PsyPost

PsyPost is a psychology and neuroscience news website dedicated to reporting the latest research on human behavior, cognition, and society.

New research indicates visceral fat has a profoundly negative effect on cognitive abilities

Being overweight or having excess body fat is a strong predictor of reduced cognitive function, according to new research published in The Lancet. The findings highlight the importance of maintaining a healthy weight to protect cognitive function. The authors of the new study were motivated by the increasing prevalence of obesity and metabolic diseases in Asia and their potential impact on cognitive health in the region. The researchers aimed to investigate the relationship between adiposity (body fat) and metabolic risk factors with cognitive function in Asian populations. “I am interested in...

People systematically overperceive the level of moral outrage expressed in political tweets, study finds

People tend to misperceive others on Twitter as being more outraged than they actually are, according to new research published in Nature Human Behaviour. The findings suggest that the prevalence of divisive content on social media platforms might be a result of our tendency to misperceive others as angrier than they actually are online. The new study was motivated by the importance of accurate social knowledge in functional democracies and the role of online social networks in shaping social knowledge of morality and politics. The researchers aimed to investigate how social media platforms, a...

New neuroscience research reveals how our brain reacts to facial attractiveness

When we look at human faces, our brain has different responses depending on how attractive we find them, according to new research published in Biological Psychology. However, these responses are only observed when looking at faces of the gender that you are sexually attracted to. The study also discovered that these responses to facial attractiveness occur in a specific sequence, which suggests that our brain goes through distinct stages of processing when evaluating how attractive a face is. The authors of the new study were interested in studying the perception of attractiveness and its imp...

Science recently uncovered these 5 fascinating facts about psychedelic substances

Scientists are interested in studying psychedelic substances because they have the potential to alter perception, cognition, and mood in ways that may be beneficial for treating a variety of mental health conditions. Some studies suggest that certain psychedelics may have therapeutic effects for conditions such as depression, anxiety, PTSD, addiction, and end-of-life anxiety. The most commonly studied psychedelic drugs include psilocybin (the active compound found in “magic” mushrooms), lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD, also known simply as “acid”), dimethyltryptamine (or DMT, a naturally occur...

New study finds an alarming link between ambient air pollution and mental health

A new study has found a relationship between ambient air pollution and the mental health of those living in the United Kingdom. The findings indicate that when individuals are exposed to air pollution, even below the standards for air quality in the United Kingdom, they are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. The study, which was published in JAMA Psychiatry, offers insight into the potential consequences of long-term air pollution. Mental disorders are a growing cause of disability. Public health priorities include identifying modifiable risk factors of anxiety and depression a...

Neuroeconomic framework provides insight into success and failure in smoking cessation

Recent research published in Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging explored the relationship between choosing to delay gratification, neural functioning, and success or failure in smoking cessation. The findings indicate that individuals who chose immediate rewards rather than delayed ones are likelier to relapse and continue smoking. In addition, fMRI scans reveal differences in brain activity of those who choose to delay gratification compared to those who do not. This research can help practitioners predict who may struggle to quit smoking resulting in more robust and potentially successful int...

Scientific analysis of massive Twitter datasets links preferred pronouns in bios to left-wing politics

More and more users have been including preferred gender pronouns in their Twitter bios over time, according to new research published in the Journal of Quantitative Description: Digital Media. The research also provides evidence that words and phrases related to left-wing politics are more likely to be used alongside pronoun lists. Preferred pronouns refer to the pronouns (such as “she” and “her”) that an individual chooses to use for themselves, as opposed to the pronouns that are traditionally associated with their sex or gender. The use of preferred pronouns has become increasingly common ...

Artworks are perceived as less creative and aesthetically valuable if they are labeled as AI-made

A series of four experiments has revealed that the same artwork is preferred less and perceived as less creative and awe-inducing when participants are told that it is made by artificial intelligence (AI). These effects were stronger among individuals who believe that creativity is a uniquely human characteristic. The study was published in Computers in Human Behavior. Artificial intelligence is a term used to describe computer systems that are able to perform tasks normally requiring human intelligence. These tasks include visual perception, speech recognition, translation between languages, ...

Does materialism really lead to lower life satisfaction? Surprising new study suggests otherwise

New research casts doubt on the belief that heightened materialism leads to reduced life satisfaction. The results of the study suggest that the negative association between materialism and life satisfaction observed in past research might not be due to materialism itself causing lower life satisfaction, but rather because people who tend to be more materialistic also tend to have certain stable characteristics that are linked to lower life satisfaction. The findings have been published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology. “I started researching this topic during my PhD under supervision of ...

Researchers discover two psychological traits that connect narcissism to sadism

Researchers In Italy were curious if sadism and grandiose narcissism may be related and what traits may facilitate this relationship. Their findings indicate that malicious envy and narcissistic rivalry are the characteristics that connect sadism to grandiose narcissism. The research has been published in Personality and Individual Differences. Sadism refers to the tendency to derive pleasure from the suffering of others. It has been identified as a component of the “dark tetrad” along with Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. The tendency to take control of others is a key characterist...

Study explores link between attachment styles and sexual dysfunction in young adults

Young adulthood is often associated with exciting developments in intimacy and relationships, but research showing increased sexual dysfunction among the 18-25 age group has emerged in recent years. A study published in The Journal of Sex Research explores how sexual dysfunction in young adulthood may be related to anxious attachment, avoidant attachment, and childhood victimization. Sexual difficulties are often thought of as something that occurs in old age, but current research shows over 75% of young adults report experiencing some form of sexual dysfunction. Some forms of dysfunction have...

New psychology research links childhood betrayal trauma to secondary psychopathy in adulthood

A new study has found that people who reported suffering betrayal trauma in childhood were more likely to exhibit psychopathic and callous traits in adulthood. Dissociative experiences were found to mediate this association. The study was published in the Journal of Trauma and Dissociation. Psychopathy consists of a set of behavioral traits that are often observed together in individuals. These are serious, chronic antisocial behavior, lack of empathy, bold, and disinhibited behavior that is paired with charming, but exploitative behavior. Scientific studies of psychopathy have, so far, mostly...

Ketamine shows promise in the treatment of depression in patients with borderline personality disorder

New research provides evidence that ketamine therapy might be a suitable option for adults with borderline personality disorder and treatment-resistant depression. The new findings have been published in Psychiatry Research. Ketamine therapy is a type of treatment for depression that involves the use of ketamine, an anesthetic drug that has been found to have antidepressant properties. The therapy typically involves a series of intravenous (IV) infusions of ketamine in a clinical setting, under the supervision of a trained healthcare provider. Ketamine works differently than traditional antide...

Cognitive reappraisal might help to boost sexual desire, particularly for women

Those who frequently engage in cognitive reappraisal — a coping strategy that involves changing one’s interpretation of a situation — tend to have heightened sexual desire, according to new research published in Scientific Reports. Cognitive reappraisal is a technique commonly used in cognitive-behavioral therapy and involves actively reinterpreting a situation to change the emotional impact it has on an individual. By changing the way they think about the situation, they can reduce the intensity of their emotional response and feel more in control. The new findings suggest that this emotion r...

New study sheds light on how narcissism affects perceptions of partners in romantic relationships

New research indicates that individuals with high levels of narcissistic admiration often struggle to see their partners in a positive light. The findings, which have been published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, provide insight into how narcissistic personality traits influence perceptions of romantic partners. Narcissistic admiration and narcissistic rivalry are two distinct aspects of narcissism. Narcissistic admiration is characterized by a grandiose self-image and the desire to be admired, respected, and adored by others. On the other hand, narcissistic rivalry refer...