When we think of war, we tend to think of the physical carnage it causes, but what about its moral effects? A study published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research explores whether acting against one’s morals while serving may be related to pain inten…
Processed food consumption and household chaos linked to reduced cognitive performance in young children
Young children tend to have poorer cognitive skills when they have a diet high in processed foods and live in a chaotic household environment, according to new research published in the journal Nutrients. The study examined executive functioning in chi…
New study provides insight into the cognitive mechanisms underlying ketamine’s rapid antidepressant effects
Which factors determine what we believe about our world, ourselves, our past, and our future? Cognitive neuroscience suggests that our beliefs are dependent on brain activity, specifically on the way our brains process sensory information in order to m…
Comparison with historical data shows that beliefs in conspiracy theories are not increasing
Researchers compared historical data to results of current opinion polls and found no evidence that the percentage of people who believe in conspiracy theories has increased in comparison to previous times. In a series of four studies, they compared re…
Sharing content online makes people feel more knowledgeable, even when they did not read it
A recent series of studies showed that sharing content online, even when the person did not read it, increases subjective knowledge (how much one thinks he/she knows about a topic), but not necessarily objective (how much he/she really knows about the …
New research provides evidence that the pandemic changed our personalities
For many of us, some personality traits stay the same throughout our lives while others change only gradually. However, evidence shows that significant events in our personal lives which induce severe stress or trauma can be associated with more rapid …
Children of very young mothers show more behavioral problems and lower cognitive performance
A recent analysis of data held in the National Institute of Mental Health Data Archive (NDA) found that children aged 9-11 whose mothers were between 15 and 19 years of age when the children were born displayed more behavioral problems then children of…
Smartphone-induced flow experiences may act as a trigger for compulsive buying behavior among Gen Z
A recent survey of students in Italy found that smartphone addiction and online compulsive buying are related. Additionally, the mental activities a person uses to regulate his/her mood strengthen that link. Flow experiences, i.e. cognitive states of t…
A lack of adaptive stress responses may heighten social anxiety in adolescents
An eight-year study examined the relationship between adolescent coping strategies and social anxiety. Findings suggest that a lack of adaptive coping strategies is related to the development of social anxiety. Those subjects who demonstrated maladapti…
Pornography is not to blame for erectile dysfunction, according to new research
Can watching porn give men erectile dysfunction? A study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research suggests that pornography use does not predict problems in erectile functioning or sexual satisfaction. Pornography use is a hotly con…