Psychology News

These research articles involve many aspects of psychology such as cognitive psychology, depression studies, mental health, stress, happiness and neuropsychology, Scroll below for more specific categories.

Researchers evaluate the neuroscientific aspects of fairness in social settings, examining how we balance personal interests with social norms. Using electric brain stimulation on 60 volunteers, researchers identified key brain regions involved in fairness decisions. The study highlights our innate preference for equal distribution, regardless of whether it puts us at an advantage or disadvantage.
Positive relationships with parents and other adults during childhood significantly contribute to better mental health in adulthood. Analyzing data from the Boricua Youth Study, researchers found that children with at least one nurturing adult relationship had lower risks of depression, anxiety, and stress later in life. This study, focusing on marginalized and minoritized youth, highlights the importance of supportive adult connections as a resilience factor against mental disorders.
A new study highlights a concerning link between obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and an increased risk of death from both natural and unnatural causes. The study, using data from over 60,000 people with OCD, shows an 82% higher overall mortality risk compared to those without the disorder.
Researchers made a breakthrough in understanding the universality of emotions across languages by using colexification analysis, a method of studying word associations. Their study identifies four central emotion-related concepts - "GOOD," "WANT," "BAD," and "LOVE" - as having the highest number of associations with other emotional words in multiple languages. This finding aligns with traditional semantic methods and natural semantic metalanguage (NSM), reinforcing the universality of these emotions.
A major clinical trial, BRIGhTMIND, reveals that MRI-guided Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) significantly eases symptoms of severe depression for at least six months. The study, involving five centers across England, marks a substantial advancement over previous TMS treatments, which showed improvements lasting only 1-3 months.
Researchers found a connection between the increased use of acetaminophen during pregnancy, particularly in the second trimester, and attention and behavior problems in young children. The research, part of the Illinois Kids Development Study, involved tracking prenatal chemical exposures and assessing the behaviors and traits of children at ages 2, 3, and 4.