Teens whose sleep length swings from night to night report more anxiety and sadness, a Fitbit-based study of 1,371 adolescents finds. The link was stronger in girls, and irregular sleepers reported suppressing their emotions more often.

People who were more resilient before an ayahuasca retreat reported somewhat more intense challenging experiences, a study of retreat guests in Costa Rica and Peru finds. For them, those challenges were also more closely tied to searching for meaning.

Darker hair and black backgrounds can make facial skin appear more even, according to new research in Perception. The skin itself was never altered, suggesting contrast around the face shapes how others perceive it.

The scent of a father can help infants synchronize their brain activity with unfamiliar adults. A recent study reveals that paternal body odor boosts positive arousal and neural coupling, helping babies expand their social connections.

A recent investigation suggests that the presence or removal of Confederate monuments does not alter people's racial biases.

A new study in healthy mice reveals that the popular weight-loss drug semaglutide alters behavior and brain activity related to reward and stress, shifting how animals pursue natural rewards and react to stressful situations.

A study in rats suggests MDMA can prevent the rise in alcohol intake that follows trauma-like stress, but only in animals genetically predisposed to drink heavily. The effect did not appear to depend on changes in fear.

A new psychology study reveals that minor musical keys evoke the sublime, major keys predict beauty, and visual elements heavily dominate our overall aesthetic responses when we experience audio and visual media simultaneously.

When war broke out in October 2023, an Israeli brain-imaging study was already underway. Comparing children scanned before and during the war, researchers found that attachment-related characteristics were tied to different patterns of emotional brain connectivity.

A recent study found that both high-salt and severely low-salt diets impair memory in mice. While high salt triggers inflammation, extreme salt restriction starves the gut microbiome of metabolic byproducts needed for optimal brain function.

A mother's emotional coldness may be a family risk marker for callous traits in teens with serious behavior problems. New research suggests the emotional side of maternal psychopathy predicts teens' callousness a year later, beyond their starting levels.

A new study finds that reading bad reviews before trying a product actually makes the experience worse, while positive reviews offer no matching boost.

A new study finds that environments forcing people into an upright posture—like a high desk—can subtly boost their willingness to take risks and feelings of pride, even without them realizing their posture was manipulated.

A two-part experiment finds that competitive "rank-and-yank" firing systems can lift short-term productivity, but leave surviving employees less trusting, less cooperative, and more willing to undercut the colleagues who made it through with them.

A recent psychology experiment shows that taking a few minutes to watch hopeful, goal-oriented YouTube videos can temporarily reduce feelings of depression and boost personal motivation.

New brain imaging research suggests resilience matters for children who have been abused. Among less resilient kids, abuse was tied to stronger links between emotional and bodily brain networks, which in turn tracked with more physical symptoms and depression.

A recent study shows that a person's facial and bodily attractiveness are closely linked in the eyes of observers. However, the human voice operates independently, sending a separate biological message to potential partners.

During Donald Trump’s first presidency, American public opinion broadly shifted leftward. But a new study reveals this "liberal rebound" was accompanied by surging emotional hostility between political parties, driving voters further apart on key policy issues.

Why do some people with depression respond to medication while others don't? A small study points to the brain's outer layer, finding that the folding complexity and thickness of certain cortical regions tracked how much patients improved.

When Taylor Swift's private jet usage made headlines, climate-conscious fans faced a dilemma. A new study reveals how young fans use psychological defense mechanisms to justify the pop star's carbon footprint, ultimately weakening their own pro-environmental attitudes.

New research suggests the brain develops from two separate groups of early cells, one forming the forebrain and midbrain and the other the hindbrain, challenging a model of brain development that dates back to 1952.

We often assume parental divorce causes lasting psychological damage. But new findings indicate the true driver of adult depression is the parental mental illness and addiction that frequently accompany family breakups.

A new study analyzing human hair samples reveals that severe internet addiction is associated with lower long-term accumulations of the stress hormone cortisol, suggesting the body’s biological stress response may become exhausted over time.

Citizens of former East Germany who faced surveillance and harassment still show higher psychological distress and systemic inflammation decades later. A new study reveals how "soft" authoritarian repression leaves a lasting physical and mental mark.

A new study reveals that an unethical company culture acts as a catalyst for employees with dark personality traits, triggering higher rates of workplace misconduct while single-handedly driving down job satisfaction across the board.

By mapping brain activity like a moving weather system, researchers found that psychedelics consistently reduce the upward flow of sensory information into higher-order brain regions, offering new biological clues into how these drugs alter human consciousness.

Love on the Spectrum defies reality TV drama. Here is what six critics say about the hit show.

A new study reveals how the human brain processes conversations across different timelines. Researchers found that speaking relies on short-term neural context, while listening requires the brain to integrate information over much longer stretches of time.

A recent study suggests that adults with ADHD who experience hyperactive and impulsive symptoms tend to view their condition more positively. In contrast, those with primarily inattentive symptoms are less likely to see their diagnosis as advantageous.

Unlike other primates, female humans have permanent breasts. Researchers now suggest this unique anatomical trait evolved to provide essential body heat to infants with large, energy-demanding brains.

Compared to humans, language models like GPT-4 are highly optimistic about the creation of human-level AI. Researchers suggest this constant, gentle push of machine positivity could slowly alter how the public perceives artificial intelligence.

A new study published in Archives of Sexual Behavior indicates that rigid thinking about gender isn’t limited to one political side. Both strictly traditional and highly progressive gender beliefs are strongly linked to authoritarianism.

While honesty is considered the foundation of a healthy relationship, a new study shows that couples experiencing dissatisfaction are significantly more likely to want their partners to tell them well-intentioned lies to keep the peace.

A newly detailed brain region acts as a continuous alarm system during a threat. By sustaining fear responses long after initial warnings fade, this overlooked neural pathway could unlock new ways to understand and treat anxiety disorders.

Autism diagnoses have skyrocketed over the past few decades, prompting a debate among scientists. Is the biological rate of autism actually rising, or is society simply naming the condition more frequently?

A clinical trial found that combining specialized meaning reconstruction therapy with the psychedelic brew ayahuasca helped bereaved individuals experience greater reductions in severe grief symptoms compared to those receiving therapy alone.

Why do voters support candidates who threaten democracy? A new study suggests that while party loyalty is powerful, holding a strong personal commitment to democratic institutions helps citizens resist antidemocratic politicians at the ballot box.

A new clinical trial suggests that a specific strain of probiotic bacteria may temporarily improve sleep quality and physical vitality in adults experiencing mild to moderate depression.

A new study finds that people with higher autistic-like traits tend to avoid using affectionate behaviors to maintain their romantic relationships. The research suggests this distancing is primarily driven by insecure attachment styles.

People with social anxiety often fear judgment and hold back in conversation. A new study finds that simply sharing personal experiences can boost how likable they seem to others, regardless of their anxiety levels.

AI models are judging people by their looks. A new study reveals that popular AI chatbots rely on arbitrary facial features to determine if someone is trustworthy, competent, or even likely to commit crimes.

A new analysis of young adult twins suggests that suicidal behaviors are highly heritable. While they share moderate genetic overlap with major depression, the unique environmental factors triggering these behaviors remain largely distinct.

A new survey of American teenagers suggests that negative online experiences vary wildly by platform, with TikTok and Instagram users reporting much higher rates of sleep disruption and negative social comparison than those using YouTube.

Tending to indoor hydroponic gardens may help cancer patients improve their mental health and quality of life. A recent study found that growing salad greens at home eased depression symptoms and encouraged healthier eating habits among patients.

When previous shoppers leave visible gaps between products on a retail shelf, subsequent consumers often view the remaining items as defective leftovers, initiating a psychological chain of events that reduces overall sales.

A new behavioral genetics study of twins finds that about one-fifth of our belief in our own creativity is inherited. Ultimately, your unique individual experiences shape your creative confidence far more than your DNA.

New research explores how our brains react to seeing others in pain. The findings reveal that a person's physical attractiveness and moral history alter our empathy levels, shifting how our minds process compassion in fractions of a second.

When people stop taking antidepressants, a sudden wave of anxiety or depression can feel like a devastating setback. But new research suggests these emotional spikes are usually a temporary physical withdrawal reaction, rather than a true relapse.

A large review of past research has identified several personality traits, including impulsivity and neuroticism, that correlate with problematic internet pornography use. Conversely, traits like self-control and conscientiousness correspond with lower viewing rates overall.

Scientists have successfully replaced the cortex of genetically modified mice with lab-grown human brain tissue. The transplanted human cells formed functioning circuits and responded to injury, offering a revolutionary new way to study human neurological disorders.