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Researchers Unveil Cognitive Blueprint for Forming and Undoing Habits
In a significant breakthrough, cognitive neuroscientists at Trinity College Dublin have unveiled a new approach to effectively form and break habits. Spearheaded by Eike Buabang, a postdoctoral research fellow in Claire Gillan‘s lab, the study delineates a cognitive blueprint that promises to improve personal development strategies and revolutionize clinical treatment for compulsive disorders, such as…
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Study Links Social Media Use to Early Substance Experimentation in Preteens
In an era increasingly dominated by digital interactions, a new study uncovers a troubling connection between social media usage among preteens and early substance experimentation. Published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, the study reveals that adolescents who spend significant time on social media, texting and video chatting are more likely to try substances like alcohol,…
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Study Reveals Why Teenagers Often Make Unwise Decisions
Adults generally make better decisions than teenagers, and this behavioral improvement over time is linked to the development of more sophisticated decision-making skills, according to new research from the University of Würzburg in Germany. A study published today in the open-access journal PLOS Biology, led by postdoctoral research fellow Vanessa Scholz and Lorenz Deserno, an…
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Grabbing Pizza With Coworkers Can Boost Teamwork, Study Suggests
A casual office outing for pizza may seem like an ordinary social event. But it could hold significant benefits for workplace dynamics, according to new research by Binghamton University, Hitotsubashi University and Yonsei University. The study, published in the Journal of Management Studies, reveals that these shared experiences can significantly enhance cross-occupational teamwork and social…
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New Study Finds Minimal Impact of Social Media Usage on Mental Health
A fresh study from Curtin University offers a new perspective on the long-debated issue of social media’s impact on mental health. Instead of confirming the widely held belief that heavy social media use significantly affects mental health, the research found negligible to no direct relationship. Leading the study, doctoral candidate Chloe Jones emphasized that the…
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Revolutionary Brain Study Maps Activity During Movie Watching
In a new study, neuroscientists have produced the most detailed functional brain map to date by scanning the brains of participants while they watched a variety of movie clips. The study, published in the Cell Press journal Neuron, utilized data from 176 young adults who viewed 60 minutes of film segments from both independent and…
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How Social Media Algorithms Shape Our News Consumption and Worldview
A new study has unveiled the profound impact that social media algorithms have on the type of news we consume and how we perceive it, especially on platforms like X/Twitter. This research sheds light on the intricate ways these algorithms shape our information environment, potentially influencing political polarization and voter behavior. To investigate the effects…
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New Study Reveals Evolutionary Basis for Conspicuous Consumption
A new study conducted by researchers from Athabasca University and Vancouver Island University suggests that conspicuous consumption — often deemed irrational and driven by marketing — is actually deeply rooted in evolutionary biology and environmental conditions. “The desire to display or be seen with these products is triggered by an interaction between environmental conditions and…
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UPenn Researchers Uncover Secrets of Baseball’s Magic Mud
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have unveiled the scientific properties that make Major League Baseball’s “magic” mud so effective, revealing insights that could extend beyond the sport. This mud, used on every ball in MLB games, including the World Series, has long been praised for its ability to enhance ball grip and performance. Now,…
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How Gentrification Leads to Emotional Displacement
A recent study sheds light on the nuanced impacts of gentrification in East Asia, particularly in Seoul, revealing that residents often feel emotionally displaced and alienated in their own neighborhoods. This groundbreaking research, conducted by Kon Kim of Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University and Blaž Križnik of the University of Ljubljana, compares state-led urban regeneration with property-led…
