brain function and neurotransmitter systems in men with lifelong premature ejaculation. Using advanced brain imaging, the researchers found that individuals...

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Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), the aromatic herb native to the Mediterranean, has long been treasured in kitchens around the world. But beyond its culinary charm, rosemary is also gaining recognition for its impressive health benefits,...

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A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders used a network modeling approach to explore how cognitive processes like flexibility and processing speed are connected to depressive symptoms. The researchers found that these...

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A study of young adults in Romania found that individuals who had experienced being ghosted were more likely to ghost others. Similarly, those who had experienced breadcrumbing were more likely to breadcrumb others. Individuals who...

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A new study published in Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy has found that resilience plays a key role in moderating the link between childhood trauma and psychopathic traits in adulthood. While past trauma was...

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A new twin study published in Translational Psychiatry suggests that the sensory sensitivities often seen in autistic individuals may not be caused by autism itself. Instead, these sensory traits appear to be genetically linked to...

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A new study published in Cell Metabolism has found that intermittent fasting enhances sexual behavior in aging male mice—not by improving sperm quality or hormone levels, but by shifting brain chemistry. The dietary intervention led to...

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Harsh words can wound – and when directed at children, they can have a lifelong impact. Research has shown that when words are routinely used by the adults in their lives to humiliate, shame or control children, they can alter the...

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New research published in BMC Psychiatry suggests that people with more abdominal body fat are more likely to experience sleep disorders, and this relationship is partly explained by symptoms of depression. The study found that a higher...

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A new study published in Psychological Reports has found that certain psychological traits—such as insecure attachment, emotional instability, and unclear self-concept—are strongly associated with loneliness. The research also shows that...

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A study conducted in China has found that individuals who perceive themselves as physically attractive tend to be more materialistic—both explicitly and implicitly. The study’s authors suggest this occurs because people who believe they...

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A new study published in Nature Neuroscience sheds light on the structural foundations of the brain’s default mode network, a system of regions long associated with internally focused thought, memory, and self-reflection. Using postmortem...

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In a newly reported case, a 21-year-old Hispanic man in Texas died after stabbing himself in both eyes with a pencil during a bad psychedelic experience at home. The disturbing event, published in the American Journal of Ophthalmology Case...

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A new study published in Evolution and Human Behavior suggests that people around the world are more likely to favor dominant, authoritarian leaders during times of intergroup conflict. Drawing on data from 25 countries, the researchers...

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A new study published in Nature Metabolism suggests that intense endurance exercise, such as running a marathon, may cause a temporary reduction in myelin content in the brain. Using advanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques,...

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Have you ever been ignored by someone you knew when you bumped into them in the street or at an event? If so, you probably thought they were being rude. But they might have face blindness – a condition officially known as developmental...

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New research published in Current Psychology suggests that people form more positive impressions of a face when it appears alongside others, and that the emotional impact of surrounding faces plays an important role in shaping these...

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A new study published in Molecular Psychiatry suggests that the thyroid hormone system in the brain may be a powerful driver of how fear memories are formed. Thyroid hormone signaling in the amygdala—the part of the brain involved in...

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A new study published in Addictive Behaviors has identified four distinct psychological profiles of video game players, each shaped by differences in emotional regulation, attachment style, and mental health. Based on data from over 5,000...

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An analysis of data from the 2020 China Family Panel Study found that childhood curiosity was associated with adult depression, with individuals who recalled being curious as children tending to report slightly fewer depressive symptoms on...

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New research published in Europe’s Journal of Psychology reveals that voters’ beliefs about authority and social hierarchy can shape how they perceive psychopathic traits in political candidates. The study, which focused on the 2016 United...

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Children born to mothers who used antidepressants during pregnancy do not appear to face higher risks of developing depression or anxiety by adolescence, according to a large study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child...

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A new study published in The Journal of Neuroscience has uncovered how the human brain’s internal timing mechanisms shift during sleep. Researchers analyzed electrical recordings from 106 patients and found that two different kinds of...

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A new study published in Nature Mental Health provides evidence that early-life adversity can leave lasting biological imprints that help explain why some children develop depression later in life, while others seem to be more resilient....

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A study of ethnic Hungarians living in Serbia suggests that psychopathy and narcissism are the key traits connecting the Dark Triad with aspects of emotional functioning. Individuals high in psychopathy tended to be less emotionally...