research
Identifying Depression Through Genetics: A New Study
It takes time to find the best antidepressants for some people, so why not use genetics to do it faster? A unique genetic test created to identify the most effective antidepressant for people with severe and medium depression could significantly enhance patient outcomes and result in substantial savings for the country.
Kate Yakimchuk antidepressants medications depression treatments mental health Psychology 17 December 2023
Don't choose until you sleep well: Studying cognition and sleep
A recent study highlights the significance of sleep for cognitive abilities and emotional well-being, especially for those facing high-stress situations. The research suggests that people should avoid making crucial decisions after a night without adequate sleep.
Kate Yakimchuk sleep patterns decisions cognitive skills brain Psychology 17 December 2023
New methods to fight the alcohol problem: A new study
Drinking alcohol for a long time can change the brain, especially in the "bed nucleus of the stria terminalis", an important area for stress and alcohol use. Scientists found that a peptide called pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide is linked to heavy drinking.
Kate Yakimchuk alcohol issue brain activity treatment therapy Psychology 16 December 2023
Pandemic Depression Hit Hard: A New Study
Living through a historic pandemic and coping with the challenges of the first year of college led to clinical depression in one-third of students, double the percentage seen in previous years. Even though some people tend to be genetically protected from depression, they weren't ready for this case.
Kate Yakimchuk depression pandemic mental health genetics Psychology 16 December 2023
Stress Keeps You Awake: A New Study
You've probably noticed that it's hard to sleep when you're stressed out, and it's also hard to have good rest. A new study shows that you can't rest well because of your hypothalamus that wakes you up.
Kate Yakimchuk sleep patterns sleep deprivation brain health Psychology 16 December 2023
The Science of Daydreaming: A New Study
Daydreaming, a common experience for humans, has long puzzled neuroscientists regarding its underlying brain processes. By monitoring neuron activity in the visual cortex of mice during periods of quiet wakefulness, the researchers identified patterns suggesting that the mice were daydreaming about specific images.
Kate Yakimchuk daydreaming brain activity science brain development Psychology 16 December 2023
Nursery Rhymes Helps with Language Learning: A New Experiment
You might think that you don't have to talk to babies because they'd understand anything, but it seems to be wrong. Parents should start speaking to their new babies using sing-song speech, like nursery rhymes, as soon as possible, according to a new study.
Kate Yakimchuk child development social skills speech communication Psychology 15 December 2023
Adversities Make Kids Age Faster: A New Study
Research suggests that children facing challenges early in life may age biologically at an accelerated rate. However, a recent study indicates that interventions promoting positive parenting may protect children from this effect, potentially slowing down the epigenetic aging process.
Kate Yakimchuk baby health child development parenting adversity Psychology 15 December 2023
Pre-Term Babies Have More Developmental Issues: A New Study
Scientists always try to do their best to improve babies' health, especially the pre-term ones. In a new study, researchers analyzed data from over 75 studies worldwide, covering more than eight million children.
Kate Yakimchuk baby health science child development health Psychology 15 December 2023
Exclusive Breastfeeding Is Required: A New Study
Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life is crucial for both the mother's and the child's health. However, a new study suggests that the commonly used "24-hour recall" method significantly overestimates exclusive breastfeeding.
Kate Yakimchuk breastfeeding health exclusive breastfeeding baby health Psychology 14 December 2023
What happens to a hubless brain: A new experiment
A team of specialists has made a groundbreaking discovery by obtaining direct recordings of the human brain minutes before and after disconnecting a crucial hub for language meaning. This rare opportunity demonstrates the role of brain hubs in various neural networks and the brain's amazing ability to compensate when this hub is lost, a process not observed before.
Kate Yakimchuk brain activity brain hub speech memory Psychology 14 December 2023
Surprising baby brains: A new study
Contrary to what we thought, a new experiment shows that baby brains are not significantly less developed compared to other primates. The misconception arises because much of our brain development happens after birth.
Kate Yakimchuk brain development human brain babies science Psychology 14 December 2023
Controlled aggression can be beneficial: A new study
Aggression is often seen as a bad thing, leading to problems like fighting and violence. But aggression is a natural behavior found in many animals, including humans. It can be important for survival.
Kate Yakimchuk aggression anger management science emotions Psychology 13 December 2023
When memory decline comes too soon: A new study
Aging can affect memory, and a recent study delves into the reasons behind varying memory declines in older adults. The newest research highlights that difficulties in learning among some seniors may be linked to neural representations in the hippocampus.
Kate Yakimchuk brain activity cognitive decline seniors health Psychology 13 December 2023
An amazing brain-healing protein: A new study
A recent study helps us understand how the brain reacts to injuries. Scientists found that a protein called Snail is crucial in organizing how brain cells respond after an injury.
Kate Yakimchuk brain damage human brain protein science Psychology 13 December 2023
How poetry helps depressed people: A new study
A recent experiment demonstrates that involving oneself in poetry—whether by reading, writing, or sharing—can serve as a valuable means of coping with loneliness, anxiety, and also depression. Conducted through a survey of 400 individuals amid the pandemic, the study discovered that poetry had a clear and positive effect on their overall well-being.
Kate Yakimchuk poetry mental health depression treatments loneliness Psychology 10 December 2023
Faces versus objects: A new study on how babies' preferences work
The team of specialists found that whether infants at five months prefer looking at faces or non-social objects like cars is significantly influenced by their genes. This discovery suggests that there's a biological basis for how infants shape their visual experiences and what they learn about.
Kate Yakimchuk new baby child development brain cognition Psychology 9 December 2023
When adopted people become parents: A new study
When it's time for adopted people to create their own families, this experience can be both amazing and challenging for them. People who didn't have to grow in full and loving families might not have the experience to be good parents, but they surely understand the importance of this.
Kate Yakimchuk family new baby parenting adopted children Psychology 5 December 2023
How climate change affects your brain: A new study
Climate change is not just affecting the weather; it's also impacting our brains, says a new study in Nature Climate Change. A team of international specialists from various universities explores how a changing environment affects brain function and how climate change might impact it in the future.
Kate Yakimchuk global warming brain activity science nature Psychology 5 December 2023
Brain can't rewire itself: A new study on brain damage and recovery
Contrary to pretty popular belief, specialists think that the previously injured brain cannot completely rewire itself in response to brain injury. The concept that it can repurpose regions for new functions, such as using the visual cortex for echolocation in people who can't see, is considered flawed.
Kate Yakimchuk brain damage brain wires science healing Psychology 5 December 2023