Author: healthadmin
Dive into the key mental health policy shifts for 2026, emerging psychiatric treatments like psilocybin and LSD therapies, and strategies to build resilient infrastructure amid funding challenges.
A new article has been published on Journal of Humanistic Psychology The author argues that cognition does not occur in the head as abstract information processing, but rather emerges as a physical person continuously interacts with the world, a process he describes as achieving an “optimal grasp” of the environment. Traditional cognitive science has treated the mind as a type of information processing system, emphasizing internal representation and computation. This perspective gained attention during the cognitive revolution, when advances in artificial intelligence and formal modeling suggested that intelligent behavior could be explained by symbolic manipulation. But as Garri Hovhannisyan points…
Among the more than 4,500 known planetary host stars, one surprising pattern stands out. Planets are expected to form around most stars, and many stars exist in pairs, but worlds orbiting both stars are extremely rare. Of the more than 6,000 exoplanets, or exoplanets, discovered to date (mostly by NASA’s Kepler Space Telescope and the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS)), only 14 have been confirmed to orbit binary stars. Astronomers believed there must be several hundred, based on their predictions. So where is the real-life version of Tatooine from Star Wars? Researchers at the University of California, Berkeley and the…
Recent research published in journal of intelligence We provide evidence that men and women tend to differ in relative cognitive strength, which may help explain why women continue to be underrepresented in certain science and technology fields. The study found that when comparing an individual’s skills to the individual average, women generally perform relatively better in reading, while men perform relatively better in mathematics. These patterns are consistent across countries and age groups and provide a new way to understand career choices. Scientists Marco Balducci and Waseem Haider conducted the study to investigate why gender disparities persist in science, technology,…
Think, know, understand, and remember. These are words people use on a daily basis to describe what’s going on in the human mind. But applying the same term to artificial intelligence can unintentionally make machines seem more human than they actually are. “We use mental verbs all the time in our daily lives, so it makes sense that we would also use them when talking about machines. It helps us empathize with machines,” said Joe Mackiewicz, an English professor at Iowa State University. “But at the same time, applying mental verbs to machines risks blurring the lines between what humans…
Liana Stokes had a habit of asking her oncologist about her next treatment, and with good reason. Stokes, 36, a gymnastics manager from New Rochelle, New York, had metastatic pancreatic cancer, one of the most difficult diagnoses in oncology. Her oncologist kept mentioning two syllables, “KAY-ras,” referring to the KRAS gene mutation in her cancer. Mutations in this gene can make the cancer more aggressive. But for Stokes, it was the key to potentially extending his life. “She always said, ‘KRAS, KRAS, KRAS,'” Stokes said of her medical oncologist. As Stokes underwent chemotherapy treatment after chemotherapy, she told herself, “It’s…
Extra virgin olive oil is known for supporting heart and metabolic health and has long been a cornerstone of the Mediterranean diet. Now, new research suggests it may also help protect the brain. Scientists have discovered that its benefits extend beyond the body to the mind, potentially supporting cognitive function through the gut microbiome. A study led by researchers from the Human Nutrition Unit of the University of Rovira i Virgili (URV), the Pere Virgili Health Institute (IISPV), and CIBERobn points to a meaningful link between extra virgin olive oil, gut bacteria, and brain health. Study investigating olive oil, gut…
A study in rats found that exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) altered gene expression in the nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex regions of the offspring’s brains. This may have resulted in decreased cognitive ability and more impulsive decision-making. This paper was published in the journal Ecotaxology and Environmental Safety. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetic chemicals widely used in industrial processes and consumer products because of their resistance to heat, water, and oil. One of these chemicals is perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS). It is a traditional substance that has been used for decades in…
Brain implants hold great promise for treating medical conditions and restoring lost sensation, but the hard materials often used to make them can cause long-term damage to delicate neural tissue. Recent research published in cutting edge science They found that making these devices from soft, flexible plastic rather than hard silicone significantly reduced scarring and maintained healthy brain cells. These results provide a practical guide for designing the next generation of neural interfaces that are more secure and longer lasting. For years, medical engineers have relied on small electronic devices to interface with the nervous system. These microelectrode arrays can…
When autistic people ask artificial intelligence programs for life advice, mentioning their diagnosis causes these systems to recommend very conservative choices, such as skipping social events or avoiding romantic relationships. This change in advice reveals the hidden tension that technology relies so heavily on stereotypes and that users are torn between feeling safe and supported or frustrated and infantilized. These findings were presented at the April 2026 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Many people with autism face stigma in their daily lives that can lead to social isolation and communication difficulties. Some people turn to artificial intelligence…