Author: healthadmin

People with high levels of psychopathy tend to have a hard time feeling cared for by others, and new research links these psychological traits to certain structural properties of the brain. A recent analysis of brain scans from more than 800 incarcerated men found that men who scored high on psychopathy had enlarged brain surface area and a compressed arrangement of brain tissue. The resulting paper will be published in the journal Biological Psychiatry: Global Open Science. Empathy is not a single trait. This includes some unique psychological skills that allow people to successfully navigate social situations. Cognitive empathy allows…

Transgender people report higher rates of discrimination and violence across Europe compared to individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual. No matter how progressive a country’s equality laws are, these disparities remain relatively consistent. The results of this study were published in the International Journal of Transgender Health. For decades, academic and demographic studies have grouped sexual and sexual minority populations under a single umbrella. This broad classification assumes common social challenges. However, lumping diverse populations together can obscure the specific risks faced by different groups. In recent years, public and political opposition to transgender rights has intensified in…

Video games often spark debate over their potential harms and benefits. New research has revealed that cognitive impairment is related to problematic gaming habits, rather than the gaming act itself. People at risk for gaming addiction show decreased working memory, but those who play games for recreational purposes may actually have increased alertness. The study was published in Computers in Human Behavior. The World Health Organization officially recognizes gaming disorder as a medical condition. This diagnosis indicates that you continue to be unable to control your gaming habits. For people with this condition, playing video games takes priority over activities…

People often think that dreams at night are much stranger than the thoughts that float through your head during the day. New research published in consciousness and cognition This study shows that the wanderings of our waking minds are chock-full of strange elements, just like dreams, but the nature of the strangeness is different. This finding suggests that both states share similar underpinnings of spontaneous offline simulation, challenging old ideas about a strict boundary between sleep and wakeful consciousness. Spontaneous thinking is a large part of our inner mental life. When our attention is removed from the task at hand,…

Two major fault systems along the west coast of North America, the Cascadia subduction zone and the San Andreas fault, may be more closely related than previously thought. A new study suggests that activity on one fault can trigger earthquakes on the other, resulting in closely timed seismic events. “We’re used to the story of the ‘Big One’ — Cascadia — being this catastrophic behemoth,” said Chris Goldfinger, a marine geologist at Oregon State University and the study’s lead author. “It turns out that’s not the worst-case scenario.” Deep-sea evidence reveals hidden patterns To investigate this possibility, Goldfinger and his…

A work of mechanical art first conceived in 1775 to recreate the eruption of Italy’s Mount Vesuvius has now been realized for the first time 250 years after its conception. This resurgence has been made possible by modern technology and the creativity of two University of Melbourne engineering students. The original idea came from Sir William Hamilton, who served as British ambassador to Naples and Sicily from 1765 to 1800. He also had a deep interest in volcanology. His concept combined artistic expression and mechanical design to capture the dramatic visual effects of a volcanic eruption. The device was designed…

Recent research published in journals neuropsychopharmacology There is evidence that using cocaine and alcohol together alters brain pathways that contribute to drug relapse. This study suggests that the specific brain circuits that promote return to cocaine use in single-drug scenarios are no longer the primary driving force when alcohol is involved. These findings indicate that treating polysubstance use may require a completely different medical approach than treating cocaine use alone. Scientists conducted this study to better understand how the brain changes when ingesting multiple addictive substances. Most laboratory models of addiction focus entirely on a single substance, such as cocaine.…

Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have discovered a built-in process that removes existing amyloid plaques from the brains of mice in an Alzheimer’s disease model while also helping maintain memory and thinking skills. The discovery focuses on astrocytes, star-shaped supporting cells in the brain that are directed to clear toxic plaque deposits common in Alzheimer’s disease. The research team found that increasing levels of Sox9, a protein that plays a key role in regulating astrocyte activity as we age, significantly improved the ability of these cells to clear amyloid plaques. The survey results are natural neurosciencepoints to the possibility…

Scientists have discovered new clues about how crabs developed their unique lateral movements. The new study was released as a reviewed preprint. e-lifehas compiled the largest dataset to date on how crabs move. By comparing many species, researchers were able to trace this unusual walking pattern back to a common ancestor that lived about 200 million years ago. eLife editors say the findings are valuable, broadly relevant to scientists who study how animals move, and supported by nearly convincing evidence. Why lateral movement is important Sidewalking is a characteristic of the “true crabs” (bracula), the largest group of decapod crabs.…

New research published in journal emotions This provides evidence that people tend to feel more connected to each other when they voluntarily participate in scary activities with others, such as visiting a haunted house. The findings suggest that experiencing fear in a safe environment fosters a subjective sense of bond, but whether relationships are truly strengthened may depend largely on talking about the experience afterwards. Humans are highly social creatures, and forming bonds with others is strongly tied to overall health and psychological well-being. Scientists have assembled substantial evidence that sharing positive emotions, such as laughing at a comedy show…