#psychiatry — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #psychiatry, aggregated by home.social.
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DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Brain reactions to fearful faces predict psychiatric hospitalization risk
URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-reactions-to-fearful-faces-predict-psychiatric-hospitalization-risk/
People living with major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder who show heightened brain activity when viewing fearful faces possess an elevated risk of psychiatric hospitalization within a year. A complementary tendency to recognize negative facial expressions more rapidly than positive ones also tracks with this heightened vulnerability. These findings emerged from a recent study published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology.
Major depression and bipolar disorder represent two of the most common and persistent mood disorders globally. Both health conditions can severely disrupt a person’s life and sometimes lead to periods marked by intense psychological distress. The economic costs to society are immense, stemming from impaired occupational functioning and the need for intensive medical treatments. When symptoms escalate rapidly, individuals may require psychiatric inpatient hospital care for stabilization and safety.
Predicting who might experience these severe relapses remains a massive challenge for medical professionals. Clinicians usually rely on a patient’s medical history, current symptom severity, and medication status to estimate their risk for future hospitalization. Mental health specialists suspect that deeper biological and psychological markers could offer much better clues about a patient’s long-term trajectory. A prominent area of interest involves how the brain processes emotional information over time.
People with mood disorders often exhibit subtle differences in the way they interpret the social world around them. Previous research has linked depression and bipolar disorder to increased activity in the amygdala, a small structure deep within the brain that acts as a primary alarm system for detecting threats. Similarly, the fusiform gyrus, a brain region dedicated to recognizing faces, often works in overdrive when individuals with these health conditions view emotional expressions.
This elevated brain activity is thought to create a negative cognitive bias. Experts believe that inadequate regulation by the prefrontal cortex allows the amygdala to overreact to benign situations. This dysregulation leads individuals to perceive neutral social interactions as hostile or upsetting. The constant misinterpretation of social cues can maintain a depressed mood or trigger heightened anxiety.
To explore whether these neurological traits predict long-term clinical outcomes, a team led by Kamilla W. Miskowiak conducted an investigation. Miskowiak is a professor and clinical psychologist at the University of Copenhagen and the Mental Health Services in the Capital Region of Denmark. Her collaborative team sought to determine if a patient’s neurological and behavioral responses to faces could forecast their likelihood of severe health incidents. They suspected that heightened threat sensitivity might compromise psychological resilience and leave people vulnerable to sudden symptom spikes.
The research team recruited 112 participants who had previously been diagnosed with either major depressive disorder or bipolar disorder. At the start of the investigation, the participants underwent tests to assess their mental state and gather baseline recordings of their emotional reactivity. The researchers utilized functional magnetic resonance imaging, a technology that measures changes in blood flow to observe brain activity in real time. Inside the machine, the participants laid still while viewing a series of photographs depicting happy or fearful human faces shown for mere fractions of a second.
While the scanner recorded their brain activity, the participants pressed buttons to indicate the gender of the person in each photograph. This task allowed the scientists to record continuous unconscious reactions within the participants’ amygdala and fusiform gyrus without the subjects actively thinking about the emotions shown. Outside the scanner, the participants completed an additional behavioral assessment on a standard computer. This secondary test required them to recognize a morphing facial expression as sadness, fear, anger, disgust, surprise, or happiness.
The computer program steadily increased the intensity of the emotional expressions during the testing phase. The participants were instructed to identify the emotion as quickly and accurately as possible by tapping labeled keys on a keyboard. Following the initial testing phase, the researchers tracked the participants for one entire year using the Danish national health registries. These comprehensive population databases keep extensive, centralized records of all hospital admissions and medical diagnoses across the country.
By analyzing the registry data, the team could precisely identify which subjects ended up admitted to a psychiatric hospital during the twelve months after their brain scans. Only inpatient hospitalizations strictly tied to mood episodes were counted in the final data. When reviewing the clinical timelines, the scientists discovered an association between excessive brain activation and subsequent inpatient care. Patients who displayed higher levels of activity in the left amygdala when looking at fearful faces experienced a much higher rate of admission to psychiatric facilities.
The registry results showed that a proportional increase in left amygdala reactivity equated to a roughly three percent higher average probability of needing hospital therapy. Other brain regions evaluated in the scan, like the right amygdala and the left or right fusiform gyrus, did not display a statistically significant relationship with future hospital visits. The behavioral data from the computer tests provided parallel insights into the patients’ mental vulnerabilities. Individuals who recognized negative faces faster than they recognized positive faces faced a noticeably higher risk of needing hospitalization.
For every slight increase in this face recognition speed metric, the participants experienced an approximate three and a half percent bump in their average baseline danger of admission. The accuracy with which they identified the specific emotions, however, yielded results that were not statistically significant in relation to future psychiatric visits. Miskowiak and her colleagues propose that these specific neural and behavioral markers indicate a hyperactive stress response system. An exaggerated sensitivity to threats might exhaust a person’s coping mechanisms over several months.
Without adequate mental regulation, constant negative perceptions could easily exacerbate depressive or manic episodes until they reach an emergency threshold. The researchers emphasize that the tests highlight a potential vulnerability profile rather than an underlying mechanism that spontaneously triggers an episode. The study provides novel prognostic insights, but it comes with a few limitations that warrant consideration. Out of the 112 participants monitored throughout the year, only 20 individuals ultimately required psychiatric hospitalization.
This modest number of serious clinical events means that larger validation studies are necessary to confirm the exact patterns of risk. The participant group also included people taking a wide variety of psychotropic medications, which might have influenced individual brain responses in subtle ways. Because the research relied entirely on observational data from health registries, the design cannot determine if the negative cognitive biases directly provoke the hospitalizations. The associations simply indicate that exaggerated threat responses tend to coincide with poorer clinical outcomes.
The researchers also combined patients with major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder into a single group to maintain sufficient statistical power. Future work might separate these populations to see if the predictive biomarkers act differently depending on the specific diagnosis. Moving forward, the scientists hope to explore whether these threat-processing markers can actively guide therapeutic decisions in clinics. If clinicians can identify patients with high amygdala reactivity early on, they might be able to offer more targeted interventions.
Preventative psychological therapies designed to reduce negative cognitive biases could theoretically lower the overall disease burden for the highest-risk populations. Modifying the way these brains process emotional information might ultimately keep more patients safe and out of emergency psychiatric wards.
The study, “Amygdala reactivity to threat, negative facial perception, and risk of future psychiatric hospitalizations: a longitudinal study in major depressive and bipolar disorders,” was authored by Kamilla W. Miskowiak, Brice Ozenne, Hanne L. Kjærstad, Patrick M. Fisher, Emily E. Beaman, Vibeke H. Dam, Alexander T. Ysbæk-Nielsen, Gitte M. Knudsen, Lars V. Kessing, Julian Macoveanu, Vibe G. Frøkjær, and Anjali Sankar.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-reactions-to-fearful-faces-predict-psychiatric-hospitalization-risk/
-------------------------------------------------
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NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AmygdalaReactivity #ThreatProcessing #MoodDisorders #Depression #BipolarDisorder #FacialExpression #NegativeBias #PsychiatricHospitalization #Neuropsychopharmacology #MentalHealthResearch
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DATE: May 16, 2026 at 06:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: How personality traits and attachment styles shape women’s reactions to infidelity
Women’s reactions to an unfaithful partner may depend on a mixture of personality traits, attachment styles, and past relationship experiences. Research investigating these personal characteristics suggests that specific behavioral tendencies are linked to whether someone might forgive a cheating partner or stay in the relationship. The findings were published in The Journal of Psychology.
When a romantic partner forms a secretive sexual or emotional connection with someone else, the betrayed partner often experiences immense distress. Infidelity is one of the most common reasons couples break up or divorce. For the partners who are cheated on, the discovery of deceit can severely impact their mental health.
Women in heterosexual relationships are statistically more likely to experience a partner’s extradyadic affair. The aftermath of this deception can lead to episodes of major depression, anxiety, and a sharp decline in overall psychological well-being. Even if the couple decides to stay together, the betrayed person remains highly susceptible to enduring emotional pain.
Researchers wanted to understand which personal characteristics might identify who is most vulnerable to these negative outcomes and who might be inclined to forgive. Lead author Grace White, a psychologist at the University of Central Florida, along with Alejandra Medina Fernandez and Adrianna J. Valencia, designed a study to explore this dynamic. They investigated women’s actual and anticipated responses to betrayal in romantic relationships.
To build their behavioral profile, the researchers relied on several established psychological concepts. The first is the five-factor model of personality, which groups human behavior into five main traits. Extraversion describes an outgoing and highly social nature. Neuroticism involves a tendency toward negative emotions like anxiety or mood swings. Agreeableness reflects a person’s cooperative and compassionate tendencies. Conscientiousness relates to organization and dependability, while openness involves a preference for novelty and creativity.
The research team also looked at adult attachment styles. According to attachment theory, the bonds formed in early childhood influence how adults relate to their romantic partners. Insecure attachment comes in a few forms. Anxious attachment involves a constant worry about rejection and a fear that a partner does not truly reciprocate love. Dependent attachment describes how much a person relies on others and believes those people will be there for them. A person with a highly dependent attachment style might go to great lengths to preserve a relationship so they do not lose their source of support.
Self-esteem and commitment were the final two variables examined in the research. Self-esteem represents an individual’s overall sense of self-worth and self-acceptance. People with low self-esteem might rely on external validation and blame themselves when a partner cheats. Commitment involves the conscious intention to stay in a relationship, acting as a protective barrier against breaking up.
To test how these traits interact with infidelity, the researchers surveyed 400 women. The participants were 22 years old on average. The vast majority of the women were in a dating relationship, while a smaller fraction were either engaged or married.
The participants answered extensive questionnaires designed to measure their personality traits, attachment styles, self-esteem, and level of commitment to their relationships. They were also asked if they had ever experienced a partner cheating on them in a current or past relationship. If they had, they were prompted to disclose whether they continued the relationship after the infidelity was discovered.
To measure predicted reactions to cheating, the researchers presented the women with two hypothetical scenarios. First, the women were asked to imagine their partner becoming emotionally involved with someone else, without any sexual contact. Later, they were asked to imagine their partner having casual sexual intercourse with someone else, without any emotional involvement. For each scenario, the women rated how likely they were to forgive the betrayal and how likely they were to stay with their partner.
Due to incomplete responses on some surveys, the researchers excluded 73 participants from the final analysis. This left a sample of 327 women. The researchers then used statistical modeling to look for associations between the participants’ personal traits and their relationship decisions.
Nearly half of the women in the study reported experiencing a partner’s infidelity in a past or current relationship. Of those who had been cheated on, about 43 percent managed to stay in the relationship after the discovery. When the researchers attempted to link the women’s personality traits and attachment styles to their actual decisions to stay with a cheating partner, the results were not statistically significant. The predictive models could not accurately determine who stayed based on their personal traits, likely because the subset of women who actually experienced cheating and stayed was relatively small.
The data surrounding the hypothetical scenarios revealed distinct, albeit modest, associations. Overall, the women overwhelmingly disagreed that they would forgive either type of infidelity or stay with their partner. Even with this baseline of widespread disapproval, slight variations emerged based on the women’s individual profiles.
Highly extraverted women showed less willingness to stay in a relationship after a hypothetical emotional affair. The researchers suggest that extraversion is robustly linked to socializing and seeking new connections. Because of this, outgoing individuals might feel more confident in their ability to leave an unfaithful partner and eventually find someone new.
Attachment styles also played a measurable role. Women who scored high in dependent attachment reported a slightly higher likelihood of forgiving an imagined sexual infidelity. These same women also reported an increased willingness to stay in the relationship after an emotional affair. This aligns with psychological theories suggesting that dependent individuals may tolerate unhealthy behaviors to maintain a close bond.
Conversely, anxious attachment was linked to different emotional responses. Participants with lower levels of anxious attachment were slightly more inclined to forgive an imagined emotional infidelity. Women with lower self-esteem also reported a slightly higher likelihood of forgiving an imagined emotional affair, potentially because individuals lacking self-worth are more prone to accepting the blame for their partner’s actions.
Past relationship experiences shaped the women’s expectations of their own future behavior. Women who had been cheated on in real life predicted a slightly higher likelihood of forgiving and staying after a hypothetical sexual infidelity compared to women who had never been cheated on. Because 43 percent of the betrayed women in this sample actually stayed with their partners, their hypothetical predictions mirrored their lived reality.
When comparing the two types of hypothetical affairs, the researchers noticed a small difference. The participants indicated they were slightly more willing to forgive an emotional affair than a sexual affair. The women largely found both scenarios inexcusable, but the thought of a physical transgression elicited a slightly harsher predicted penalty.
The researchers advise interpreting these discoveries cautiously. The statistical effect sizes detected in the models were quite small, meaning that personality and attachment only explain a minor portion of a person’s reaction to infidelity. As highlighted by the researchers regarding a quote from a previous methodological paper in the field: “no effect can be classified as small or large without taking its contextual factors into account.” Human relationships involve countless variables, and no single trait can predict behavior with absolute certainty.
The study’s demographic makeup also places limits on the conclusions. The participants were predominantly young, white, and unmarried. Reactions to infidelity might differ greatly among older populations, married couples with children, or individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. Men might also process betrayal through entirely different psychological mechanisms.
Understanding how broad personal characteristics influence a person’s willingness to forgive can help mental health professionals tailor their treatments. While some people immediately terminate a relationship after a betrayal, others attempt reconciliation. Recognizing the underlying traits that drive these choices is an important step forward in aiding recovery from romantic deception.
The study, “Finding Forgiveness: Links Between Personality, Self-Esteem, Attachment, and Commitment on Women’s Actual and Anticipated Reactions to Infidelity,” was authored by Grace White, Alejandra Medina Fernandez, and Adrianna J. Valencia.
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #infidelity #womenandrelationships #attachmenttheory #personalitytraits #selfesteem #relationshipcommitment #psychologyresearch #forgiveness #emotionalinfidelity #sexualinfidelity
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DATE: May 16, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Updating Wikipedia pages boosts public trust in scientific organizations, study finds
A recent study published in the journal Anatomical Sciences Education has found that updating Wikipedia pages for scientific organizations improves public access to accurate information. The research suggests that when experts actively edit these digital encyclopedia entries, readers tend to view the academic institutions as more credible and trustworthy. These findings offer a practical roadmap for professional societies to boost their digital visibility and engage with a broader audience.
Mike Pascoe, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz and the author of the study, conducted this research to address a noticeable gap in online science communication. Wikipedia receives billions of visits each month and consistently ranks at the top of search engine results. Because of this massive reach, the website serves as a primary entry point for people seeking scientific information on virtually any topic.
Despite Wikipedia serving as a foundational resource for both the general public and artificial intelligence models, many scientific societies lack well-developed pages. Pascoe noted that these organizations are often underrepresented on the platform. “Wikipedia is the world’s most accessed encyclopedia, yet many scientific organizations underestimate how they appear on the platform,” Pascoe said.
A lack of detailed information limits an organization’s ability to reach new audiences and share academic work. “That matters more than ever, not just for public understanding, but for how information is surfaced through search and AI,” Pascoe said. By systematically updating a specific organization’s Wikipedia page, the author aimed to demonstrate how academic engagement with the platform serves as a powerful form of science communication.
To test this idea, Pascoe designed a detailed case study focusing on the Wikipedia article for the American Association for Anatomy. This association was founded in 1888 to advance anatomical science through research, professional development, and education. Before making any changes, the author evaluated the existing encyclopedia entry to establish an objective baseline for comparison.
This initial assessment took place in April 2025 and revealed significant deficiencies across multiple categories. The article was classified as a Stub, which is a term Wikipedia uses for very short entries that lack comprehensive coverage. The main body contained only 219 words, possessed no images or data tables, and featured only a single internal reference linking to another Wikipedia page.
A complete absence of outside citations meant the article failed to meet standard reliability guidelines. Pascoe then initiated a structured editing process over a ten-day period to overhaul the content. The author drafted all new content in a private digital workspace known as a sandbox.
This isolated environment allowed the text to be refined and checked against strict editorial standards before it became visible to the public. Pascoe noted that the platform maintains rigorous community guidelines that dictate how content is added and verified. “Many people assume Wikipedia is unregulated or lacks oversight, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Pascoe said.
“There are strong editorial standards and quality assessment frameworks in place,” Pascoe said. “The question is whether experts are actively engaging in shaping the information.” The scientist expanded the article by gathering information from highly reliable secondary sources.
Secondary sources are published documents that analyze or summarize original information, such as peer-reviewed journal articles, newspaper archives, and historical books. The author completely restructured the page by adding entirely new sections to provide a complete picture of the society. These additions detailed the history, mission, governance structure, academic publications, and outreach efforts of the American Association for Anatomy.
Pascoe also uploaded historical photographs and standardized the page format by incorporating a summary box of key organizational facts. To ensure transparency, the author posted proposed changes on the article’s public discussion page. This action invited feedback from other volunteer editors who focus on medicine and anatomy topics.
Following these extensive revisions, the article transformed dramatically. The main body text expanded from 219 words to over three thousand words. The number of links connecting to other relevant Wikipedia pages increased from 18 to 107, making the page much easier to discover.
External references grew from zero to twenty, providing verifiable evidence for all the claims made in the text. As a direct result of these additions, Wikipedia’s community assessment system upgraded the article from a Stub to a Start-class entry. This new classification indicates a measurable improvement in both structure and informational depth, positioning the page for further future growth.
To complement these objective metric changes, the researcher conducted an online survey to gather user perceptions. The survey collected responses from twenty-nine individuals who are active in the field of anatomy. This group included university educators, students, and research scientists from across North America, Europe, and Asia.
The participants answered questions rating their perceptions of the revised Wikipedia article using a standard scale. The survey data revealed very positive reactions to the newly updated content. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents rated the revised article as very or extremely credible.
Seventy-four percent of the surveyed individuals reported a high level of trust in the American Association for Anatomy after reading the page. In addition, eighty-two percent found the article very or extremely useful for learning about the organization’s role and history. Seventy-six percent indicated they would probably or definitely recommend the article to others as an educational resource.
Survey participants left open-ended comments praising the neutral tone and highly structured layout. They noted that the revised entry offered a strong starting point for students to gain a basic understanding of the subject without feeling overwhelmed. These outcomes provide evidence that thoughtful engagement with public platforms improves how people perceive scientific organizations.
While this study presents a strong model for digital outreach, the author acknowledges a few potential limitations and barriers. One primary obstacle involves the strict rules Wikipedia maintains regarding acceptable and reliable sources. Much of the detailed historical information about professional societies exists in internal documents, which the encyclopedia generally discourages editors from using.
Finding appropriate external sources requires significant time, patience, and investigative effort. Additionally, the platform requires a completely neutral point of view, which means editors must avoid writing in a promotional or marketing tone. Finding freely licensed images that comply with strict copyright rules also poses a constant, frustrating challenge for new contributors.
The open and collaborative nature of the encyclopedia presents another inherent risk to organizations. Because anyone can modify the text at any time, unsupervised pages might accumulate inaccuracies, outdated facts, or biased statements. Pascoe suggests that organizations should encourage their communication teams to periodically monitor their respective pages to maintain long-term content integrity.
The survey component of the study also features certain constraints that readers should keep in mind. The sample size of twenty-nine respondents is relatively small and relies on convenience sampling. This means the participants were easily accessible rather than randomly selected, which might not accurately reflect the opinions of the general internet public.
Future research could explore larger and more diverse groups of readers to confirm these initial perceptions. The author proposes several exciting directions for future projects to build on this success. “If academics care about public scholarship, they should care about Wikipedia,” Pascoe said.
Pascoe believes that updating public resources offers significant educational returns. “This is a direct way to ensure that accurate, accessible information reaches the public, and increasingly, the AI systems that mediate knowledge,” Pascoe said. Volunteer scientists and translators have already begun adapting the newly written content into Spanish, French, and Chinese to expand global access.
Scientists and educators might also incorporate Wikipedia editing assignments into their formal university classrooms. By assigning students to update science articles, instructors can teach media literacy while simultaneously improving public reference materials.
The study, “Improving science communication and organization visibility through Wikipedia: A case study of the American Association for Anatomy,” was authored by Michael A. Pascoe.
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #WikipediaEditing #ScienceCommunication #PublicTrust #AcademicVisibility #AnatomyEducation #DigitalLiteracy #OpenAccessInfo #CredibleSources #ScienceOutreach #WikipediaCaseStudy
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DATE: May 16, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Updating Wikipedia pages boosts public trust in scientific organizations, study finds
A recent study published in the journal Anatomical Sciences Education has found that updating Wikipedia pages for scientific organizations improves public access to accurate information. The research suggests that when experts actively edit these digital encyclopedia entries, readers tend to view the academic institutions as more credible and trustworthy. These findings offer a practical roadmap for professional societies to boost their digital visibility and engage with a broader audience.
Mike Pascoe, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz and the author of the study, conducted this research to address a noticeable gap in online science communication. Wikipedia receives billions of visits each month and consistently ranks at the top of search engine results. Because of this massive reach, the website serves as a primary entry point for people seeking scientific information on virtually any topic.
Despite Wikipedia serving as a foundational resource for both the general public and artificial intelligence models, many scientific societies lack well-developed pages. Pascoe noted that these organizations are often underrepresented on the platform. “Wikipedia is the world’s most accessed encyclopedia, yet many scientific organizations underestimate how they appear on the platform,” Pascoe said.
A lack of detailed information limits an organization’s ability to reach new audiences and share academic work. “That matters more than ever, not just for public understanding, but for how information is surfaced through search and AI,” Pascoe said. By systematically updating a specific organization’s Wikipedia page, the author aimed to demonstrate how academic engagement with the platform serves as a powerful form of science communication.
To test this idea, Pascoe designed a detailed case study focusing on the Wikipedia article for the American Association for Anatomy. This association was founded in 1888 to advance anatomical science through research, professional development, and education. Before making any changes, the author evaluated the existing encyclopedia entry to establish an objective baseline for comparison.
This initial assessment took place in April 2025 and revealed significant deficiencies across multiple categories. The article was classified as a Stub, which is a term Wikipedia uses for very short entries that lack comprehensive coverage. The main body contained only 219 words, possessed no images or data tables, and featured only a single internal reference linking to another Wikipedia page.
A complete absence of outside citations meant the article failed to meet standard reliability guidelines. Pascoe then initiated a structured editing process over a ten-day period to overhaul the content. The author drafted all new content in a private digital workspace known as a sandbox.
This isolated environment allowed the text to be refined and checked against strict editorial standards before it became visible to the public. Pascoe noted that the platform maintains rigorous community guidelines that dictate how content is added and verified. “Many people assume Wikipedia is unregulated or lacks oversight, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Pascoe said.
“There are strong editorial standards and quality assessment frameworks in place,” Pascoe said. “The question is whether experts are actively engaging in shaping the information.” The scientist expanded the article by gathering information from highly reliable secondary sources.
Secondary sources are published documents that analyze or summarize original information, such as peer-reviewed journal articles, newspaper archives, and historical books. The author completely restructured the page by adding entirely new sections to provide a complete picture of the society. These additions detailed the history, mission, governance structure, academic publications, and outreach efforts of the American Association for Anatomy.
Pascoe also uploaded historical photographs and standardized the page format by incorporating a summary box of key organizational facts. To ensure transparency, the author posted proposed changes on the article’s public discussion page. This action invited feedback from other volunteer editors who focus on medicine and anatomy topics.
Following these extensive revisions, the article transformed dramatically. The main body text expanded from 219 words to over three thousand words. The number of links connecting to other relevant Wikipedia pages increased from 18 to 107, making the page much easier to discover.
External references grew from zero to twenty, providing verifiable evidence for all the claims made in the text. As a direct result of these additions, Wikipedia’s community assessment system upgraded the article from a Stub to a Start-class entry. This new classification indicates a measurable improvement in both structure and informational depth, positioning the page for further future growth.
To complement these objective metric changes, the researcher conducted an online survey to gather user perceptions. The survey collected responses from twenty-nine individuals who are active in the field of anatomy. This group included university educators, students, and research scientists from across North America, Europe, and Asia.
The participants answered questions rating their perceptions of the revised Wikipedia article using a standard scale. The survey data revealed very positive reactions to the newly updated content. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents rated the revised article as very or extremely credible.
Seventy-four percent of the surveyed individuals reported a high level of trust in the American Association for Anatomy after reading the page. In addition, eighty-two percent found the article very or extremely useful for learning about the organization’s role and history. Seventy-six percent indicated they would probably or definitely recommend the article to others as an educational resource.
Survey participants left open-ended comments praising the neutral tone and highly structured layout. They noted that the revised entry offered a strong starting point for students to gain a basic understanding of the subject without feeling overwhelmed. These outcomes provide evidence that thoughtful engagement with public platforms improves how people perceive scientific organizations.
While this study presents a strong model for digital outreach, the author acknowledges a few potential limitations and barriers. One primary obstacle involves the strict rules Wikipedia maintains regarding acceptable and reliable sources. Much of the detailed historical information about professional societies exists in internal documents, which the encyclopedia generally discourages editors from using.
Finding appropriate external sources requires significant time, patience, and investigative effort. Additionally, the platform requires a completely neutral point of view, which means editors must avoid writing in a promotional or marketing tone. Finding freely licensed images that comply with strict copyright rules also poses a constant, frustrating challenge for new contributors.
The open and collaborative nature of the encyclopedia presents another inherent risk to organizations. Because anyone can modify the text at any time, unsupervised pages might accumulate inaccuracies, outdated facts, or biased statements. Pascoe suggests that organizations should encourage their communication teams to periodically monitor their respective pages to maintain long-term content integrity.
The survey component of the study also features certain constraints that readers should keep in mind. The sample size of twenty-nine respondents is relatively small and relies on convenience sampling. This means the participants were easily accessible rather than randomly selected, which might not accurately reflect the opinions of the general internet public.
Future research could explore larger and more diverse groups of readers to confirm these initial perceptions. The author proposes several exciting directions for future projects to build on this success. “If academics care about public scholarship, they should care about Wikipedia,” Pascoe said.
Pascoe believes that updating public resources offers significant educational returns. “This is a direct way to ensure that accurate, accessible information reaches the public, and increasingly, the AI systems that mediate knowledge,” Pascoe said. Volunteer scientists and translators have already begun adapting the newly written content into Spanish, French, and Chinese to expand global access.
Scientists and educators might also incorporate Wikipedia editing assignments into their formal university classrooms. By assigning students to update science articles, instructors can teach media literacy while simultaneously improving public reference materials.
The study, “Improving science communication and organization visibility through Wikipedia: A case study of the American Association for Anatomy,” was authored by Michael A. Pascoe.
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #WikipediaEditing #ScienceCommunication #PublicTrust #AcademicVisibility #AnatomyEducation #DigitalLiteracy #OpenAccessInfo #CredibleSources #ScienceOutreach #WikipediaCaseStudy
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Updating Wikipedia pages boosts public trust in scientific organizations, study finds
A recent study published in the journal Anatomical Sciences Education has found that updating Wikipedia pages for scientific organizations improves public access to accurate information. The research suggests that when experts actively edit these digital encyclopedia entries, readers tend to view the academic institutions as more credible and trustworthy. These findings offer a practical roadmap for professional societies to boost their digital visibility and engage with a broader audience.
Mike Pascoe, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Anschutz and the author of the study, conducted this research to address a noticeable gap in online science communication. Wikipedia receives billions of visits each month and consistently ranks at the top of search engine results. Because of this massive reach, the website serves as a primary entry point for people seeking scientific information on virtually any topic.
Despite Wikipedia serving as a foundational resource for both the general public and artificial intelligence models, many scientific societies lack well-developed pages. Pascoe noted that these organizations are often underrepresented on the platform. “Wikipedia is the world’s most accessed encyclopedia, yet many scientific organizations underestimate how they appear on the platform,” Pascoe said.
A lack of detailed information limits an organization’s ability to reach new audiences and share academic work. “That matters more than ever, not just for public understanding, but for how information is surfaced through search and AI,” Pascoe said. By systematically updating a specific organization’s Wikipedia page, the author aimed to demonstrate how academic engagement with the platform serves as a powerful form of science communication.
To test this idea, Pascoe designed a detailed case study focusing on the Wikipedia article for the American Association for Anatomy. This association was founded in 1888 to advance anatomical science through research, professional development, and education. Before making any changes, the author evaluated the existing encyclopedia entry to establish an objective baseline for comparison.
This initial assessment took place in April 2025 and revealed significant deficiencies across multiple categories. The article was classified as a Stub, which is a term Wikipedia uses for very short entries that lack comprehensive coverage. The main body contained only 219 words, possessed no images or data tables, and featured only a single internal reference linking to another Wikipedia page.
A complete absence of outside citations meant the article failed to meet standard reliability guidelines. Pascoe then initiated a structured editing process over a ten-day period to overhaul the content. The author drafted all new content in a private digital workspace known as a sandbox.
This isolated environment allowed the text to be refined and checked against strict editorial standards before it became visible to the public. Pascoe noted that the platform maintains rigorous community guidelines that dictate how content is added and verified. “Many people assume Wikipedia is unregulated or lacks oversight, but that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Pascoe said.
“There are strong editorial standards and quality assessment frameworks in place,” Pascoe said. “The question is whether experts are actively engaging in shaping the information.” The scientist expanded the article by gathering information from highly reliable secondary sources.
Secondary sources are published documents that analyze or summarize original information, such as peer-reviewed journal articles, newspaper archives, and historical books. The author completely restructured the page by adding entirely new sections to provide a complete picture of the society. These additions detailed the history, mission, governance structure, academic publications, and outreach efforts of the American Association for Anatomy.
Pascoe also uploaded historical photographs and standardized the page format by incorporating a summary box of key organizational facts. To ensure transparency, the author posted proposed changes on the article’s public discussion page. This action invited feedback from other volunteer editors who focus on medicine and anatomy topics.
Following these extensive revisions, the article transformed dramatically. The main body text expanded from 219 words to over three thousand words. The number of links connecting to other relevant Wikipedia pages increased from 18 to 107, making the page much easier to discover.
External references grew from zero to twenty, providing verifiable evidence for all the claims made in the text. As a direct result of these additions, Wikipedia’s community assessment system upgraded the article from a Stub to a Start-class entry. This new classification indicates a measurable improvement in both structure and informational depth, positioning the page for further future growth.
To complement these objective metric changes, the researcher conducted an online survey to gather user perceptions. The survey collected responses from twenty-nine individuals who are active in the field of anatomy. This group included university educators, students, and research scientists from across North America, Europe, and Asia.
The participants answered questions rating their perceptions of the revised Wikipedia article using a standard scale. The survey data revealed very positive reactions to the newly updated content. Seventy-nine percent of the respondents rated the revised article as very or extremely credible.
Seventy-four percent of the surveyed individuals reported a high level of trust in the American Association for Anatomy after reading the page. In addition, eighty-two percent found the article very or extremely useful for learning about the organization’s role and history. Seventy-six percent indicated they would probably or definitely recommend the article to others as an educational resource.
Survey participants left open-ended comments praising the neutral tone and highly structured layout. They noted that the revised entry offered a strong starting point for students to gain a basic understanding of the subject without feeling overwhelmed. These outcomes provide evidence that thoughtful engagement with public platforms improves how people perceive scientific organizations.
While this study presents a strong model for digital outreach, the author acknowledges a few potential limitations and barriers. One primary obstacle involves the strict rules Wikipedia maintains regarding acceptable and reliable sources. Much of the detailed historical information about professional societies exists in internal documents, which the encyclopedia generally discourages editors from using.
Finding appropriate external sources requires significant time, patience, and investigative effort. Additionally, the platform requires a completely neutral point of view, which means editors must avoid writing in a promotional or marketing tone. Finding freely licensed images that comply with strict copyright rules also poses a constant, frustrating challenge for new contributors.
The open and collaborative nature of the encyclopedia presents another inherent risk to organizations. Because anyone can modify the text at any time, unsupervised pages might accumulate inaccuracies, outdated facts, or biased statements. Pascoe suggests that organizations should encourage their communication teams to periodically monitor their respective pages to maintain long-term content integrity.
The survey component of the study also features certain constraints that readers should keep in mind. The sample size of twenty-nine respondents is relatively small and relies on convenience sampling. This means the participants were easily accessible rather than randomly selected, which might not accurately reflect the opinions of the general internet public.
Future research could explore larger and more diverse groups of readers to confirm these initial perceptions. The author proposes several exciting directions for future projects to build on this success. “If academics care about public scholarship, they should care about Wikipedia,” Pascoe said.
Pascoe believes that updating public resources offers significant educational returns. “This is a direct way to ensure that accurate, accessible information reaches the public, and increasingly, the AI systems that mediate knowledge,” Pascoe said. Volunteer scientists and translators have already begun adapting the newly written content into Spanish, French, and Chinese to expand global access.
Scientists and educators might also incorporate Wikipedia editing assignments into their formal university classrooms. By assigning students to update science articles, instructors can teach media literacy while simultaneously improving public reference materials.
The study, “Improving science communication and organization visibility through Wikipedia: A case study of the American Association for Anatomy,” was authored by Michael A. Pascoe.
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #WikipediaEditing #ScienceCommunication #PublicTrust #AcademicVisibility #AnatomyEducation #DigitalLiteracy #OpenAccessInfo #CredibleSources #ScienceOutreach #WikipediaCaseStudy
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DATE: May 16, 2026 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Unpredictable childhoods may hinder a young adult’s ability to take positive risks
A 7-year longitudinal study found that adolescents who experienced more unpredictable life events tend to show higher levels of activation in the frontoparietal region of the brain during a cognitive control task. Because a maturing brain should require less effort to complete these tasks, this higher activation suggests a less efficient brain network. In turn, this inefficiency was associated with a lower willingness to take positive social risks (e.g., exploring a new career, voicing an unpopular opinion, starting a conversation) in young adulthood. The paper was published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
Positive social risks are situations in which a person takes a chance in social life in order to create a positive outcome or long-term benefit. They include actions such as starting a conversation, apologizing first, asking for help, offering help, admitting a mistake, or expressing honest feelings. These actions are “risks” because the other person may reject us, criticize us, misunderstand us, or fail to respond warmly. They are “positive” because they can lead to trust, friendship, cooperation, forgiveness, learning, and stronger relationships.
For example, inviting a new classmate to join a group may feel uncomfortable, but it can help that person feel accepted. Telling the truth respectfully can also be a positive social risk because it may improve communication even if it feels difficult at first. Positive social risks are important because many valuable relationships and opportunities begin with someone being brave enough to act first. They also help people develop confidence, empathy, and social skills. Without positive social risks, people avoid rejection but also miss chances for connection, career advancement, and personal growth.
Study author Morgan Lindenmuth and his colleagues explored how unpredictable negative life events in childhood may be associated with positive social risk taking in adolescence and early adulthood through changes in cognitive development. Studies indicate that experiencing a chaotic environment in childhood is associated with a “fast” life strategy, leading to higher aggression and harmful risk-taking. The authors of this study hypothesized that an unpredictable environment may also reduce positive risk taking by altering how the developing brain wires its decision-making centers.
They conducted a longitudinal study that followed 167 adolescents from a southeastern state in the United States for 7 years. Participating adolescents were 13-14 years old at the start of the study. 78% of them identified as White.
During the study period, participants and their parents completed self-report questionnaires, and the teens completed behavioral and neuroimaging tasks once a year at the university offices of the study authors. Parents completed an assessment of negative life events in their children’s lives during the first 4 years of the study (using the Child and Adolescent Survey of Experiences). To measure “unpredictability,” the researchers specifically focused on four events related to instability: changes in cohabitation (someone moving in or out), parental job loss, and changes in residence (moving).
At these annual check-ins, study participants also completed an assessment of cognitive control (the Multi-Source Interference Task) while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The task required them to view three digits and press a button to indicate which one was different, testing their ability to ignore distractions and focus. When the study participants reached young adulthood (between 18 and 21 years old), they completed an assessment measuring their likelihood of engaging in positive social risk taking (the Domain Specific Risk-Taking Scale).
The researchers used statistical modeling to track the adolescents’ brain development over the four years of fMRI scans. The results showed that, generally, frontoparietal activation decreased as the teens got older, reflecting a maturing, more efficient brain network. However, adolescents who experienced more unpredictable life events during this period had higher levels of frontoparietal activation by age 17, suggesting their cognitive control processing was less efficient than their peers.
In turn, this higher brain activation at age 17 was associated with slightly lower positive social risk taking when participants were between 18 and 21 years old.
The study authors tested a statistical mediation model proposing that unpredictability (as reported by parents when participants were 14-17 years old) hinders the development of the brain’s cognitive control centers, leading to increased, inefficient activation in the frontoparietal region at age 17. In turn, this less mature brain functioning leads to a lower willingness to take positive social risks in young adulthood (18-21 years of age). The results showed a significant “indirect effect,” meaning this chain of events is highly plausible.
“The findings have important implications for understanding the antecedents of risk-taking behaviors by highlighting the role of neurocognitive functioning in linking environmental unpredictability to positive social risk outcomes,” the study authors concluded.
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of how childhood experiences physically alter the brain and shape personality characteristics observed in adulthood. However, it should be noted that the observed associations were relatively weak, and simple bivariate correlations did not indicate a direct, straight-line association between unpredictability in adolescence and positive social risk taking in young adulthood (the connection only appeared when factoring in the brain development data).
The paper, “Environmental Unpredictability Predicts Positive Social Risk Taking through Neural Cognitive Control,” was authored by Morgan Lindenmuth, Celina Meyer, Jacob Lee, Laurence Steinberg, Brooks Casas, and Jungmeen Kim-Spoon.
-------------------------------------------------
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-------------------------------------------------
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-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Unpredictable childhoods may hinder a young adult’s ability to take positive risks
A 7-year longitudinal study found that adolescents who experienced more unpredictable life events tend to show higher levels of activation in the frontoparietal region of the brain during a cognitive control task. Because a maturing brain should require less effort to complete these tasks, this higher activation suggests a less efficient brain network. In turn, this inefficiency was associated with a lower willingness to take positive social risks (e.g., exploring a new career, voicing an unpopular opinion, starting a conversation) in young adulthood. The paper was published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
Positive social risks are situations in which a person takes a chance in social life in order to create a positive outcome or long-term benefit. They include actions such as starting a conversation, apologizing first, asking for help, offering help, admitting a mistake, or expressing honest feelings. These actions are “risks” because the other person may reject us, criticize us, misunderstand us, or fail to respond warmly. They are “positive” because they can lead to trust, friendship, cooperation, forgiveness, learning, and stronger relationships.
For example, inviting a new classmate to join a group may feel uncomfortable, but it can help that person feel accepted. Telling the truth respectfully can also be a positive social risk because it may improve communication even if it feels difficult at first. Positive social risks are important because many valuable relationships and opportunities begin with someone being brave enough to act first. They also help people develop confidence, empathy, and social skills. Without positive social risks, people avoid rejection but also miss chances for connection, career advancement, and personal growth.
Study author Morgan Lindenmuth and his colleagues explored how unpredictable negative life events in childhood may be associated with positive social risk taking in adolescence and early adulthood through changes in cognitive development. Studies indicate that experiencing a chaotic environment in childhood is associated with a “fast” life strategy, leading to higher aggression and harmful risk-taking. The authors of this study hypothesized that an unpredictable environment may also reduce positive risk taking by altering how the developing brain wires its decision-making centers.
They conducted a longitudinal study that followed 167 adolescents from a southeastern state in the United States for 7 years. Participating adolescents were 13-14 years old at the start of the study. 78% of them identified as White.
During the study period, participants and their parents completed self-report questionnaires, and the teens completed behavioral and neuroimaging tasks once a year at the university offices of the study authors. Parents completed an assessment of negative life events in their children’s lives during the first 4 years of the study (using the Child and Adolescent Survey of Experiences). To measure “unpredictability,” the researchers specifically focused on four events related to instability: changes in cohabitation (someone moving in or out), parental job loss, and changes in residence (moving).
At these annual check-ins, study participants also completed an assessment of cognitive control (the Multi-Source Interference Task) while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The task required them to view three digits and press a button to indicate which one was different, testing their ability to ignore distractions and focus. When the study participants reached young adulthood (between 18 and 21 years old), they completed an assessment measuring their likelihood of engaging in positive social risk taking (the Domain Specific Risk-Taking Scale).
The researchers used statistical modeling to track the adolescents’ brain development over the four years of fMRI scans. The results showed that, generally, frontoparietal activation decreased as the teens got older, reflecting a maturing, more efficient brain network. However, adolescents who experienced more unpredictable life events during this period had higher levels of frontoparietal activation by age 17, suggesting their cognitive control processing was less efficient than their peers.
In turn, this higher brain activation at age 17 was associated with slightly lower positive social risk taking when participants were between 18 and 21 years old.
The study authors tested a statistical mediation model proposing that unpredictability (as reported by parents when participants were 14-17 years old) hinders the development of the brain’s cognitive control centers, leading to increased, inefficient activation in the frontoparietal region at age 17. In turn, this less mature brain functioning leads to a lower willingness to take positive social risks in young adulthood (18-21 years of age). The results showed a significant “indirect effect,” meaning this chain of events is highly plausible.
“The findings have important implications for understanding the antecedents of risk-taking behaviors by highlighting the role of neurocognitive functioning in linking environmental unpredictability to positive social risk outcomes,” the study authors concluded.
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of how childhood experiences physically alter the brain and shape personality characteristics observed in adulthood. However, it should be noted that the observed associations were relatively weak, and simple bivariate correlations did not indicate a direct, straight-line association between unpredictability in adolescence and positive social risk taking in young adulthood (the connection only appeared when factoring in the brain development data).
The paper, “Environmental Unpredictability Predicts Positive Social Risk Taking through Neural Cognitive Control,” was authored by Morgan Lindenmuth, Celina Meyer, Jacob Lee, Laurence Steinberg, Brooks Casas, and Jungmeen Kim-Spoon.
-------------------------------------------------
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NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #UnpredictableChildhoods #PositiveSocialRisks #CognitiveControl #Frontoparietal #Neuroscience #BrainDevelopment #AdolescentToAdult #RiskTaking #Neurodevelopment #SocialCognition
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Unpredictable childhoods may hinder a young adult’s ability to take positive risks
A 7-year longitudinal study found that adolescents who experienced more unpredictable life events tend to show higher levels of activation in the frontoparietal region of the brain during a cognitive control task. Because a maturing brain should require less effort to complete these tasks, this higher activation suggests a less efficient brain network. In turn, this inefficiency was associated with a lower willingness to take positive social risks (e.g., exploring a new career, voicing an unpopular opinion, starting a conversation) in young adulthood. The paper was published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience.
Positive social risks are situations in which a person takes a chance in social life in order to create a positive outcome or long-term benefit. They include actions such as starting a conversation, apologizing first, asking for help, offering help, admitting a mistake, or expressing honest feelings. These actions are “risks” because the other person may reject us, criticize us, misunderstand us, or fail to respond warmly. They are “positive” because they can lead to trust, friendship, cooperation, forgiveness, learning, and stronger relationships.
For example, inviting a new classmate to join a group may feel uncomfortable, but it can help that person feel accepted. Telling the truth respectfully can also be a positive social risk because it may improve communication even if it feels difficult at first. Positive social risks are important because many valuable relationships and opportunities begin with someone being brave enough to act first. They also help people develop confidence, empathy, and social skills. Without positive social risks, people avoid rejection but also miss chances for connection, career advancement, and personal growth.
Study author Morgan Lindenmuth and his colleagues explored how unpredictable negative life events in childhood may be associated with positive social risk taking in adolescence and early adulthood through changes in cognitive development. Studies indicate that experiencing a chaotic environment in childhood is associated with a “fast” life strategy, leading to higher aggression and harmful risk-taking. The authors of this study hypothesized that an unpredictable environment may also reduce positive risk taking by altering how the developing brain wires its decision-making centers.
They conducted a longitudinal study that followed 167 adolescents from a southeastern state in the United States for 7 years. Participating adolescents were 13-14 years old at the start of the study. 78% of them identified as White.
During the study period, participants and their parents completed self-report questionnaires, and the teens completed behavioral and neuroimaging tasks once a year at the university offices of the study authors. Parents completed an assessment of negative life events in their children’s lives during the first 4 years of the study (using the Child and Adolescent Survey of Experiences). To measure “unpredictability,” the researchers specifically focused on four events related to instability: changes in cohabitation (someone moving in or out), parental job loss, and changes in residence (moving).
At these annual check-ins, study participants also completed an assessment of cognitive control (the Multi-Source Interference Task) while undergoing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The task required them to view three digits and press a button to indicate which one was different, testing their ability to ignore distractions and focus. When the study participants reached young adulthood (between 18 and 21 years old), they completed an assessment measuring their likelihood of engaging in positive social risk taking (the Domain Specific Risk-Taking Scale).
The researchers used statistical modeling to track the adolescents’ brain development over the four years of fMRI scans. The results showed that, generally, frontoparietal activation decreased as the teens got older, reflecting a maturing, more efficient brain network. However, adolescents who experienced more unpredictable life events during this period had higher levels of frontoparietal activation by age 17, suggesting their cognitive control processing was less efficient than their peers.
In turn, this higher brain activation at age 17 was associated with slightly lower positive social risk taking when participants were between 18 and 21 years old.
The study authors tested a statistical mediation model proposing that unpredictability (as reported by parents when participants were 14-17 years old) hinders the development of the brain’s cognitive control centers, leading to increased, inefficient activation in the frontoparietal region at age 17. In turn, this less mature brain functioning leads to a lower willingness to take positive social risks in young adulthood (18-21 years of age). The results showed a significant “indirect effect,” meaning this chain of events is highly plausible.
“The findings have important implications for understanding the antecedents of risk-taking behaviors by highlighting the role of neurocognitive functioning in linking environmental unpredictability to positive social risk outcomes,” the study authors concluded.
The study contributes to the scientific understanding of how childhood experiences physically alter the brain and shape personality characteristics observed in adulthood. However, it should be noted that the observed associations were relatively weak, and simple bivariate correlations did not indicate a direct, straight-line association between unpredictability in adolescence and positive social risk taking in young adulthood (the connection only appeared when factoring in the brain development data).
The paper, “Environmental Unpredictability Predicts Positive Social Risk Taking through Neural Cognitive Control,” was authored by Morgan Lindenmuth, Celina Meyer, Jacob Lee, Laurence Steinberg, Brooks Casas, and Jungmeen Kim-Spoon.
-------------------------------------------------
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NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #UnpredictableChildhoods #PositiveSocialRisks #CognitiveControl #Frontoparietal #Neuroscience #BrainDevelopment #AdolescentToAdult #RiskTaking #Neurodevelopment #SocialCognition
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Muscle strength linked to lower lifetime depression incidence in large new study
URL: https://www.psypost.org/handgrip-strength-linked-to-future-depression-risk-in-new-health-analysis/
A recent analysis of long-term health metrics reveals that adults with lower handgrip strength face a moderately higher risk of developing depression later in life. By pooling health information from nearly half a million people, an international team of researchers found that physical strength might serve as a broad, easily measurable indicator of resilience against certain mental health conditions. The findings were published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
Depression is a common mental health condition, affecting nearly four percent of the global population. Rates are slightly higher among older demographics. The disorder frequently co-occurs with physical ailments and can reduce a person’s overall life expectancy. Because the condition takes a heavy toll on individuals and society, health experts consistently look for ways to identify people who might be at an elevated risk.
One physiological marker that has gained attention in recent years is a person’s handgrip strength. Medical professionals measure this physical trait by asking an individual to squeeze a handheld device called a dynamometer with as much force as possible. Although it seems like a very specific, limited physical action, the amount of force a person can exert with their hand is a highly reliable measure of their overall muscular capacity. The measurement serves as a simplified window into how well the body maintains its functional muscle fibers.
Our total muscle mass naturally declines as we age, starting gradually as early as our forties. However, a steep drop in raw physical strength often reflects deeper physiological changes in the central nervous system, rather than just a simple loss of muscle tissue. The brain itself must consistently send powerful electrical signals to the limbs to generate force. Consequently, stronger grip test results generally correlate with a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and general mobility limitations that emerge in older adults.
Beyond keeping the body moving, muscular capacity also shows notable associations with human brain health. Some research connects higher physical strength to larger volumes in the hippocampus, a brain region heavily involved in memory and emotional regulation. People who perform well on strength assessments also tend to score higher on cognitive tests. This pattern suggests that physical robustness reflects an underlying health profile that ultimately protects the nervous system.
A number of past studies have highlighted a mathematical relationship between weak physical strength and current depressive symptoms. The primary issue with these prior investigations is that they relied on a cross-sectional study design. A cross-sectional observation takes a snapshot of a specific group at a single point in time. This methodology makes it impossible to know whether the physical weakness preceded the depression, or if the mental health disorder caused the individual to become less active and lose muscle mass.
To get a better sense of how this relationship unfolds over a longer time horizon, a team of researchers conducted a comprehensive review of existing scientific literature. The research team was led by Jênifer de Oliveira at the Federal University of Santa Maria in Brazil. They set out to see if baseline physical strength might predict the onset of new mood disorders in people who were completely free of depression at the start of observation.
The researchers utilized an analytical scientific technique known as a meta-analysis. In this type of study, scientists combine the numerical results of multiple independent projects to create one large, statistically powerful data set. For this specific analytical project, the team looked exclusively for prospective cohort studies. This specific type of research format follows a large group of people over an extended period, recording their baseline health metrics and simply waiting to see who develops certain clinical conditions in the future.
The authors queried major scientific databases for medical records that tracked both physical strength and mental health over observation periods lasting at least one entire year. Most importantly, the team restricted their analysis to participants who scored entirely below the threshold for depression on standardized clinical questionnaires at the start of the observation tracking period. This step was necessary to eliminate the chances of reverse causation. Reverse causation happens when an existing mood disorder is already causing a measurable decline in a person’s physical health before the baseline screening is taken.
Ultimately, the researchers identified sixteen eligible scientific articles drawing from twelve unique participant measurement cohorts across the globe. These distinct monitoring groups included individuals from countries such as China, Japan, Italy, England, Ireland, and South Africa. The combined data set included precisely 497,336 participants, with an average participant age hovering around sixty years. The total observation time added up to roughly 3.4 million person-years, a statistical metric representing the total number of people tracked multiplied by the consecutive years they were monitored.
The authors assessed the reliability of the underlying foundational data using a standardized clinical measurement tool called the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. This academic rating system scores observational studies based on how exactly participants were initially selected and how thoroughly they were medically monitored over time. The average score across all the included research projects was an eight out of a possible nine points. This high mathematical score indicated that the foundational data utilized for the new, combined analysis was highly reliable.
When the researchers analyzed the combined numbers, they noticed a consistent historical pattern linking baseline capacity to future psychological outcomes. Individuals who scored lower on the dynamometer strength tests had a moderately higher likelihood of developing depressive symptoms later in life. Depending on the exact mathematical models used by the original research cohorts, the increased risk of developing depression hovered between 26 percent and 42 percent when directly comparing the weakest participants to the strongest participants.
Despite the mildly elevated risk observed in the data, the authors noted that the clinical impact on an individual patient level is relatively modest. The numerical results do not imply that weak hands directly cause the human brain to suddenly succumb to clinical depression. Instead, the scientists involved view the raw physical capacity measurement as a convenient proxy for a given person’s overall biological resilience. People with stronger results on the testing device are very likely engaging in far more daily physical activity throughout their continuous routines.
Regular physical movement is broadly known to protect the human nervous system. Routine bodily exercise promotes the rapid release of biochemical factors in the brain that help maintain healthy neural connections and hold off mental decline. Because grip capacity is deeply tied to how much a unique individual physically moves, the lower risk of depression might simply reflect the protective benefits of an active daily lifestyle. Stronger clinical participants might also harbor fewer unmeasured chronic diseases, giving them a vastly better overall systemic health profile.
The researchers also investigated why the mathematical differences varied somewhat from one specific study to the next. They used a statistical analysis tool called a meta-regression to test whether certain distinct demographic factors influenced the final outcomes. The researchers concluded that the moderating influence of variables like the percentage of women, the average age of the participants, and the societal prevalence of smoking was not statistically significant. However, the exact length of the overall observation period did play a specific mathematical role in the final data spread.
Academic tracking groups that continually followed their participants for an extensively long time showed slightly stronger correlations between low baseline strength and new depressive symptoms. The authors pointed out that the tangible medical influence of this extended time tracking was incredibly minimal in a practical sense. At the same time, the slight moderation points to a notable long-term aging trend. Over passing decades, an initial deficit in basic bodily capacity might continually signal a slowly growing vulnerability to broad systemic health declines, eventually taking a visible toll on psychological well-being.
The massive analysis does feature a few practical limitations that continually shape how the statistical results should be clinically interpreted. The primary researchers were completely unable to legally or mathematically account for how much specific exercise the participants voluntarily engaged in over the observation years. Many of the original historical data collection efforts simply did not track distinct daily movement routines around the clock. Without cleanly separating cardiovascular walking habits from isolated muscle strength, it remains fairly difficult to determine if lifting heavy weights distinctly averts psychological distress over the entire human lifespan.
The researchers also explicitly point out that their study framework could not possibly determine if a person’s complete unrecorded psychiatric history before the scientific study began eventually influenced their later depression risk. While enrolled participants were completely free of active depressive symptoms at the initial baseline measurement, some specific individuals may have experienced totally untreated episodes of severe depression much earlier in their personal lives.
The physical recurrence of past mental issues could have quietly skewed the baseline physical health metrics for certain people. The mathematical models also independently suggested that a uniquely small publication bias might exist across the academic literature, meaning medical studies showing absolutely no specific link might simply remain permanently unpublished.
For direct primary application, the authors continually caution against blindly using basic grip tests as an emergency screening tool in primary medical environments. Different independent research groups historically used wildly varying arbitrary cut-off points to define what specifically constituted weak physical capability, based entirely upon the unique bodily demographics of their specific global regions. Consequently, there is currently no standardized numerical threshold that could immediately alert primary medical professionals to a severely impending psychological crisis. General physical robustness should instead be properly viewed as a highly generalized population indicator of wider functional vulnerability.
Moving safely forward, the international research team actively suggests that future academic investigations intensively explore the daily household behavioral habits that organically link muscular power to psychological well-being. They practically recommend broadly conducting randomized controlled clinical trials to see if progressive resistance training regimens physically alter an aging participant’s likelihood of eventually developing a severe mood disorder. Such rigorous empirical evidence would properly clarify the biological mechanisms currently at play.
Until the desired trial results emerge naturally in the medical literature, voluntarily maintaining regular muscular capacity remains a completely sound societal recommendation for properly preserving basic biological function and organic psychological resilience as global populations age.
The study, “Association between handgrip strength and incident depression: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies,” was authored by Jênifer de Oliveira, Ismael Mignoni, Davy Vancampfort, Liye Zou, Brendon Stubbs, Aline Josiane Waclawovsky, and Felipe Barreto Schuch.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/handgrip-strength-linked-to-future-depression-risk-in-new-health-analysis/
-------------------------------------------------
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-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #HandgripStrength #DepressionRisk #MentalHealthResearch #MuscularResilience #AgingAndWellness #PhysicalActivityBenefits #GripStrengthCorrelation #LongevityHealth #BrainBodyConnection #PreventiveHealth
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Muscle strength linked to lower lifetime depression incidence in large new study
URL: https://www.psypost.org/handgrip-strength-linked-to-future-depression-risk-in-new-health-analysis/
A recent analysis of long-term health metrics reveals that adults with lower handgrip strength face a moderately higher risk of developing depression later in life. By pooling health information from nearly half a million people, an international team of researchers found that physical strength might serve as a broad, easily measurable indicator of resilience against certain mental health conditions. The findings were published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
Depression is a common mental health condition, affecting nearly four percent of the global population. Rates are slightly higher among older demographics. The disorder frequently co-occurs with physical ailments and can reduce a person’s overall life expectancy. Because the condition takes a heavy toll on individuals and society, health experts consistently look for ways to identify people who might be at an elevated risk.
One physiological marker that has gained attention in recent years is a person’s handgrip strength. Medical professionals measure this physical trait by asking an individual to squeeze a handheld device called a dynamometer with as much force as possible. Although it seems like a very specific, limited physical action, the amount of force a person can exert with their hand is a highly reliable measure of their overall muscular capacity. The measurement serves as a simplified window into how well the body maintains its functional muscle fibers.
Our total muscle mass naturally declines as we age, starting gradually as early as our forties. However, a steep drop in raw physical strength often reflects deeper physiological changes in the central nervous system, rather than just a simple loss of muscle tissue. The brain itself must consistently send powerful electrical signals to the limbs to generate force. Consequently, stronger grip test results generally correlate with a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and general mobility limitations that emerge in older adults.
Beyond keeping the body moving, muscular capacity also shows notable associations with human brain health. Some research connects higher physical strength to larger volumes in the hippocampus, a brain region heavily involved in memory and emotional regulation. People who perform well on strength assessments also tend to score higher on cognitive tests. This pattern suggests that physical robustness reflects an underlying health profile that ultimately protects the nervous system.
A number of past studies have highlighted a mathematical relationship between weak physical strength and current depressive symptoms. The primary issue with these prior investigations is that they relied on a cross-sectional study design. A cross-sectional observation takes a snapshot of a specific group at a single point in time. This methodology makes it impossible to know whether the physical weakness preceded the depression, or if the mental health disorder caused the individual to become less active and lose muscle mass.
To get a better sense of how this relationship unfolds over a longer time horizon, a team of researchers conducted a comprehensive review of existing scientific literature. The research team was led by Jênifer de Oliveira at the Federal University of Santa Maria in Brazil. They set out to see if baseline physical strength might predict the onset of new mood disorders in people who were completely free of depression at the start of observation.
The researchers utilized an analytical scientific technique known as a meta-analysis. In this type of study, scientists combine the numerical results of multiple independent projects to create one large, statistically powerful data set. For this specific analytical project, the team looked exclusively for prospective cohort studies. This specific type of research format follows a large group of people over an extended period, recording their baseline health metrics and simply waiting to see who develops certain clinical conditions in the future.
The authors queried major scientific databases for medical records that tracked both physical strength and mental health over observation periods lasting at least one entire year. Most importantly, the team restricted their analysis to participants who scored entirely below the threshold for depression on standardized clinical questionnaires at the start of the observation tracking period. This step was necessary to eliminate the chances of reverse causation. Reverse causation happens when an existing mood disorder is already causing a measurable decline in a person’s physical health before the baseline screening is taken.
Ultimately, the researchers identified sixteen eligible scientific articles drawing from twelve unique participant measurement cohorts across the globe. These distinct monitoring groups included individuals from countries such as China, Japan, Italy, England, Ireland, and South Africa. The combined data set included precisely 497,336 participants, with an average participant age hovering around sixty years. The total observation time added up to roughly 3.4 million person-years, a statistical metric representing the total number of people tracked multiplied by the consecutive years they were monitored.
The authors assessed the reliability of the underlying foundational data using a standardized clinical measurement tool called the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. This academic rating system scores observational studies based on how exactly participants were initially selected and how thoroughly they were medically monitored over time. The average score across all the included research projects was an eight out of a possible nine points. This high mathematical score indicated that the foundational data utilized for the new, combined analysis was highly reliable.
When the researchers analyzed the combined numbers, they noticed a consistent historical pattern linking baseline capacity to future psychological outcomes. Individuals who scored lower on the dynamometer strength tests had a moderately higher likelihood of developing depressive symptoms later in life. Depending on the exact mathematical models used by the original research cohorts, the increased risk of developing depression hovered between 26 percent and 42 percent when directly comparing the weakest participants to the strongest participants.
Despite the mildly elevated risk observed in the data, the authors noted that the clinical impact on an individual patient level is relatively modest. The numerical results do not imply that weak hands directly cause the human brain to suddenly succumb to clinical depression. Instead, the scientists involved view the raw physical capacity measurement as a convenient proxy for a given person’s overall biological resilience. People with stronger results on the testing device are very likely engaging in far more daily physical activity throughout their continuous routines.
Regular physical movement is broadly known to protect the human nervous system. Routine bodily exercise promotes the rapid release of biochemical factors in the brain that help maintain healthy neural connections and hold off mental decline. Because grip capacity is deeply tied to how much a unique individual physically moves, the lower risk of depression might simply reflect the protective benefits of an active daily lifestyle. Stronger clinical participants might also harbor fewer unmeasured chronic diseases, giving them a vastly better overall systemic health profile.
The researchers also investigated why the mathematical differences varied somewhat from one specific study to the next. They used a statistical analysis tool called a meta-regression to test whether certain distinct demographic factors influenced the final outcomes. The researchers concluded that the moderating influence of variables like the percentage of women, the average age of the participants, and the societal prevalence of smoking was not statistically significant. However, the exact length of the overall observation period did play a specific mathematical role in the final data spread.
Academic tracking groups that continually followed their participants for an extensively long time showed slightly stronger correlations between low baseline strength and new depressive symptoms. The authors pointed out that the tangible medical influence of this extended time tracking was incredibly minimal in a practical sense. At the same time, the slight moderation points to a notable long-term aging trend. Over passing decades, an initial deficit in basic bodily capacity might continually signal a slowly growing vulnerability to broad systemic health declines, eventually taking a visible toll on psychological well-being.
The massive analysis does feature a few practical limitations that continually shape how the statistical results should be clinically interpreted. The primary researchers were completely unable to legally or mathematically account for how much specific exercise the participants voluntarily engaged in over the observation years. Many of the original historical data collection efforts simply did not track distinct daily movement routines around the clock. Without cleanly separating cardiovascular walking habits from isolated muscle strength, it remains fairly difficult to determine if lifting heavy weights distinctly averts psychological distress over the entire human lifespan.
The researchers also explicitly point out that their study framework could not possibly determine if a person’s complete unrecorded psychiatric history before the scientific study began eventually influenced their later depression risk. While enrolled participants were completely free of active depressive symptoms at the initial baseline measurement, some specific individuals may have experienced totally untreated episodes of severe depression much earlier in their personal lives.
The physical recurrence of past mental issues could have quietly skewed the baseline physical health metrics for certain people. The mathematical models also independently suggested that a uniquely small publication bias might exist across the academic literature, meaning medical studies showing absolutely no specific link might simply remain permanently unpublished.
For direct primary application, the authors continually caution against blindly using basic grip tests as an emergency screening tool in primary medical environments. Different independent research groups historically used wildly varying arbitrary cut-off points to define what specifically constituted weak physical capability, based entirely upon the unique bodily demographics of their specific global regions. Consequently, there is currently no standardized numerical threshold that could immediately alert primary medical professionals to a severely impending psychological crisis. General physical robustness should instead be properly viewed as a highly generalized population indicator of wider functional vulnerability.
Moving safely forward, the international research team actively suggests that future academic investigations intensively explore the daily household behavioral habits that organically link muscular power to psychological well-being. They practically recommend broadly conducting randomized controlled clinical trials to see if progressive resistance training regimens physically alter an aging participant’s likelihood of eventually developing a severe mood disorder. Such rigorous empirical evidence would properly clarify the biological mechanisms currently at play.
Until the desired trial results emerge naturally in the medical literature, voluntarily maintaining regular muscular capacity remains a completely sound societal recommendation for properly preserving basic biological function and organic psychological resilience as global populations age.
The study, “Association between handgrip strength and incident depression: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies,” was authored by Jênifer de Oliveira, Ismael Mignoni, Davy Vancampfort, Liye Zou, Brendon Stubbs, Aline Josiane Waclawovsky, and Felipe Barreto Schuch.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/handgrip-strength-linked-to-future-depression-risk-in-new-health-analysis/
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #HandgripStrength #DepressionRisk #MentalHealthResearch #MuscularResilience #AgingAndWellness #PhysicalActivityBenefits #GripStrengthCorrelation #LongevityHealth #BrainBodyConnection #PreventiveHealth
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Muscle strength linked to lower lifetime depression incidence in large new study
URL: https://www.psypost.org/handgrip-strength-linked-to-future-depression-risk-in-new-health-analysis/
A recent analysis of long-term health metrics reveals that adults with lower handgrip strength face a moderately higher risk of developing depression later in life. By pooling health information from nearly half a million people, an international team of researchers found that physical strength might serve as a broad, easily measurable indicator of resilience against certain mental health conditions. The findings were published in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.
Depression is a common mental health condition, affecting nearly four percent of the global population. Rates are slightly higher among older demographics. The disorder frequently co-occurs with physical ailments and can reduce a person’s overall life expectancy. Because the condition takes a heavy toll on individuals and society, health experts consistently look for ways to identify people who might be at an elevated risk.
One physiological marker that has gained attention in recent years is a person’s handgrip strength. Medical professionals measure this physical trait by asking an individual to squeeze a handheld device called a dynamometer with as much force as possible. Although it seems like a very specific, limited physical action, the amount of force a person can exert with their hand is a highly reliable measure of their overall muscular capacity. The measurement serves as a simplified window into how well the body maintains its functional muscle fibers.
Our total muscle mass naturally declines as we age, starting gradually as early as our forties. However, a steep drop in raw physical strength often reflects deeper physiological changes in the central nervous system, rather than just a simple loss of muscle tissue. The brain itself must consistently send powerful electrical signals to the limbs to generate force. Consequently, stronger grip test results generally correlate with a lower incidence of cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, and general mobility limitations that emerge in older adults.
Beyond keeping the body moving, muscular capacity also shows notable associations with human brain health. Some research connects higher physical strength to larger volumes in the hippocampus, a brain region heavily involved in memory and emotional regulation. People who perform well on strength assessments also tend to score higher on cognitive tests. This pattern suggests that physical robustness reflects an underlying health profile that ultimately protects the nervous system.
A number of past studies have highlighted a mathematical relationship between weak physical strength and current depressive symptoms. The primary issue with these prior investigations is that they relied on a cross-sectional study design. A cross-sectional observation takes a snapshot of a specific group at a single point in time. This methodology makes it impossible to know whether the physical weakness preceded the depression, or if the mental health disorder caused the individual to become less active and lose muscle mass.
To get a better sense of how this relationship unfolds over a longer time horizon, a team of researchers conducted a comprehensive review of existing scientific literature. The research team was led by Jênifer de Oliveira at the Federal University of Santa Maria in Brazil. They set out to see if baseline physical strength might predict the onset of new mood disorders in people who were completely free of depression at the start of observation.
The researchers utilized an analytical scientific technique known as a meta-analysis. In this type of study, scientists combine the numerical results of multiple independent projects to create one large, statistically powerful data set. For this specific analytical project, the team looked exclusively for prospective cohort studies. This specific type of research format follows a large group of people over an extended period, recording their baseline health metrics and simply waiting to see who develops certain clinical conditions in the future.
The authors queried major scientific databases for medical records that tracked both physical strength and mental health over observation periods lasting at least one entire year. Most importantly, the team restricted their analysis to participants who scored entirely below the threshold for depression on standardized clinical questionnaires at the start of the observation tracking period. This step was necessary to eliminate the chances of reverse causation. Reverse causation happens when an existing mood disorder is already causing a measurable decline in a person’s physical health before the baseline screening is taken.
Ultimately, the researchers identified sixteen eligible scientific articles drawing from twelve unique participant measurement cohorts across the globe. These distinct monitoring groups included individuals from countries such as China, Japan, Italy, England, Ireland, and South Africa. The combined data set included precisely 497,336 participants, with an average participant age hovering around sixty years. The total observation time added up to roughly 3.4 million person-years, a statistical metric representing the total number of people tracked multiplied by the consecutive years they were monitored.
The authors assessed the reliability of the underlying foundational data using a standardized clinical measurement tool called the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. This academic rating system scores observational studies based on how exactly participants were initially selected and how thoroughly they were medically monitored over time. The average score across all the included research projects was an eight out of a possible nine points. This high mathematical score indicated that the foundational data utilized for the new, combined analysis was highly reliable.
When the researchers analyzed the combined numbers, they noticed a consistent historical pattern linking baseline capacity to future psychological outcomes. Individuals who scored lower on the dynamometer strength tests had a moderately higher likelihood of developing depressive symptoms later in life. Depending on the exact mathematical models used by the original research cohorts, the increased risk of developing depression hovered between 26 percent and 42 percent when directly comparing the weakest participants to the strongest participants.
Despite the mildly elevated risk observed in the data, the authors noted that the clinical impact on an individual patient level is relatively modest. The numerical results do not imply that weak hands directly cause the human brain to suddenly succumb to clinical depression. Instead, the scientists involved view the raw physical capacity measurement as a convenient proxy for a given person’s overall biological resilience. People with stronger results on the testing device are very likely engaging in far more daily physical activity throughout their continuous routines.
Regular physical movement is broadly known to protect the human nervous system. Routine bodily exercise promotes the rapid release of biochemical factors in the brain that help maintain healthy neural connections and hold off mental decline. Because grip capacity is deeply tied to how much a unique individual physically moves, the lower risk of depression might simply reflect the protective benefits of an active daily lifestyle. Stronger clinical participants might also harbor fewer unmeasured chronic diseases, giving them a vastly better overall systemic health profile.
The researchers also investigated why the mathematical differences varied somewhat from one specific study to the next. They used a statistical analysis tool called a meta-regression to test whether certain distinct demographic factors influenced the final outcomes. The researchers concluded that the moderating influence of variables like the percentage of women, the average age of the participants, and the societal prevalence of smoking was not statistically significant. However, the exact length of the overall observation period did play a specific mathematical role in the final data spread.
Academic tracking groups that continually followed their participants for an extensively long time showed slightly stronger correlations between low baseline strength and new depressive symptoms. The authors pointed out that the tangible medical influence of this extended time tracking was incredibly minimal in a practical sense. At the same time, the slight moderation points to a notable long-term aging trend. Over passing decades, an initial deficit in basic bodily capacity might continually signal a slowly growing vulnerability to broad systemic health declines, eventually taking a visible toll on psychological well-being.
The massive analysis does feature a few practical limitations that continually shape how the statistical results should be clinically interpreted. The primary researchers were completely unable to legally or mathematically account for how much specific exercise the participants voluntarily engaged in over the observation years. Many of the original historical data collection efforts simply did not track distinct daily movement routines around the clock. Without cleanly separating cardiovascular walking habits from isolated muscle strength, it remains fairly difficult to determine if lifting heavy weights distinctly averts psychological distress over the entire human lifespan.
The researchers also explicitly point out that their study framework could not possibly determine if a person’s complete unrecorded psychiatric history before the scientific study began eventually influenced their later depression risk. While enrolled participants were completely free of active depressive symptoms at the initial baseline measurement, some specific individuals may have experienced totally untreated episodes of severe depression much earlier in their personal lives.
The physical recurrence of past mental issues could have quietly skewed the baseline physical health metrics for certain people. The mathematical models also independently suggested that a uniquely small publication bias might exist across the academic literature, meaning medical studies showing absolutely no specific link might simply remain permanently unpublished.
For direct primary application, the authors continually caution against blindly using basic grip tests as an emergency screening tool in primary medical environments. Different independent research groups historically used wildly varying arbitrary cut-off points to define what specifically constituted weak physical capability, based entirely upon the unique bodily demographics of their specific global regions. Consequently, there is currently no standardized numerical threshold that could immediately alert primary medical professionals to a severely impending psychological crisis. General physical robustness should instead be properly viewed as a highly generalized population indicator of wider functional vulnerability.
Moving safely forward, the international research team actively suggests that future academic investigations intensively explore the daily household behavioral habits that organically link muscular power to psychological well-being. They practically recommend broadly conducting randomized controlled clinical trials to see if progressive resistance training regimens physically alter an aging participant’s likelihood of eventually developing a severe mood disorder. Such rigorous empirical evidence would properly clarify the biological mechanisms currently at play.
Until the desired trial results emerge naturally in the medical literature, voluntarily maintaining regular muscular capacity remains a completely sound societal recommendation for properly preserving basic biological function and organic psychological resilience as global populations age.
The study, “Association between handgrip strength and incident depression: a meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies,” was authored by Jênifer de Oliveira, Ismael Mignoni, Davy Vancampfort, Liye Zou, Brendon Stubbs, Aline Josiane Waclawovsky, and Felipe Barreto Schuch.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/handgrip-strength-linked-to-future-depression-risk-in-new-health-analysis/
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #HandgripStrength #DepressionRisk #MentalHealthResearch #MuscularResilience #AgingAndWellness #PhysicalActivityBenefits #GripStrengthCorrelation #LongevityHealth #BrainBodyConnection #PreventiveHealth
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Demonic attacks in dreams follow a chilling multi-night pattern
URL: https://www.psypost.org/demonic-attacks-in-dreams-follow-a-chilling-multi-night-pattern/
A recent study published in the journal Dreaming suggests that demonic encounters in nightmares often follow a predictable pattern of escalating threats across multiple nights of dreaming. The research provides evidence that these terrifying dreams are tied to feelings of powerlessness and eerie environmental shifts, shedding light on how the brain processes intense emotional distress during sleep. By tracking dreamers over a two-week period, the findings offer a detailed look at the anatomy of exceptionally severe nightmares.
Scientists Patrick McNamara, John Balch, and Chanel Reed wanted to explore the thematic and psychological associations of demonic content in dreams. “I had noticed in my work on content of nightmares that many participants in those studies reported greater distress when they felt that they encountered something ‘evil’ or demonic in the nightmare,” said McNamara, a professor of psychology at National University, an associate professor of neurology at the Boston University School of Medicine, and co-director of the Cognitive Neuroscience of Religious Cognition (CNRC) Project.
While feeling an evil presence during sleep is a well-documented phenomenon, the specific ways these sinister figures operate within a dream narrative remain largely uncharted. The researchers aimed to identify the progression of these themes, particularly how a single unsettling dream might evolve into a full-blown demonic attack. “It is clinically and scientifically interesting when a specific cognitive content is associated with greater distress as one could potentially use that content as the target for therapeutic intervention,” McNamara told PsyPost.
By collecting an intensive series of sleep diaries, the team hoped to track the evolution of these frightening narratives. They sought to provide an initial framework for understanding the factors associated with these severe nightmares. This foundation tends to help future scientists explore the clinical implications of such dreams, particularly regarding how the mind handles unresolved fear.
To conduct the study, the researchers recruited 124 adult volunteers from the community. These participants were on average forty-four years old, predominantly female, and mostly white. The participants agreed to take part in a two-week longitudinal study from their own homes.
During this period, the volunteers followed their normal sleeping schedules. Every morning upon waking up, they completed surveys on their phones or computers. These surveys asked the participants to report any dreams they could recall.
The volunteers then rated their dream content based on mood and general themes. To do this, they used a structured questionnaire that asks people to score their dreams on various adjectival scales, such as strange versus familiar. The participants also noted if their dreams woke them up during the night.
In addition to the daily surveys, sixty-one of the participants wore a specialized sleep-tracking headband each night. This device measures sleep architecture, which refers to the different stages and cycles of sleep a person goes through, such as light sleep, deep sleep, and rapid eye movement sleep. The headband allowed the researchers to gather objective data on the participants’ brain waves and sleep patterns.
Throughout the two weeks, the participants submitted a total of 1,599 individual dream reports. Highly trained research assistants read each narrative to determine if the recalled content qualified as a nightmare. They looked for specific markers, such as words expressing fear, scenarios posing an immediate threat to the dreamer, or reports of pain.
If a narrative lacked explicit emotion words, the researchers relied on the morning questionnaire ratings to see if the dreamer scored the experience as highly scary or aggressive. Through this process, the team identified 186 nightmares and 112 disturbing dreams. Within this large pool of reports, they searched specifically for demonic content.
The scientists defined demonic content as figures expressing a sense of supernatural evil and a malicious intent to harm the dreamer. They found sixteen dream reports with overt demonic themes and another group of reports with borderline demonic elements. These specific dreams were experienced by eight different participants.
The researchers found that five of the overt demonic dreams were part of a sequential series. This means the participants had a succession of related dreams over several nights that eventually culminated in a nightmare about a demonic attack. The other eleven reports were single-night events that also featured demonic characters.
When analyzing the headband data, the researchers noticed no major differences in sleep stages between nights with demonic dreams and regular nights. The time spent in deep sleep or rapid eye movement sleep remained largely consistent. However, the scientists note that the small number of demonic dreams makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about brain wave patterns.
To understand the progression, the researchers looked closely at the specific narratives provided by the participants. For example, one participant experienced a series of dreams that began with a young brunette woman floating up a hill with a malicious smile. Over the next several nights, this female character reappeared in different forms, such as a sharp departmental secretary and later as the dreamer’s own daughter.
As the nights went on, the dream environment underwent what the participant called a dimensional shift. The threatening presence drew physically closer and closer across the dream series. On the final night, a full demonic attack occurred, with the spirit described as pale and remote, directly echoing the floating woman from the very first dream.
“I was not exactly surprised but I was certainly fascinated by the fact that the demonic content, the ‘demon,’ was often announced or appeared as a vaguely threatening character in a regular non-distressing dream days before the onset of its appearance in a nightmare,” McNamara said. “I intend to follow up with this finding in future research.”
Another participant experienced a profound fracturing of identity leading up to her demonic nightmare. In her initial dream, she saw herself in a mirror as an elderly woman living in the nineteenth century, working as a servant. In a subsequent dream, she transformed into a flying flower, yet she still operated as a servant to a supernatural villain.
By the end of her dream series, this theme of servitude culminated in a terrifying scenario. She dreamed she was married to the devil, who was brainwashing her into permanent servitude in a dark, eerie house. These specific cases highlight how feelings of powerlessness and shifting identities pave the way for a demonic encounter.
The qualitative analysis of the broader dream narratives yielded a wealth of detailed thematic patterns. One major pattern revealed that demonic content often announces itself at the very beginning of a dream series. A character might initially appear as a non-threatening agent, but over subsequent nights, this entity transforms into something supernaturally evil.
Another finding suggests the background environment in these dreams tends to feel eerily threatening. The physical setting often undergoes bizarre changes or violates the laws of physics, taking on a distinctly supernatural atmosphere. Dreamers described dark houses, strange dimensional shifts, and shadowy settings.
A third pattern involves the dreamer typically being depicted as entirely powerless. The participants often exhibited a fragile sense of identity, sometimes even transforming into different characters, such as the nineteenth-century woman or the floating flower mentioned previously. This lack of agency leaves the dreamer highly vulnerable to the unfolding threats.
A fourth characteristic shows that the demonic entity consistently displays a strong interest in harming the individual. The demon acts as if it wants to destroy the dreamer physically or obliterate their sense of self. The narratives frequently featured violence, such as being chased by monsters or attacked by malevolent forces.
A fifth pattern highlights a distinct progression of thematic content across the consecutive nights of a dream series. Elements of the demonic figure would randomly reappear in different guises, moving progressively closer to the dreamer. The threat level steadily escalated over time until the final terrifying nightmare occurred.
As a final pattern, the dreamers or their allies often attempted to oppose the demon. Sometimes a parent or a friend in the dream would step between the dreamer and the beast. Sadly, these attempts to fight back or block the malicious actions almost always failed.
The researchers suggest that these findings might relate to how the brain processes emotional memories. When an individual experiences intense fear or stress, the sleep-dependent memory system attempts to process and integrate those emotions over several nights. If the emotional load is too overwhelming, this integration process fails, which provides a pathway for severe nightmares to occur.
People raised in environments with supernatural belief systems might naturally use those concepts to visualize their fears. The brain takes the feeling of a profound, unresolved threat and clothes it in the visual rhetoric of a demonic encounter. The demon acts as a psychological stand-in for overwhelming distress or repressed anxieties.
The study does have a few limitations that warrant consideration. The occurrence of demonic dreams in the sample was relatively rare, which means the quantitative data regarding sleep stages lacks the statistical power needed for broad generalizations. A larger sample of such dreams would help verify if any specific sleep architectures predict these nightmares.
The authors also note that they did not collect data regarding the participants’ media consumption. Popular culture, including horror movies and video games, very likely influences the specific imagery people see in their terrifying dreams. Tracking what media participants consume before bed might explain why certain demonic figures take specific shapes.
Future research could also track medication usage, which was not analyzed in this specific study. Certain drugs are known to alter dream vividness and affect, so incorporating medication information would provide a more complete picture. By expanding on these themes, scientists can continue to piece together the mechanisms behind our most frightening nocturnal experiences.
For those troubled by these intense nocturnal experiences, the findings offer some reassurance. “They are not alone if they experience what they subjectively perceive as ‘evil’ content; if the demonic content persists seek help from sleep medicine experts experienced in treating nightmares,” McNamara said.
The study, “The “Demonic” in Dreams and Nightmares,” was authored by Patrick McNamara, John Balch, and Chanel Reed.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/demonic-attacks-in-dreams-follow-a-chilling-multi-night-pattern/
-------------------------------------------------
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DemonicDreams #NightmarePatterns #SleepResearch #DreamAnalysis #NightmareTherapy #DreamScience #SleepPatterns #EmotionalMemory #FearInDreams #DreamNarratives
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Demonic attacks in dreams follow a chilling multi-night pattern
URL: https://www.psypost.org/demonic-attacks-in-dreams-follow-a-chilling-multi-night-pattern/
A recent study published in the journal Dreaming suggests that demonic encounters in nightmares often follow a predictable pattern of escalating threats across multiple nights of dreaming. The research provides evidence that these terrifying dreams are tied to feelings of powerlessness and eerie environmental shifts, shedding light on how the brain processes intense emotional distress during sleep. By tracking dreamers over a two-week period, the findings offer a detailed look at the anatomy of exceptionally severe nightmares.
Scientists Patrick McNamara, John Balch, and Chanel Reed wanted to explore the thematic and psychological associations of demonic content in dreams. “I had noticed in my work on content of nightmares that many participants in those studies reported greater distress when they felt that they encountered something ‘evil’ or demonic in the nightmare,” said McNamara, a professor of psychology at National University, an associate professor of neurology at the Boston University School of Medicine, and co-director of the Cognitive Neuroscience of Religious Cognition (CNRC) Project.
While feeling an evil presence during sleep is a well-documented phenomenon, the specific ways these sinister figures operate within a dream narrative remain largely uncharted. The researchers aimed to identify the progression of these themes, particularly how a single unsettling dream might evolve into a full-blown demonic attack. “It is clinically and scientifically interesting when a specific cognitive content is associated with greater distress as one could potentially use that content as the target for therapeutic intervention,” McNamara told PsyPost.
By collecting an intensive series of sleep diaries, the team hoped to track the evolution of these frightening narratives. They sought to provide an initial framework for understanding the factors associated with these severe nightmares. This foundation tends to help future scientists explore the clinical implications of such dreams, particularly regarding how the mind handles unresolved fear.
To conduct the study, the researchers recruited 124 adult volunteers from the community. These participants were on average forty-four years old, predominantly female, and mostly white. The participants agreed to take part in a two-week longitudinal study from their own homes.
During this period, the volunteers followed their normal sleeping schedules. Every morning upon waking up, they completed surveys on their phones or computers. These surveys asked the participants to report any dreams they could recall.
The volunteers then rated their dream content based on mood and general themes. To do this, they used a structured questionnaire that asks people to score their dreams on various adjectival scales, such as strange versus familiar. The participants also noted if their dreams woke them up during the night.
In addition to the daily surveys, sixty-one of the participants wore a specialized sleep-tracking headband each night. This device measures sleep architecture, which refers to the different stages and cycles of sleep a person goes through, such as light sleep, deep sleep, and rapid eye movement sleep. The headband allowed the researchers to gather objective data on the participants’ brain waves and sleep patterns.
Throughout the two weeks, the participants submitted a total of 1,599 individual dream reports. Highly trained research assistants read each narrative to determine if the recalled content qualified as a nightmare. They looked for specific markers, such as words expressing fear, scenarios posing an immediate threat to the dreamer, or reports of pain.
If a narrative lacked explicit emotion words, the researchers relied on the morning questionnaire ratings to see if the dreamer scored the experience as highly scary or aggressive. Through this process, the team identified 186 nightmares and 112 disturbing dreams. Within this large pool of reports, they searched specifically for demonic content.
The scientists defined demonic content as figures expressing a sense of supernatural evil and a malicious intent to harm the dreamer. They found sixteen dream reports with overt demonic themes and another group of reports with borderline demonic elements. These specific dreams were experienced by eight different participants.
The researchers found that five of the overt demonic dreams were part of a sequential series. This means the participants had a succession of related dreams over several nights that eventually culminated in a nightmare about a demonic attack. The other eleven reports were single-night events that also featured demonic characters.
When analyzing the headband data, the researchers noticed no major differences in sleep stages between nights with demonic dreams and regular nights. The time spent in deep sleep or rapid eye movement sleep remained largely consistent. However, the scientists note that the small number of demonic dreams makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about brain wave patterns.
To understand the progression, the researchers looked closely at the specific narratives provided by the participants. For example, one participant experienced a series of dreams that began with a young brunette woman floating up a hill with a malicious smile. Over the next several nights, this female character reappeared in different forms, such as a sharp departmental secretary and later as the dreamer’s own daughter.
As the nights went on, the dream environment underwent what the participant called a dimensional shift. The threatening presence drew physically closer and closer across the dream series. On the final night, a full demonic attack occurred, with the spirit described as pale and remote, directly echoing the floating woman from the very first dream.
“I was not exactly surprised but I was certainly fascinated by the fact that the demonic content, the ‘demon,’ was often announced or appeared as a vaguely threatening character in a regular non-distressing dream days before the onset of its appearance in a nightmare,” McNamara said. “I intend to follow up with this finding in future research.”
Another participant experienced a profound fracturing of identity leading up to her demonic nightmare. In her initial dream, she saw herself in a mirror as an elderly woman living in the nineteenth century, working as a servant. In a subsequent dream, she transformed into a flying flower, yet she still operated as a servant to a supernatural villain.
By the end of her dream series, this theme of servitude culminated in a terrifying scenario. She dreamed she was married to the devil, who was brainwashing her into permanent servitude in a dark, eerie house. These specific cases highlight how feelings of powerlessness and shifting identities pave the way for a demonic encounter.
The qualitative analysis of the broader dream narratives yielded a wealth of detailed thematic patterns. One major pattern revealed that demonic content often announces itself at the very beginning of a dream series. A character might initially appear as a non-threatening agent, but over subsequent nights, this entity transforms into something supernaturally evil.
Another finding suggests the background environment in these dreams tends to feel eerily threatening. The physical setting often undergoes bizarre changes or violates the laws of physics, taking on a distinctly supernatural atmosphere. Dreamers described dark houses, strange dimensional shifts, and shadowy settings.
A third pattern involves the dreamer typically being depicted as entirely powerless. The participants often exhibited a fragile sense of identity, sometimes even transforming into different characters, such as the nineteenth-century woman or the floating flower mentioned previously. This lack of agency leaves the dreamer highly vulnerable to the unfolding threats.
A fourth characteristic shows that the demonic entity consistently displays a strong interest in harming the individual. The demon acts as if it wants to destroy the dreamer physically or obliterate their sense of self. The narratives frequently featured violence, such as being chased by monsters or attacked by malevolent forces.
A fifth pattern highlights a distinct progression of thematic content across the consecutive nights of a dream series. Elements of the demonic figure would randomly reappear in different guises, moving progressively closer to the dreamer. The threat level steadily escalated over time until the final terrifying nightmare occurred.
As a final pattern, the dreamers or their allies often attempted to oppose the demon. Sometimes a parent or a friend in the dream would step between the dreamer and the beast. Sadly, these attempts to fight back or block the malicious actions almost always failed.
The researchers suggest that these findings might relate to how the brain processes emotional memories. When an individual experiences intense fear or stress, the sleep-dependent memory system attempts to process and integrate those emotions over several nights. If the emotional load is too overwhelming, this integration process fails, which provides a pathway for severe nightmares to occur.
People raised in environments with supernatural belief systems might naturally use those concepts to visualize their fears. The brain takes the feeling of a profound, unresolved threat and clothes it in the visual rhetoric of a demonic encounter. The demon acts as a psychological stand-in for overwhelming distress or repressed anxieties.
The study does have a few limitations that warrant consideration. The occurrence of demonic dreams in the sample was relatively rare, which means the quantitative data regarding sleep stages lacks the statistical power needed for broad generalizations. A larger sample of such dreams would help verify if any specific sleep architectures predict these nightmares.
The authors also note that they did not collect data regarding the participants’ media consumption. Popular culture, including horror movies and video games, very likely influences the specific imagery people see in their terrifying dreams. Tracking what media participants consume before bed might explain why certain demonic figures take specific shapes.
Future research could also track medication usage, which was not analyzed in this specific study. Certain drugs are known to alter dream vividness and affect, so incorporating medication information would provide a more complete picture. By expanding on these themes, scientists can continue to piece together the mechanisms behind our most frightening nocturnal experiences.
For those troubled by these intense nocturnal experiences, the findings offer some reassurance. “They are not alone if they experience what they subjectively perceive as ‘evil’ content; if the demonic content persists seek help from sleep medicine experts experienced in treating nightmares,” McNamara said.
The study, “The “Demonic” in Dreams and Nightmares,” was authored by Patrick McNamara, John Balch, and Chanel Reed.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/demonic-attacks-in-dreams-follow-a-chilling-multi-night-pattern/
-------------------------------------------------
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NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DemonicDreams #NightmarePatterns #SleepResearch #DreamAnalysis #NightmareTherapy #DreamScience #SleepPatterns #EmotionalMemory #FearInDreams #DreamNarratives
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Demonic attacks in dreams follow a chilling multi-night pattern
URL: https://www.psypost.org/demonic-attacks-in-dreams-follow-a-chilling-multi-night-pattern/
A recent study published in the journal Dreaming suggests that demonic encounters in nightmares often follow a predictable pattern of escalating threats across multiple nights of dreaming. The research provides evidence that these terrifying dreams are tied to feelings of powerlessness and eerie environmental shifts, shedding light on how the brain processes intense emotional distress during sleep. By tracking dreamers over a two-week period, the findings offer a detailed look at the anatomy of exceptionally severe nightmares.
Scientists Patrick McNamara, John Balch, and Chanel Reed wanted to explore the thematic and psychological associations of demonic content in dreams. “I had noticed in my work on content of nightmares that many participants in those studies reported greater distress when they felt that they encountered something ‘evil’ or demonic in the nightmare,” said McNamara, a professor of psychology at National University, an associate professor of neurology at the Boston University School of Medicine, and co-director of the Cognitive Neuroscience of Religious Cognition (CNRC) Project.
While feeling an evil presence during sleep is a well-documented phenomenon, the specific ways these sinister figures operate within a dream narrative remain largely uncharted. The researchers aimed to identify the progression of these themes, particularly how a single unsettling dream might evolve into a full-blown demonic attack. “It is clinically and scientifically interesting when a specific cognitive content is associated with greater distress as one could potentially use that content as the target for therapeutic intervention,” McNamara told PsyPost.
By collecting an intensive series of sleep diaries, the team hoped to track the evolution of these frightening narratives. They sought to provide an initial framework for understanding the factors associated with these severe nightmares. This foundation tends to help future scientists explore the clinical implications of such dreams, particularly regarding how the mind handles unresolved fear.
To conduct the study, the researchers recruited 124 adult volunteers from the community. These participants were on average forty-four years old, predominantly female, and mostly white. The participants agreed to take part in a two-week longitudinal study from their own homes.
During this period, the volunteers followed their normal sleeping schedules. Every morning upon waking up, they completed surveys on their phones or computers. These surveys asked the participants to report any dreams they could recall.
The volunteers then rated their dream content based on mood and general themes. To do this, they used a structured questionnaire that asks people to score their dreams on various adjectival scales, such as strange versus familiar. The participants also noted if their dreams woke them up during the night.
In addition to the daily surveys, sixty-one of the participants wore a specialized sleep-tracking headband each night. This device measures sleep architecture, which refers to the different stages and cycles of sleep a person goes through, such as light sleep, deep sleep, and rapid eye movement sleep. The headband allowed the researchers to gather objective data on the participants’ brain waves and sleep patterns.
Throughout the two weeks, the participants submitted a total of 1,599 individual dream reports. Highly trained research assistants read each narrative to determine if the recalled content qualified as a nightmare. They looked for specific markers, such as words expressing fear, scenarios posing an immediate threat to the dreamer, or reports of pain.
If a narrative lacked explicit emotion words, the researchers relied on the morning questionnaire ratings to see if the dreamer scored the experience as highly scary or aggressive. Through this process, the team identified 186 nightmares and 112 disturbing dreams. Within this large pool of reports, they searched specifically for demonic content.
The scientists defined demonic content as figures expressing a sense of supernatural evil and a malicious intent to harm the dreamer. They found sixteen dream reports with overt demonic themes and another group of reports with borderline demonic elements. These specific dreams were experienced by eight different participants.
The researchers found that five of the overt demonic dreams were part of a sequential series. This means the participants had a succession of related dreams over several nights that eventually culminated in a nightmare about a demonic attack. The other eleven reports were single-night events that also featured demonic characters.
When analyzing the headband data, the researchers noticed no major differences in sleep stages between nights with demonic dreams and regular nights. The time spent in deep sleep or rapid eye movement sleep remained largely consistent. However, the scientists note that the small number of demonic dreams makes it difficult to draw definitive conclusions about brain wave patterns.
To understand the progression, the researchers looked closely at the specific narratives provided by the participants. For example, one participant experienced a series of dreams that began with a young brunette woman floating up a hill with a malicious smile. Over the next several nights, this female character reappeared in different forms, such as a sharp departmental secretary and later as the dreamer’s own daughter.
As the nights went on, the dream environment underwent what the participant called a dimensional shift. The threatening presence drew physically closer and closer across the dream series. On the final night, a full demonic attack occurred, with the spirit described as pale and remote, directly echoing the floating woman from the very first dream.
“I was not exactly surprised but I was certainly fascinated by the fact that the demonic content, the ‘demon,’ was often announced or appeared as a vaguely threatening character in a regular non-distressing dream days before the onset of its appearance in a nightmare,” McNamara said. “I intend to follow up with this finding in future research.”
Another participant experienced a profound fracturing of identity leading up to her demonic nightmare. In her initial dream, she saw herself in a mirror as an elderly woman living in the nineteenth century, working as a servant. In a subsequent dream, she transformed into a flying flower, yet she still operated as a servant to a supernatural villain.
By the end of her dream series, this theme of servitude culminated in a terrifying scenario. She dreamed she was married to the devil, who was brainwashing her into permanent servitude in a dark, eerie house. These specific cases highlight how feelings of powerlessness and shifting identities pave the way for a demonic encounter.
The qualitative analysis of the broader dream narratives yielded a wealth of detailed thematic patterns. One major pattern revealed that demonic content often announces itself at the very beginning of a dream series. A character might initially appear as a non-threatening agent, but over subsequent nights, this entity transforms into something supernaturally evil.
Another finding suggests the background environment in these dreams tends to feel eerily threatening. The physical setting often undergoes bizarre changes or violates the laws of physics, taking on a distinctly supernatural atmosphere. Dreamers described dark houses, strange dimensional shifts, and shadowy settings.
A third pattern involves the dreamer typically being depicted as entirely powerless. The participants often exhibited a fragile sense of identity, sometimes even transforming into different characters, such as the nineteenth-century woman or the floating flower mentioned previously. This lack of agency leaves the dreamer highly vulnerable to the unfolding threats.
A fourth characteristic shows that the demonic entity consistently displays a strong interest in harming the individual. The demon acts as if it wants to destroy the dreamer physically or obliterate their sense of self. The narratives frequently featured violence, such as being chased by monsters or attacked by malevolent forces.
A fifth pattern highlights a distinct progression of thematic content across the consecutive nights of a dream series. Elements of the demonic figure would randomly reappear in different guises, moving progressively closer to the dreamer. The threat level steadily escalated over time until the final terrifying nightmare occurred.
As a final pattern, the dreamers or their allies often attempted to oppose the demon. Sometimes a parent or a friend in the dream would step between the dreamer and the beast. Sadly, these attempts to fight back or block the malicious actions almost always failed.
The researchers suggest that these findings might relate to how the brain processes emotional memories. When an individual experiences intense fear or stress, the sleep-dependent memory system attempts to process and integrate those emotions over several nights. If the emotional load is too overwhelming, this integration process fails, which provides a pathway for severe nightmares to occur.
People raised in environments with supernatural belief systems might naturally use those concepts to visualize their fears. The brain takes the feeling of a profound, unresolved threat and clothes it in the visual rhetoric of a demonic encounter. The demon acts as a psychological stand-in for overwhelming distress or repressed anxieties.
The study does have a few limitations that warrant consideration. The occurrence of demonic dreams in the sample was relatively rare, which means the quantitative data regarding sleep stages lacks the statistical power needed for broad generalizations. A larger sample of such dreams would help verify if any specific sleep architectures predict these nightmares.
The authors also note that they did not collect data regarding the participants’ media consumption. Popular culture, including horror movies and video games, very likely influences the specific imagery people see in their terrifying dreams. Tracking what media participants consume before bed might explain why certain demonic figures take specific shapes.
Future research could also track medication usage, which was not analyzed in this specific study. Certain drugs are known to alter dream vividness and affect, so incorporating medication information would provide a more complete picture. By expanding on these themes, scientists can continue to piece together the mechanisms behind our most frightening nocturnal experiences.
For those troubled by these intense nocturnal experiences, the findings offer some reassurance. “They are not alone if they experience what they subjectively perceive as ‘evil’ content; if the demonic content persists seek help from sleep medicine experts experienced in treating nightmares,” McNamara said.
The study, “The “Demonic” in Dreams and Nightmares,” was authored by Patrick McNamara, John Balch, and Chanel Reed.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/demonic-attacks-in-dreams-follow-a-chilling-multi-night-pattern/
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
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Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DemonicDreams #NightmarePatterns #SleepResearch #DreamAnalysis #NightmareTherapy #DreamScience #SleepPatterns #EmotionalMemory #FearInDreams #DreamNarratives
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYCHIATRIC TIMESDirect article link at end of text block below.
XPro1595 showed directionally consistent benefit across cognitive, global, functional, behavioral, and biomarker endpoints over 24 weeks in an Alzheimer disease with inflammation subgroup, with no amyloid-related imaging abnormalities. https://t.co/nJ6kkWsJWG
Here are any URLs found in the article text:
Articles can be found by scrolling down the page at Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news".
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
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-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #psychotherapist #Alzheimer'sResearch #CognitiveBenefit #Biomarkers #InflammationSubtype #24Weeks results
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYCHIATRIC TIMESDirect article link at end of text block below.
XPro1595 showed directionally consistent benefit across cognitive, global, functional, behavioral, and biomarker endpoints over 24 weeks in an Alzheimer disease with inflammation subgroup, with no amyloid-related imaging abnormalities. https://t.co/nJ6kkWsJWG
Here are any URLs found in the article text:
Articles can be found by scrolling down the page at Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news".
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #psychotherapist #Alzheimer'sResearch #CognitiveBenefit #Biomarkers #InflammationSubtype #24Weeks results
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYCHIATRIC TIMESDirect article link at end of text block below.
XPro1595 showed directionally consistent benefit across cognitive, global, functional, behavioral, and biomarker endpoints over 24 weeks in an Alzheimer disease with inflammation subgroup, with no amyloid-related imaging abnormalities. https://t.co/nJ6kkWsJWG
Here are any URLs found in the article text:
Articles can be found by scrolling down the page at Articles can be found at https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/news".
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #psychotherapist #Alzheimer'sResearch #CognitiveBenefit #Biomarkers #InflammationSubtype #24Weeks results
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHIATIRY FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyBrainNutrition #CholineDeficiency #BrainHealth #PrefrontalCortex #NutritionalPsychology #AnxietyResearch #MentalHealthScience #BrainChemistry #NutritionBasedTreatment #HealthyBrainFocus
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHIATIRY FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyBrainNutrition #CholineDeficiency #BrainHealth #PrefrontalCortex #NutritionalPsychology #AnxietyResearch #MentalHealthScience #BrainChemistry #NutritionBasedTreatment #HealthyBrainFocus
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHIATIRY FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyBrainNutrition #CholineDeficiency #BrainHealth #PrefrontalCortex #NutritionalPsychology #AnxietyResearch #MentalHealthScience #BrainChemistry #NutritionBasedTreatment #HealthyBrainFocus
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHIATIRY FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
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-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyBrainNutrition #CholineDeficiency #BrainHealth #PrefrontalCortex #NutritionalPsychology #AnxietyResearch #MentalHealthScience #BrainChemistry #NutritionBasedTreatment #HealthyBrainFocus
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyNutrition #BrainHealth #Choline #PrefrontalCortex #MentalHealthScience #NutritionAndMood #BrainChemistry #AnxietyResearch #MentalWellness #NeuroscienceNews
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyNutrition #BrainHealth #Choline #PrefrontalCortex #MentalHealthScience #NutritionAndMood #BrainChemistry #AnxietyResearch #MentalWellness #NeuroscienceNews
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHOLOGY FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyNutrition #BrainHealth #Choline #PrefrontalCortex #MentalHealthScience #NutritionAndMood #BrainChemistry #AnxietyResearch #MentalWellness #NeuroscienceNews
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
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Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyNutrition #BrainHealth #Choline #PrefrontalCortex #MentalHealthResearch #Neuroscience #BrainDiet #NutritionForMentalHealth #AnxietyAwareness #HealthyBrain
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyNutrition #BrainHealth #Choline #PrefrontalCortex #MentalHealthResearch #Neuroscience #BrainDiet #NutritionForMentalHealth #AnxietyAwareness #HealthyBrain
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:41AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEEDTITLE: Scientists find hidden brain nutrient deficit that may fuel anxiety
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
A major analysis of brain scans found that people with anxiety disorders have noticeably lower levels of choline, a nutrient crucial for healthy brain function. The strongest evidence appeared in the prefrontal cortex, the region tied to emotional control and decision-making. Researchers say the discovery is the first clear chemical brain pattern linked to anxiety and could eventually lead to new nutrition-based treatments.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515234759.htm
-------------------------------------------------
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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AnxietyNutrition #BrainHealth #Choline #PrefrontalCortex #MentalHealthResearch #Neuroscience #BrainDiet #NutritionForMentalHealth #AnxietyAwareness #HealthyBrain
-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 08:20PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEEDTITLE: Scientists say just 30 minutes of exercise a week could transform your health
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515002126.htm
You may not need hours at the gym to boost your health after all. Researchers say just 30 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week — broken into tiny bursts of effort that leave you out of breath — can dramatically improve cardiovascular fitness, lower the risk of dozens of diseases, and even help protect the brain as we age. The key isn’t how long you exercise, but how hard you push yourself.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515002126.htm
-------------------------------------------------
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NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #30MinutesOfExercise #HIIT #HealthTransformation #CardioHealth #BrainHealth #DiseasePrevention #FitnessTips #ShortWorkouts #HealthyLifestyle #EffortOverTime
-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 08:20PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEEDTITLE: Scientists say just 30 minutes of exercise a week could transform your health
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515002126.htm
You may not need hours at the gym to boost your health after all. Researchers say just 30 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week — broken into tiny bursts of effort that leave you out of breath — can dramatically improve cardiovascular fitness, lower the risk of dozens of diseases, and even help protect the brain as we age. The key isn’t how long you exercise, but how hard you push yourself.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515002126.htm
-------------------------------------------------
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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #30MinutesOfExercise #HIIT #HealthTransformation #CardioHealth #BrainHealth #DiseasePrevention #FitnessTips #ShortWorkouts #HealthyLifestyle #EffortOverTime
-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 08:20PM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEEDTITLE: Scientists say just 30 minutes of exercise a week could transform your health
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515002126.htm
You may not need hours at the gym to boost your health after all. Researchers say just 30 minutes of high-intensity exercise per week — broken into tiny bursts of effort that leave you out of breath — can dramatically improve cardiovascular fitness, lower the risk of dozens of diseases, and even help protect the brain as we age. The key isn’t how long you exercise, but how hard you push yourself.
URL: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/05/260515002126.htm
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #30MinutesOfExercise #HIIT #HealthTransformation #CardioHealth #BrainHealth #DiseasePrevention #FitnessTips #ShortWorkouts #HealthyLifestyle #EffortOverTime
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Intelligence makes people more trusting, but early hardship cuts this benefit in half
Growing up in a disadvantaged environment not only hinders cognitive development but also weakens a person’s default willingness to trust others later in life. A recent study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin reveals that while higher intelligence generally makes people more trusting, early childhood adversity cuts this social benefit in half. These findings suggest that childhood hardships create long-lasting barriers to social mobility by preventing individuals from reaping the typical rewards of their cognitive skills.
Trusting strangers is a fundamental requirement for a functioning society. Generalized trust is the basic belief that other people are generally reliable and will not exploit you. Economists and psychologists view this kind of trust as a foundation for cooperation, economic prosperity, and overall well-being. People who trust others are more likely to build strong networks and succeed in their careers.
Previous research consistently links higher cognitive ability to higher levels of generalized trust. Researchers generally define cognitive ability as a person’s capacity for memory, reasoning, and problem-solving. People with stronger cognitive skills are often better at recognizing that cooperation pays off in the long run. They are also thought to be better at evaluating someone’s trustworthiness and suppressing emotional, gut-level feelings of suspicion.
At the same time, childhood environments play a massive role in shaping social attitudes. Growing up in a stable, resource-rich household encourages long-term planning and cooperation. Conversely, childhood stress and scarcity act as warning signals about a harsh world. In unstable environments, short-term survival strategies and heightened vigilance are more practical than trusting strangers.
Chris Dawson, a researcher at the University of Bath’s School of Management, wanted to understand how these two factors interact. Most previous studies assumed that intelligence and childhood background influenced trust independently of one another. Dawson suspected that the environment a child grows up in might change how their brainpower is eventually used. Specifically, he wanted to see if intelligence provides the exact same social advantages for everyone, regardless of their background.
Sociologists and psychologists have debated exactly how personal skills and childhood resources interact. One theory, known as resource substitution, suggests that intelligence can compensate for a lack of environmental support. Under this idea, a highly capable child from a poor neighborhood uses their brainpower to overcome their surroundings and figure out how to thrive.
Another theory proposes the exact opposite. The resource multiplication theory suggests that early advantages compound over time. A rich, supportive environment acts like a multiplier for intelligence, giving smart children endless opportunities to practice cooperation and see it rewarded.
To test which reality plays out in the real world, Dawson analyzed data from a massive, nationally representative survey in the United Kingdom. The sample included 24,140 adults with an average age of about 47. The survey gathered extensive information about household finances, personal attitudes, and cognitive performance. This rich dataset allowed the researcher to look for patterns linking early-life conditions to adult beliefs.
To measure generalized trust, the survey asked participants a standard question about human nature. Respondents had to choose whether most people can be trusted, whether it depends, or whether you cannot be too careful these days. While simple, this single question is a widely accepted tool that reliably captures a person’s long-term social outlook.
The survey also tested participants on five specific cognitive tasks. These included a delayed word recall test, a subtraction challenge, and an exercise where participants had one minute to name as many animals as possible. Other tests asked participants to fill in missing numbers in a sequence and solve practical math problems. Dawson combined the scores from these five tasks into a single measure of general cognitive ability, adjusting the final numbers to account for natural changes in brain function that happen as people age.
To measure childhood disadvantage, Dawson looked at four specific hardships participants might have experienced by age 14. These included living outside a two-parent household, having parents with no educational qualifications, and having parents who were unemployed. The final dimension was having parents who worked in routine, low-status jobs. Participants who experienced two or more of these conditions were classified as having a disadvantaged childhood.
The data revealed several distinct patterns. First, individuals who grew up with childhood disadvantage scored lower on adult cognitive tests. They were also much more likely to say that you cannot be too careful when dealing with other people. Both of these patterns held up even when the researcher controlled for current age, sex, and household income.
Next, Dawson examined the relationship between intelligence and trust. Among people from more advantaged backgrounds, higher cognitive ability was strongly associated with a greater likelihood of trusting others. For these individuals, intelligence seemed to unlock the social benefits of cooperation.
However, for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, this relationship was substantially weaker. An increase in cognitive ability still boosted trust, but the effect was only about half as strong as it was for the advantaged group. The protective and cooperative benefits of intelligence were essentially suppressed.
This pattern supports the resource multiplication theory, often referred to as the Matthew Effect. This concept describes how early advantages multiply over time, allowing privileged individuals to gain disproportionate rewards from their skills. In a stable environment with low crime and reliable institutions, a smart person easily learns that trust is rewarded.
For a child in a harsh environment, those same cognitive resources might be redirected toward survival. Disadvantaged settings often feature unreliable institutions and fewer opportunities to see cooperation pay off. Dawson explained this dynamic in a press release accompanying the study.
“We often assume that intelligence leads to positive social outcomes in the same way for everyone but these findings challenge that idea,” Dawson said. “People who grow up in difficult environments not only develop lower cognitive skills, but also those skills appear less likely to translate into trust and the wider benefits that come with it.”
“This matters, because trust helps people build relationships, succeed in organisations, and participate in society,” Dawson said. “If early disadvantage suppresses those benefits, it may reinforce inequality across generations.”
The physical and emotional toll of a difficult childhood might also play a direct role. Chronic stress and anxiety are common results of early adversity. “In those environments, intelligence may simply have fewer opportunities to translate into trust,” Dawson said. “Early adversity may also leave lasting effects of stress and anxiety that limit how cognitive abilities are expressed in social life.”
To see if these patterns held up on a global scale, Dawson also looked at international data. Using the Global Preferences Survey, he compared trust and math skills across different countries. In high-income nations, cognitive ability was strongly tied to higher trust. In low-to-middle-income countries, the relationship was substantially weaker.
Like all observational studies, this research has some limitations. The primary issue is that the survey measured cognitive ability in adulthood, long after childhood environments had already shaped the participants. Because adult intelligence is a mix of genetic potential and environmental influence, it is difficult to completely separate the two. A disadvantaged environment might prevent a person from reaching their genetic potential, or it might simply suppress the social expression of the intelligence they do develop.
Future research will need to untangle these specific biological and environmental threads. Scientists could use genetically informed study designs to see how human biology and neighborhood conditions interact. Researchers also want to know if childhood environments alter the benefits of other positive traits. For example, patience and a willingness to take healthy risks might also be stunted by early adversity.
Ultimately, the study highlights a hidden mechanism of social inequality. Society often views education and intelligence as the ultimate tools for upward mobility. However, this research shows that a harsh childhood can prevent a person from using those tools effectively. Policies aimed at reducing inequality may need to focus on emotional security just as much as academic success.
“If we want to improve life chances, we need to think beyond academic skills,” Dawson said. “Stable, secure and supportive childhood environments may be just as important in helping people realise their potential.”
The study, “What Childhood Leaves Behind: Cognitive Ability and Trust in Adulthood,” was authored by Chris Dawson.
-------------------------------------------------
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Trust #Cognition #Intelligence #ChildhoodAdversity #SocialMobility #GeneralizedTrust #ResourceMultiplication #MatthewEffect #EarlyLifeImpact #CognitiveAbility and Trust
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Intelligence makes people more trusting, but early hardship cuts this benefit in half
Growing up in a disadvantaged environment not only hinders cognitive development but also weakens a person’s default willingness to trust others later in life. A recent study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin reveals that while higher intelligence generally makes people more trusting, early childhood adversity cuts this social benefit in half. These findings suggest that childhood hardships create long-lasting barriers to social mobility by preventing individuals from reaping the typical rewards of their cognitive skills.
Trusting strangers is a fundamental requirement for a functioning society. Generalized trust is the basic belief that other people are generally reliable and will not exploit you. Economists and psychologists view this kind of trust as a foundation for cooperation, economic prosperity, and overall well-being. People who trust others are more likely to build strong networks and succeed in their careers.
Previous research consistently links higher cognitive ability to higher levels of generalized trust. Researchers generally define cognitive ability as a person’s capacity for memory, reasoning, and problem-solving. People with stronger cognitive skills are often better at recognizing that cooperation pays off in the long run. They are also thought to be better at evaluating someone’s trustworthiness and suppressing emotional, gut-level feelings of suspicion.
At the same time, childhood environments play a massive role in shaping social attitudes. Growing up in a stable, resource-rich household encourages long-term planning and cooperation. Conversely, childhood stress and scarcity act as warning signals about a harsh world. In unstable environments, short-term survival strategies and heightened vigilance are more practical than trusting strangers.
Chris Dawson, a researcher at the University of Bath’s School of Management, wanted to understand how these two factors interact. Most previous studies assumed that intelligence and childhood background influenced trust independently of one another. Dawson suspected that the environment a child grows up in might change how their brainpower is eventually used. Specifically, he wanted to see if intelligence provides the exact same social advantages for everyone, regardless of their background.
Sociologists and psychologists have debated exactly how personal skills and childhood resources interact. One theory, known as resource substitution, suggests that intelligence can compensate for a lack of environmental support. Under this idea, a highly capable child from a poor neighborhood uses their brainpower to overcome their surroundings and figure out how to thrive.
Another theory proposes the exact opposite. The resource multiplication theory suggests that early advantages compound over time. A rich, supportive environment acts like a multiplier for intelligence, giving smart children endless opportunities to practice cooperation and see it rewarded.
To test which reality plays out in the real world, Dawson analyzed data from a massive, nationally representative survey in the United Kingdom. The sample included 24,140 adults with an average age of about 47. The survey gathered extensive information about household finances, personal attitudes, and cognitive performance. This rich dataset allowed the researcher to look for patterns linking early-life conditions to adult beliefs.
To measure generalized trust, the survey asked participants a standard question about human nature. Respondents had to choose whether most people can be trusted, whether it depends, or whether you cannot be too careful these days. While simple, this single question is a widely accepted tool that reliably captures a person’s long-term social outlook.
The survey also tested participants on five specific cognitive tasks. These included a delayed word recall test, a subtraction challenge, and an exercise where participants had one minute to name as many animals as possible. Other tests asked participants to fill in missing numbers in a sequence and solve practical math problems. Dawson combined the scores from these five tasks into a single measure of general cognitive ability, adjusting the final numbers to account for natural changes in brain function that happen as people age.
To measure childhood disadvantage, Dawson looked at four specific hardships participants might have experienced by age 14. These included living outside a two-parent household, having parents with no educational qualifications, and having parents who were unemployed. The final dimension was having parents who worked in routine, low-status jobs. Participants who experienced two or more of these conditions were classified as having a disadvantaged childhood.
The data revealed several distinct patterns. First, individuals who grew up with childhood disadvantage scored lower on adult cognitive tests. They were also much more likely to say that you cannot be too careful when dealing with other people. Both of these patterns held up even when the researcher controlled for current age, sex, and household income.
Next, Dawson examined the relationship between intelligence and trust. Among people from more advantaged backgrounds, higher cognitive ability was strongly associated with a greater likelihood of trusting others. For these individuals, intelligence seemed to unlock the social benefits of cooperation.
However, for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, this relationship was substantially weaker. An increase in cognitive ability still boosted trust, but the effect was only about half as strong as it was for the advantaged group. The protective and cooperative benefits of intelligence were essentially suppressed.
This pattern supports the resource multiplication theory, often referred to as the Matthew Effect. This concept describes how early advantages multiply over time, allowing privileged individuals to gain disproportionate rewards from their skills. In a stable environment with low crime and reliable institutions, a smart person easily learns that trust is rewarded.
For a child in a harsh environment, those same cognitive resources might be redirected toward survival. Disadvantaged settings often feature unreliable institutions and fewer opportunities to see cooperation pay off. Dawson explained this dynamic in a press release accompanying the study.
“We often assume that intelligence leads to positive social outcomes in the same way for everyone but these findings challenge that idea,” Dawson said. “People who grow up in difficult environments not only develop lower cognitive skills, but also those skills appear less likely to translate into trust and the wider benefits that come with it.”
“This matters, because trust helps people build relationships, succeed in organisations, and participate in society,” Dawson said. “If early disadvantage suppresses those benefits, it may reinforce inequality across generations.”
The physical and emotional toll of a difficult childhood might also play a direct role. Chronic stress and anxiety are common results of early adversity. “In those environments, intelligence may simply have fewer opportunities to translate into trust,” Dawson said. “Early adversity may also leave lasting effects of stress and anxiety that limit how cognitive abilities are expressed in social life.”
To see if these patterns held up on a global scale, Dawson also looked at international data. Using the Global Preferences Survey, he compared trust and math skills across different countries. In high-income nations, cognitive ability was strongly tied to higher trust. In low-to-middle-income countries, the relationship was substantially weaker.
Like all observational studies, this research has some limitations. The primary issue is that the survey measured cognitive ability in adulthood, long after childhood environments had already shaped the participants. Because adult intelligence is a mix of genetic potential and environmental influence, it is difficult to completely separate the two. A disadvantaged environment might prevent a person from reaching their genetic potential, or it might simply suppress the social expression of the intelligence they do develop.
Future research will need to untangle these specific biological and environmental threads. Scientists could use genetically informed study designs to see how human biology and neighborhood conditions interact. Researchers also want to know if childhood environments alter the benefits of other positive traits. For example, patience and a willingness to take healthy risks might also be stunted by early adversity.
Ultimately, the study highlights a hidden mechanism of social inequality. Society often views education and intelligence as the ultimate tools for upward mobility. However, this research shows that a harsh childhood can prevent a person from using those tools effectively. Policies aimed at reducing inequality may need to focus on emotional security just as much as academic success.
“If we want to improve life chances, we need to think beyond academic skills,” Dawson said. “Stable, secure and supportive childhood environments may be just as important in helping people realise their potential.”
The study, “What Childhood Leaves Behind: Cognitive Ability and Trust in Adulthood,” was authored by Chris Dawson.
-------------------------------------------------
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Trust #Cognition #Intelligence #ChildhoodAdversity #SocialMobility #GeneralizedTrust #ResourceMultiplication #MatthewEffect #EarlyLifeImpact #CognitiveAbility and Trust
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 08:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Intelligence makes people more trusting, but early hardship cuts this benefit in half
Growing up in a disadvantaged environment not only hinders cognitive development but also weakens a person’s default willingness to trust others later in life. A recent study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin reveals that while higher intelligence generally makes people more trusting, early childhood adversity cuts this social benefit in half. These findings suggest that childhood hardships create long-lasting barriers to social mobility by preventing individuals from reaping the typical rewards of their cognitive skills.
Trusting strangers is a fundamental requirement for a functioning society. Generalized trust is the basic belief that other people are generally reliable and will not exploit you. Economists and psychologists view this kind of trust as a foundation for cooperation, economic prosperity, and overall well-being. People who trust others are more likely to build strong networks and succeed in their careers.
Previous research consistently links higher cognitive ability to higher levels of generalized trust. Researchers generally define cognitive ability as a person’s capacity for memory, reasoning, and problem-solving. People with stronger cognitive skills are often better at recognizing that cooperation pays off in the long run. They are also thought to be better at evaluating someone’s trustworthiness and suppressing emotional, gut-level feelings of suspicion.
At the same time, childhood environments play a massive role in shaping social attitudes. Growing up in a stable, resource-rich household encourages long-term planning and cooperation. Conversely, childhood stress and scarcity act as warning signals about a harsh world. In unstable environments, short-term survival strategies and heightened vigilance are more practical than trusting strangers.
Chris Dawson, a researcher at the University of Bath’s School of Management, wanted to understand how these two factors interact. Most previous studies assumed that intelligence and childhood background influenced trust independently of one another. Dawson suspected that the environment a child grows up in might change how their brainpower is eventually used. Specifically, he wanted to see if intelligence provides the exact same social advantages for everyone, regardless of their background.
Sociologists and psychologists have debated exactly how personal skills and childhood resources interact. One theory, known as resource substitution, suggests that intelligence can compensate for a lack of environmental support. Under this idea, a highly capable child from a poor neighborhood uses their brainpower to overcome their surroundings and figure out how to thrive.
Another theory proposes the exact opposite. The resource multiplication theory suggests that early advantages compound over time. A rich, supportive environment acts like a multiplier for intelligence, giving smart children endless opportunities to practice cooperation and see it rewarded.
To test which reality plays out in the real world, Dawson analyzed data from a massive, nationally representative survey in the United Kingdom. The sample included 24,140 adults with an average age of about 47. The survey gathered extensive information about household finances, personal attitudes, and cognitive performance. This rich dataset allowed the researcher to look for patterns linking early-life conditions to adult beliefs.
To measure generalized trust, the survey asked participants a standard question about human nature. Respondents had to choose whether most people can be trusted, whether it depends, or whether you cannot be too careful these days. While simple, this single question is a widely accepted tool that reliably captures a person’s long-term social outlook.
The survey also tested participants on five specific cognitive tasks. These included a delayed word recall test, a subtraction challenge, and an exercise where participants had one minute to name as many animals as possible. Other tests asked participants to fill in missing numbers in a sequence and solve practical math problems. Dawson combined the scores from these five tasks into a single measure of general cognitive ability, adjusting the final numbers to account for natural changes in brain function that happen as people age.
To measure childhood disadvantage, Dawson looked at four specific hardships participants might have experienced by age 14. These included living outside a two-parent household, having parents with no educational qualifications, and having parents who were unemployed. The final dimension was having parents who worked in routine, low-status jobs. Participants who experienced two or more of these conditions were classified as having a disadvantaged childhood.
The data revealed several distinct patterns. First, individuals who grew up with childhood disadvantage scored lower on adult cognitive tests. They were also much more likely to say that you cannot be too careful when dealing with other people. Both of these patterns held up even when the researcher controlled for current age, sex, and household income.
Next, Dawson examined the relationship between intelligence and trust. Among people from more advantaged backgrounds, higher cognitive ability was strongly associated with a greater likelihood of trusting others. For these individuals, intelligence seemed to unlock the social benefits of cooperation.
However, for people from disadvantaged backgrounds, this relationship was substantially weaker. An increase in cognitive ability still boosted trust, but the effect was only about half as strong as it was for the advantaged group. The protective and cooperative benefits of intelligence were essentially suppressed.
This pattern supports the resource multiplication theory, often referred to as the Matthew Effect. This concept describes how early advantages multiply over time, allowing privileged individuals to gain disproportionate rewards from their skills. In a stable environment with low crime and reliable institutions, a smart person easily learns that trust is rewarded.
For a child in a harsh environment, those same cognitive resources might be redirected toward survival. Disadvantaged settings often feature unreliable institutions and fewer opportunities to see cooperation pay off. Dawson explained this dynamic in a press release accompanying the study.
“We often assume that intelligence leads to positive social outcomes in the same way for everyone but these findings challenge that idea,” Dawson said. “People who grow up in difficult environments not only develop lower cognitive skills, but also those skills appear less likely to translate into trust and the wider benefits that come with it.”
“This matters, because trust helps people build relationships, succeed in organisations, and participate in society,” Dawson said. “If early disadvantage suppresses those benefits, it may reinforce inequality across generations.”
The physical and emotional toll of a difficult childhood might also play a direct role. Chronic stress and anxiety are common results of early adversity. “In those environments, intelligence may simply have fewer opportunities to translate into trust,” Dawson said. “Early adversity may also leave lasting effects of stress and anxiety that limit how cognitive abilities are expressed in social life.”
To see if these patterns held up on a global scale, Dawson also looked at international data. Using the Global Preferences Survey, he compared trust and math skills across different countries. In high-income nations, cognitive ability was strongly tied to higher trust. In low-to-middle-income countries, the relationship was substantially weaker.
Like all observational studies, this research has some limitations. The primary issue is that the survey measured cognitive ability in adulthood, long after childhood environments had already shaped the participants. Because adult intelligence is a mix of genetic potential and environmental influence, it is difficult to completely separate the two. A disadvantaged environment might prevent a person from reaching their genetic potential, or it might simply suppress the social expression of the intelligence they do develop.
Future research will need to untangle these specific biological and environmental threads. Scientists could use genetically informed study designs to see how human biology and neighborhood conditions interact. Researchers also want to know if childhood environments alter the benefits of other positive traits. For example, patience and a willingness to take healthy risks might also be stunted by early adversity.
Ultimately, the study highlights a hidden mechanism of social inequality. Society often views education and intelligence as the ultimate tools for upward mobility. However, this research shows that a harsh childhood can prevent a person from using those tools effectively. Policies aimed at reducing inequality may need to focus on emotional security just as much as academic success.
“If we want to improve life chances, we need to think beyond academic skills,” Dawson said. “Stable, secure and supportive childhood environments may be just as important in helping people realise their potential.”
The study, “What Childhood Leaves Behind: Cognitive Ability and Trust in Adulthood,” was authored by Chris Dawson.
-------------------------------------------------
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Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #Trust #Cognition #Intelligence #ChildhoodAdversity #SocialMobility #GeneralizedTrust #ResourceMultiplication #MatthewEffect #EarlyLifeImpact #CognitiveAbility and Trust
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Mind wandering enhances the brain’s ability to learn hidden patterns, new study suggests
When our thoughts drift away from the task at hand, our brains might actually become better at unconsciously picking up hidden patterns in our environment. A new study to be published in the journal Neuroscience of Consciousness provides evidence that the momentary lapses in self-control that occur during mind wandering create a unique mental state that enhances our ability to learn automatic routines. These findings suggest that daydreaming is not simply a failure of attention but a functional shift that helps the brain absorb complex information.
Mind wandering happens when our attention shifts from external tasks to internal thoughts, like reflecting on past events or planning for the weekend. This mental state is typically associated with reduced cognitive performance, including slower reading comprehension and an inability to maintain sustained attention.
At the same time, recent research suggests that this zoning out can provide unexpected cognitive benefits, particularly for a process known as implicit statistical learning. Implicit statistical learning is the brain’s ability to unconsciously detect and internalize repeating patterns and probabilities in our surroundings, such as the predictable structure of spoken language or the sequence of a physical action.
“Mind wandering is usually described as a failure of attention,” said Dezső Németh, a director of research at INSERM at the Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon in France and the Gran Canaria Cognitive Research Center at Universidad del Atlántico Medio in Spain. “And in many situations, that is true. When our thoughts drift away from the task, we often make more mistakes, respond more impulsively, and lose track of what we are supposed to be doing.”
Németh explained that their previous work suggested a more complicated picture. “We found that mind wandering can sometimes be linked to better implicit statistical learning,” Németh said. “In other words, when people are not fully focused on the task, they may still be picking up hidden patterns in the environment, without being aware that they are learning.”
“That paradox fascinated us,” Németh continued. “We wanted to know whether these two effects are actually connected. Could the same temporary weakening of executive control that makes people worse at inhibiting responses also make the brain more open to learning probabilistic patterns in the background?”
A framework known as the neurocompetition model proposes that our brain’s effortful, goal-directed processes actually compete with our automatic, unconscious learning systems for shared mental resources. Executive control involves the top-down cognitive processes that allow us to focus, plan, and override impulses. “So are they independent phenomena or related?” Németh asked. “This study was designed to test that idea directly.”
To evaluate this complex interplay, the scientists recruited university students to complete an online experiment. After removing participants who did not follow instructions or met certain exclusion criteria, the final sample consisted of 240 healthy young adults with an average age of about 22. The participants completed a specialized exercise called the Cognitive Trade-off Task, which was designed to measure self-control, pattern recognition, and current state of mind simultaneously.
During the task, participants watched images of dog or cat heads appear in one of four horizontal positions on a computer screen. For the majority of the trials, known as “Go” trials, participants were instructed to quickly press a keyboard key corresponding to the location of the animal. However, for certain specific images, known as “No-Go” trials, participants had to suppress their urge to react and withhold their key press entirely. This specific measure evaluated response inhibition, which is the brain’s ability to quickly cancel or restrict an impulsive behavioral action.
Unbeknownst to the participants, the appearance of the images was not entirely random. The locations followed a hidden, probabilistic sequence where every second trial was part of a repeating pattern, while the alternate trials appeared in random locations. Because of this alternating structure, certain three-item sequences, known as triplets, happened much more frequently than others. By measuring how much faster participants responded to the highly probable triplets compared to the rare ones, the researchers could calculate a precise score for implicit statistical learning.
Across the entire task, there were 64 distinct possible triplets, but only 16 of these were high-probability sequences. In total, 62.5 percent of the trials ended in a high-probability sequence, while the remaining 37.5 percent ended in a low-probability sequence. This uneven distribution allowed the scientists to accurately track how the brain adapts to environmental predictability over time.
The entire experiment was divided into thirty smaller blocks, with each block containing 70 “Go” trials and 10 “No-Go” trials randomly distributed throughout the sequence. After each block, the participants answered a series of short questions about their mental state. They reported whether their attention was completely focused on the animal images or if their mind had wandered to unrelated thoughts. If they reported mind wandering, they answered additional questions about whether their thoughts were spontaneous, deliberate, positive, or negative.
The researchers found that as the task progressed, participants reported increasing amounts of mind wandering. During the periods when participants reported that their minds had wandered, their response inhibition significantly declined. They made more errors on the “No-Go” trials, demonstrating a temporary breakdown in top-down cognitive control.
At the same time, the participants demonstrated enhanced implicit statistical learning during those exact same periods of mind wandering. They became noticeably faster at responding to the high-probability patterns compared to the low-probability patterns when their minds were off-task. Most importantly, the researchers discovered that the relationship between mind wandering and pattern learning was dependent on the participants’ level of response inhibition.
“What surprised us most was not just that mind wandering was linked to better statistical learning,” Németh told PsyPost. “It was found that this benefit depended on inhibitory control. The learning advantage was strongest when response inhibition was weaker.”
The data showed that when response inhibition was at its weakest, the difference in reaction times between predictable and unpredictable patterns was the largest. “That finding is important because it suggests that these effects are not independent,” Németh explained. “Mind wandering, inhibitory control, and implicit learning seem to be dynamically related. When top-down control relaxes, the implicit learning system may have more room to operate.”
The findings provide evidence that the temporary suppression of executive control directly facilitates the automatic processing of environmental patterns. This relationship tends to validate the neurocompetition model, showing that relaxing conscious focus frees up resources for automatic pattern detection.
“The main message is that attention is not simply ‘good’ and mind wandering is not simply ‘bad,’” Németh said. “Of course, if you need to stop yourself from making an impulsive response, or if you need to complete a demanding task, staying focused matters. In our study, mind wandering was associated with poorer inhibitory control.”
However, the benefits to unconscious learning present a different side of the story. “At the same time, those same periods were linked to stronger implicit learning of hidden patterns,” Németh added. “This suggests that the brain may sometimes shift away from strict goal-directed control into a different mode. That mode may be less useful for immediate performance, but more useful for absorbing regularities in the background.”
Németh pointed out that this has an important implication for how we think about work and education. “Many modern tools and environments are designed to eliminate distraction completely: constant-engagement software, forced-focus settings, notification-free ‘deep work’ blocks, and similar approaches,” Németh noted. “These may improve short-term attentiveness, but they could also suppress the very cognitive state that helps people internalize deeper patterns, make connections, and learn in a less deliberate way.”
Balancing these mental states might be necessary for overall cognitive health. “So the takeaway is not that distraction is always good,” Németh said. “Rather, the mind may need a balance between focused control and more spontaneous, internally directed states. A brain that is always forced to stay ‘on task’ may be efficient in the short term, but not necessarily optimal for every kind of learning.”
This perspective reframes how we view everyday moments of distraction. “I think the broader implication is that cognitive ‘failures’ are not always failures in a simple sense,” Németh observed. “A lapse in executive control may be bad for one function, such as response inhibition, but it may open a window for another function, such as implicit learning.”
Instead of fighting every urge to daydream, people might recognize its hidden value. “So mind wandering is not an obstacle, but a functional component of human learning,” Németh said, referring to a related manuscript by his team. “This kind of trade-off may help explain why mind wandering is so common in everyday life despite its obvious costs. The mind may drift not only because it fails to stay focused, but also because drifting can sometimes support another kind of learning.”
There are a few potential misinterpretations and limitations to consider. “The most important caveat is that our results should not be read as saying that mind wandering is always useful,” Németh warned. “It clearly has costs. In our study, participants were worse at stopping a response when their mind had wandered.”
Additionally, the task used in the experiment measures learning in a continuous and dynamic way, which makes it difficult to completely separate the initial acquisition of knowledge from the physical expression of that knowledge. It remains uncertain whether the drop in self-control actually helps the brain learn the patterns faster in the moment, or if it simply removes the mental brakes, allowing the body to automatically act out patterns it had already learned.
Another limitation is the method of measurement. “Another important point is that this was a behavioral study,” Németh explained. “We interpret the results in terms of a competition between executive control and implicit learning, but we did not directly measure the neural mechanisms in this experiment.”
To address this, the scientists plan to use tools like functional near-infrared spectroscopy, magnetoencephalography, and electroencephalography to track brain waves. “Future studies using EEG, MEG, fNIRS, or brain stimulation will be needed to test the brain mechanisms more directly,” Németh said.
The researchers have several goals for the future. “We have three main long-term goals,” Németh noted. “First, we want to understand the brain mechanisms behind this phenomenon more directly. For this, we are using methods such as EEG and fNIRS to examine how changes in brain states, including prefrontal activity and sleep-like slow oscillations during wakefulness, relate to mind wandering and implicit learning.”
The team also hopes to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship. “Second, we want to move beyond correlation,” Németh said. “The present study shows that mind wandering, inhibitory control, and implicit learning are closely linked, but the next step is to test the causal mechanisms.”
To achieve this, the researchers are manipulating brain states directly. “We are now running experiments using non-invasive brain stimulation and partial sleep deprivation to see whether changing brain states can directly alter mind wandering and implicit learning,” Németh revealed. “These studies are already ongoing, and I hope we will have the first results by the end of this year.”
Finally, the researchers are looking at how this dynamic shifts across a person’s lifespan. “Third, we want to study this interaction from a developmental perspective,” Németh said. “The balance between executive control, mind wandering, sleep-like brain activity, and implicit learning may change across development. So we would like to compare younger children, older children, and adults to understand how this balance emerges and how it changes with age.”
The scientists also intend to investigate how this balance operates in people with specific neurodevelopmental or psychiatric traits, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. “We also want to know whether similar mechanisms are relevant in clinical conditions, including ADHD-like or OCD-like traits, where the balance between cognitive control and predictive learning may be different,” Németh concluded.
The study, “A functional trade-off between executive control and implicit statistical learning is dynamically gated by mind wandering,” was authored by Teodóra Vékony, Bianka Brezóczki, Gábor Csifcsák, Dezső Németh, and Péter Simor.
-------------------------------------------------
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-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #MindWandering #ImplicitLearning #ImplicitStatistics #ExecutiveControl #Neuroscience #BrainLearning #PatternRecognition #CognitiveScience #Attention #LearningModes
-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Mind wandering enhances the brain’s ability to learn hidden patterns, new study suggests
When our thoughts drift away from the task at hand, our brains might actually become better at unconsciously picking up hidden patterns in our environment. A new study to be published in the journal Neuroscience of Consciousness provides evidence that the momentary lapses in self-control that occur during mind wandering create a unique mental state that enhances our ability to learn automatic routines. These findings suggest that daydreaming is not simply a failure of attention but a functional shift that helps the brain absorb complex information.
Mind wandering happens when our attention shifts from external tasks to internal thoughts, like reflecting on past events or planning for the weekend. This mental state is typically associated with reduced cognitive performance, including slower reading comprehension and an inability to maintain sustained attention.
At the same time, recent research suggests that this zoning out can provide unexpected cognitive benefits, particularly for a process known as implicit statistical learning. Implicit statistical learning is the brain’s ability to unconsciously detect and internalize repeating patterns and probabilities in our surroundings, such as the predictable structure of spoken language or the sequence of a physical action.
“Mind wandering is usually described as a failure of attention,” said Dezső Németh, a director of research at INSERM at the Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon in France and the Gran Canaria Cognitive Research Center at Universidad del Atlántico Medio in Spain. “And in many situations, that is true. When our thoughts drift away from the task, we often make more mistakes, respond more impulsively, and lose track of what we are supposed to be doing.”
Németh explained that their previous work suggested a more complicated picture. “We found that mind wandering can sometimes be linked to better implicit statistical learning,” Németh said. “In other words, when people are not fully focused on the task, they may still be picking up hidden patterns in the environment, without being aware that they are learning.”
“That paradox fascinated us,” Németh continued. “We wanted to know whether these two effects are actually connected. Could the same temporary weakening of executive control that makes people worse at inhibiting responses also make the brain more open to learning probabilistic patterns in the background?”
A framework known as the neurocompetition model proposes that our brain’s effortful, goal-directed processes actually compete with our automatic, unconscious learning systems for shared mental resources. Executive control involves the top-down cognitive processes that allow us to focus, plan, and override impulses. “So are they independent phenomena or related?” Németh asked. “This study was designed to test that idea directly.”
To evaluate this complex interplay, the scientists recruited university students to complete an online experiment. After removing participants who did not follow instructions or met certain exclusion criteria, the final sample consisted of 240 healthy young adults with an average age of about 22. The participants completed a specialized exercise called the Cognitive Trade-off Task, which was designed to measure self-control, pattern recognition, and current state of mind simultaneously.
During the task, participants watched images of dog or cat heads appear in one of four horizontal positions on a computer screen. For the majority of the trials, known as “Go” trials, participants were instructed to quickly press a keyboard key corresponding to the location of the animal. However, for certain specific images, known as “No-Go” trials, participants had to suppress their urge to react and withhold their key press entirely. This specific measure evaluated response inhibition, which is the brain’s ability to quickly cancel or restrict an impulsive behavioral action.
Unbeknownst to the participants, the appearance of the images was not entirely random. The locations followed a hidden, probabilistic sequence where every second trial was part of a repeating pattern, while the alternate trials appeared in random locations. Because of this alternating structure, certain three-item sequences, known as triplets, happened much more frequently than others. By measuring how much faster participants responded to the highly probable triplets compared to the rare ones, the researchers could calculate a precise score for implicit statistical learning.
Across the entire task, there were 64 distinct possible triplets, but only 16 of these were high-probability sequences. In total, 62.5 percent of the trials ended in a high-probability sequence, while the remaining 37.5 percent ended in a low-probability sequence. This uneven distribution allowed the scientists to accurately track how the brain adapts to environmental predictability over time.
The entire experiment was divided into thirty smaller blocks, with each block containing 70 “Go” trials and 10 “No-Go” trials randomly distributed throughout the sequence. After each block, the participants answered a series of short questions about their mental state. They reported whether their attention was completely focused on the animal images or if their mind had wandered to unrelated thoughts. If they reported mind wandering, they answered additional questions about whether their thoughts were spontaneous, deliberate, positive, or negative.
The researchers found that as the task progressed, participants reported increasing amounts of mind wandering. During the periods when participants reported that their minds had wandered, their response inhibition significantly declined. They made more errors on the “No-Go” trials, demonstrating a temporary breakdown in top-down cognitive control.
At the same time, the participants demonstrated enhanced implicit statistical learning during those exact same periods of mind wandering. They became noticeably faster at responding to the high-probability patterns compared to the low-probability patterns when their minds were off-task. Most importantly, the researchers discovered that the relationship between mind wandering and pattern learning was dependent on the participants’ level of response inhibition.
“What surprised us most was not just that mind wandering was linked to better statistical learning,” Németh told PsyPost. “It was found that this benefit depended on inhibitory control. The learning advantage was strongest when response inhibition was weaker.”
The data showed that when response inhibition was at its weakest, the difference in reaction times between predictable and unpredictable patterns was the largest. “That finding is important because it suggests that these effects are not independent,” Németh explained. “Mind wandering, inhibitory control, and implicit learning seem to be dynamically related. When top-down control relaxes, the implicit learning system may have more room to operate.”
The findings provide evidence that the temporary suppression of executive control directly facilitates the automatic processing of environmental patterns. This relationship tends to validate the neurocompetition model, showing that relaxing conscious focus frees up resources for automatic pattern detection.
“The main message is that attention is not simply ‘good’ and mind wandering is not simply ‘bad,’” Németh said. “Of course, if you need to stop yourself from making an impulsive response, or if you need to complete a demanding task, staying focused matters. In our study, mind wandering was associated with poorer inhibitory control.”
However, the benefits to unconscious learning present a different side of the story. “At the same time, those same periods were linked to stronger implicit learning of hidden patterns,” Németh added. “This suggests that the brain may sometimes shift away from strict goal-directed control into a different mode. That mode may be less useful for immediate performance, but more useful for absorbing regularities in the background.”
Németh pointed out that this has an important implication for how we think about work and education. “Many modern tools and environments are designed to eliminate distraction completely: constant-engagement software, forced-focus settings, notification-free ‘deep work’ blocks, and similar approaches,” Németh noted. “These may improve short-term attentiveness, but they could also suppress the very cognitive state that helps people internalize deeper patterns, make connections, and learn in a less deliberate way.”
Balancing these mental states might be necessary for overall cognitive health. “So the takeaway is not that distraction is always good,” Németh said. “Rather, the mind may need a balance between focused control and more spontaneous, internally directed states. A brain that is always forced to stay ‘on task’ may be efficient in the short term, but not necessarily optimal for every kind of learning.”
This perspective reframes how we view everyday moments of distraction. “I think the broader implication is that cognitive ‘failures’ are not always failures in a simple sense,” Németh observed. “A lapse in executive control may be bad for one function, such as response inhibition, but it may open a window for another function, such as implicit learning.”
Instead of fighting every urge to daydream, people might recognize its hidden value. “So mind wandering is not an obstacle, but a functional component of human learning,” Németh said, referring to a related manuscript by his team. “This kind of trade-off may help explain why mind wandering is so common in everyday life despite its obvious costs. The mind may drift not only because it fails to stay focused, but also because drifting can sometimes support another kind of learning.”
There are a few potential misinterpretations and limitations to consider. “The most important caveat is that our results should not be read as saying that mind wandering is always useful,” Németh warned. “It clearly has costs. In our study, participants were worse at stopping a response when their mind had wandered.”
Additionally, the task used in the experiment measures learning in a continuous and dynamic way, which makes it difficult to completely separate the initial acquisition of knowledge from the physical expression of that knowledge. It remains uncertain whether the drop in self-control actually helps the brain learn the patterns faster in the moment, or if it simply removes the mental brakes, allowing the body to automatically act out patterns it had already learned.
Another limitation is the method of measurement. “Another important point is that this was a behavioral study,” Németh explained. “We interpret the results in terms of a competition between executive control and implicit learning, but we did not directly measure the neural mechanisms in this experiment.”
To address this, the scientists plan to use tools like functional near-infrared spectroscopy, magnetoencephalography, and electroencephalography to track brain waves. “Future studies using EEG, MEG, fNIRS, or brain stimulation will be needed to test the brain mechanisms more directly,” Németh said.
The researchers have several goals for the future. “We have three main long-term goals,” Németh noted. “First, we want to understand the brain mechanisms behind this phenomenon more directly. For this, we are using methods such as EEG and fNIRS to examine how changes in brain states, including prefrontal activity and sleep-like slow oscillations during wakefulness, relate to mind wandering and implicit learning.”
The team also hopes to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship. “Second, we want to move beyond correlation,” Németh said. “The present study shows that mind wandering, inhibitory control, and implicit learning are closely linked, but the next step is to test the causal mechanisms.”
To achieve this, the researchers are manipulating brain states directly. “We are now running experiments using non-invasive brain stimulation and partial sleep deprivation to see whether changing brain states can directly alter mind wandering and implicit learning,” Németh revealed. “These studies are already ongoing, and I hope we will have the first results by the end of this year.”
Finally, the researchers are looking at how this dynamic shifts across a person’s lifespan. “Third, we want to study this interaction from a developmental perspective,” Németh said. “The balance between executive control, mind wandering, sleep-like brain activity, and implicit learning may change across development. So we would like to compare younger children, older children, and adults to understand how this balance emerges and how it changes with age.”
The scientists also intend to investigate how this balance operates in people with specific neurodevelopmental or psychiatric traits, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. “We also want to know whether similar mechanisms are relevant in clinical conditions, including ADHD-like or OCD-like traits, where the balance between cognitive control and predictive learning may be different,” Németh concluded.
The study, “A functional trade-off between executive control and implicit statistical learning is dynamically gated by mind wandering,” was authored by Teodóra Vékony, Bianka Brezóczki, Gábor Csifcsák, Dezső Németh, and Péter Simor.
-------------------------------------------------
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-------------------------------------------------
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-
DATE: May 16, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Mind wandering enhances the brain’s ability to learn hidden patterns, new study suggests
When our thoughts drift away from the task at hand, our brains might actually become better at unconsciously picking up hidden patterns in our environment. A new study to be published in the journal Neuroscience of Consciousness provides evidence that the momentary lapses in self-control that occur during mind wandering create a unique mental state that enhances our ability to learn automatic routines. These findings suggest that daydreaming is not simply a failure of attention but a functional shift that helps the brain absorb complex information.
Mind wandering happens when our attention shifts from external tasks to internal thoughts, like reflecting on past events or planning for the weekend. This mental state is typically associated with reduced cognitive performance, including slower reading comprehension and an inability to maintain sustained attention.
At the same time, recent research suggests that this zoning out can provide unexpected cognitive benefits, particularly for a process known as implicit statistical learning. Implicit statistical learning is the brain’s ability to unconsciously detect and internalize repeating patterns and probabilities in our surroundings, such as the predictable structure of spoken language or the sequence of a physical action.
“Mind wandering is usually described as a failure of attention,” said Dezső Németh, a director of research at INSERM at the Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon in France and the Gran Canaria Cognitive Research Center at Universidad del Atlántico Medio in Spain. “And in many situations, that is true. When our thoughts drift away from the task, we often make more mistakes, respond more impulsively, and lose track of what we are supposed to be doing.”
Németh explained that their previous work suggested a more complicated picture. “We found that mind wandering can sometimes be linked to better implicit statistical learning,” Németh said. “In other words, when people are not fully focused on the task, they may still be picking up hidden patterns in the environment, without being aware that they are learning.”
“That paradox fascinated us,” Németh continued. “We wanted to know whether these two effects are actually connected. Could the same temporary weakening of executive control that makes people worse at inhibiting responses also make the brain more open to learning probabilistic patterns in the background?”
A framework known as the neurocompetition model proposes that our brain’s effortful, goal-directed processes actually compete with our automatic, unconscious learning systems for shared mental resources. Executive control involves the top-down cognitive processes that allow us to focus, plan, and override impulses. “So are they independent phenomena or related?” Németh asked. “This study was designed to test that idea directly.”
To evaluate this complex interplay, the scientists recruited university students to complete an online experiment. After removing participants who did not follow instructions or met certain exclusion criteria, the final sample consisted of 240 healthy young adults with an average age of about 22. The participants completed a specialized exercise called the Cognitive Trade-off Task, which was designed to measure self-control, pattern recognition, and current state of mind simultaneously.
During the task, participants watched images of dog or cat heads appear in one of four horizontal positions on a computer screen. For the majority of the trials, known as “Go” trials, participants were instructed to quickly press a keyboard key corresponding to the location of the animal. However, for certain specific images, known as “No-Go” trials, participants had to suppress their urge to react and withhold their key press entirely. This specific measure evaluated response inhibition, which is the brain’s ability to quickly cancel or restrict an impulsive behavioral action.
Unbeknownst to the participants, the appearance of the images was not entirely random. The locations followed a hidden, probabilistic sequence where every second trial was part of a repeating pattern, while the alternate trials appeared in random locations. Because of this alternating structure, certain three-item sequences, known as triplets, happened much more frequently than others. By measuring how much faster participants responded to the highly probable triplets compared to the rare ones, the researchers could calculate a precise score for implicit statistical learning.
Across the entire task, there were 64 distinct possible triplets, but only 16 of these were high-probability sequences. In total, 62.5 percent of the trials ended in a high-probability sequence, while the remaining 37.5 percent ended in a low-probability sequence. This uneven distribution allowed the scientists to accurately track how the brain adapts to environmental predictability over time.
The entire experiment was divided into thirty smaller blocks, with each block containing 70 “Go” trials and 10 “No-Go” trials randomly distributed throughout the sequence. After each block, the participants answered a series of short questions about their mental state. They reported whether their attention was completely focused on the animal images or if their mind had wandered to unrelated thoughts. If they reported mind wandering, they answered additional questions about whether their thoughts were spontaneous, deliberate, positive, or negative.
The researchers found that as the task progressed, participants reported increasing amounts of mind wandering. During the periods when participants reported that their minds had wandered, their response inhibition significantly declined. They made more errors on the “No-Go” trials, demonstrating a temporary breakdown in top-down cognitive control.
At the same time, the participants demonstrated enhanced implicit statistical learning during those exact same periods of mind wandering. They became noticeably faster at responding to the high-probability patterns compared to the low-probability patterns when their minds were off-task. Most importantly, the researchers discovered that the relationship between mind wandering and pattern learning was dependent on the participants’ level of response inhibition.
“What surprised us most was not just that mind wandering was linked to better statistical learning,” Németh told PsyPost. “It was found that this benefit depended on inhibitory control. The learning advantage was strongest when response inhibition was weaker.”
The data showed that when response inhibition was at its weakest, the difference in reaction times between predictable and unpredictable patterns was the largest. “That finding is important because it suggests that these effects are not independent,” Németh explained. “Mind wandering, inhibitory control, and implicit learning seem to be dynamically related. When top-down control relaxes, the implicit learning system may have more room to operate.”
The findings provide evidence that the temporary suppression of executive control directly facilitates the automatic processing of environmental patterns. This relationship tends to validate the neurocompetition model, showing that relaxing conscious focus frees up resources for automatic pattern detection.
“The main message is that attention is not simply ‘good’ and mind wandering is not simply ‘bad,’” Németh said. “Of course, if you need to stop yourself from making an impulsive response, or if you need to complete a demanding task, staying focused matters. In our study, mind wandering was associated with poorer inhibitory control.”
However, the benefits to unconscious learning present a different side of the story. “At the same time, those same periods were linked to stronger implicit learning of hidden patterns,” Németh added. “This suggests that the brain may sometimes shift away from strict goal-directed control into a different mode. That mode may be less useful for immediate performance, but more useful for absorbing regularities in the background.”
Németh pointed out that this has an important implication for how we think about work and education. “Many modern tools and environments are designed to eliminate distraction completely: constant-engagement software, forced-focus settings, notification-free ‘deep work’ blocks, and similar approaches,” Németh noted. “These may improve short-term attentiveness, but they could also suppress the very cognitive state that helps people internalize deeper patterns, make connections, and learn in a less deliberate way.”
Balancing these mental states might be necessary for overall cognitive health. “So the takeaway is not that distraction is always good,” Németh said. “Rather, the mind may need a balance between focused control and more spontaneous, internally directed states. A brain that is always forced to stay ‘on task’ may be efficient in the short term, but not necessarily optimal for every kind of learning.”
This perspective reframes how we view everyday moments of distraction. “I think the broader implication is that cognitive ‘failures’ are not always failures in a simple sense,” Németh observed. “A lapse in executive control may be bad for one function, such as response inhibition, but it may open a window for another function, such as implicit learning.”
Instead of fighting every urge to daydream, people might recognize its hidden value. “So mind wandering is not an obstacle, but a functional component of human learning,” Németh said, referring to a related manuscript by his team. “This kind of trade-off may help explain why mind wandering is so common in everyday life despite its obvious costs. The mind may drift not only because it fails to stay focused, but also because drifting can sometimes support another kind of learning.”
There are a few potential misinterpretations and limitations to consider. “The most important caveat is that our results should not be read as saying that mind wandering is always useful,” Németh warned. “It clearly has costs. In our study, participants were worse at stopping a response when their mind had wandered.”
Additionally, the task used in the experiment measures learning in a continuous and dynamic way, which makes it difficult to completely separate the initial acquisition of knowledge from the physical expression of that knowledge. It remains uncertain whether the drop in self-control actually helps the brain learn the patterns faster in the moment, or if it simply removes the mental brakes, allowing the body to automatically act out patterns it had already learned.
Another limitation is the method of measurement. “Another important point is that this was a behavioral study,” Németh explained. “We interpret the results in terms of a competition between executive control and implicit learning, but we did not directly measure the neural mechanisms in this experiment.”
To address this, the scientists plan to use tools like functional near-infrared spectroscopy, magnetoencephalography, and electroencephalography to track brain waves. “Future studies using EEG, MEG, fNIRS, or brain stimulation will be needed to test the brain mechanisms more directly,” Németh said.
The researchers have several goals for the future. “We have three main long-term goals,” Németh noted. “First, we want to understand the brain mechanisms behind this phenomenon more directly. For this, we are using methods such as EEG and fNIRS to examine how changes in brain states, including prefrontal activity and sleep-like slow oscillations during wakefulness, relate to mind wandering and implicit learning.”
The team also hopes to establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship. “Second, we want to move beyond correlation,” Németh said. “The present study shows that mind wandering, inhibitory control, and implicit learning are closely linked, but the next step is to test the causal mechanisms.”
To achieve this, the researchers are manipulating brain states directly. “We are now running experiments using non-invasive brain stimulation and partial sleep deprivation to see whether changing brain states can directly alter mind wandering and implicit learning,” Németh revealed. “These studies are already ongoing, and I hope we will have the first results by the end of this year.”
Finally, the researchers are looking at how this dynamic shifts across a person’s lifespan. “Third, we want to study this interaction from a developmental perspective,” Németh said. “The balance between executive control, mind wandering, sleep-like brain activity, and implicit learning may change across development. So we would like to compare younger children, older children, and adults to understand how this balance emerges and how it changes with age.”
The scientists also intend to investigate how this balance operates in people with specific neurodevelopmental or psychiatric traits, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. “We also want to know whether similar mechanisms are relevant in clinical conditions, including ADHD-like or OCD-like traits, where the balance between cognitive control and predictive learning may be different,” Németh concluded.
The study, “A functional trade-off between executive control and implicit statistical learning is dynamically gated by mind wandering,” was authored by Teodóra Vékony, Bianka Brezóczki, Gábor Csifcsák, Dezső Németh, and Péter Simor.
-------------------------------------------------
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NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #MindWandering #ImplicitLearning #ImplicitStatistics #ExecutiveControl #Neuroscience #BrainLearning #PatternRecognition #CognitiveScience #Attention #LearningModes
-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 10:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Artificial intelligence tools answer addiction questions accurately but lack medical nuance
Artificial intelligence chatbots regularly answer public queries about sensitive health topics such as addiction, providing mostly accurate but highly generalized information. A recent evaluation found that while chatbot responses align broadly with national guidelines, they often lack the situational details necessary for individualized health decisions. These descriptive findings were recently published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Substance use disorder is a chronic medical condition defined by the compulsive use of drugs or alcohol despite adverse physical, social, or emotional consequences. The official medical diagnostic framework views the condition on a spectrum of severity rather than applying a binary label of addiction. This diagnosis reflects changes in brain function that lead to cravings, physical tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms. In the United States alone, nearly fifty million people over the age of twelve met the diagnostic criteria for this condition in recent health surveys.
Despite the availability of medical treatments, care for addiction remains heavily underutilized. Medical providers face institutional limitations, time constraints, and a lack of specific training regarding the condition. At the same time, the social stigma surrounding addiction causes many individuals to avoid seeking formal medical advice out of fear of judgment or legal repercussions.
People often turn to digital platforms as an initial, private step to gather health information. Chatbots offer immediate, anonymous responses without the perceived judgment of a clinical environment. However, the quality of this digitally generated medical guidance is not always reliable, especially for deeply stigmatized behavioral health conditions.
To better understand how these systems perform, researchers designed a study to evaluate the medical accuracy of artificial intelligence responses regarding addiction. Lead author Morgan Decker, a medical student, and senior author Lea Sacca, a public health researcher, conducted the work alongside a team at Florida Atlantic University. They collaborated with addiction medicine physicians and data scientists to assess the digital guidance.
The research team focused on fourteen frequently asked questions about substance use disorders. To build this list, they first asked the chatbot to generate a list of common questions that adults have about diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. The team then cross-referenced these outputs with actual frequently asked questions from major health organizations.
The benchmark organizations included the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The researchers also incorporated guidelines from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. This ensured the artificial intelligence answers would be measured against established best practices in the medical field.
Researchers entered the fourteen finalized questions into the software to gather its responses. They specifically utilized the updated fifth version of the application. To standardize the outputs, they applied settings that limit the model’s randomness, ensuring the answers remained consistent and factual rather than conversational.
Pairs of evaluators independently reviewed each generated answer in a blinded fashion. The rating pairs intentionally mixed training levels, pairing students with board-certified addiction specialists. They scored the responses on a four-point scale based on accuracy, precision, and appropriateness for a general audience. Any disagreements between the rater pairs were resolved through discussions with an additional senior expert.
The highest score on the scale indicated an excellent response requiring no further explanation. The next two tiers represented satisfactory answers that needed either minimal or moderate clinical explanation. The lowest score was reserved for unsatisfactory answers that contained incorrect or dangerously misleading information based on contemporary medical practices.
The evaluators found that none of the answers provided by the software were unsatisfactory. Three of the fourteen responses received an excellent rating. Nine answers were deemed satisfactory but required minimal elaboration. Two answers were satisfactory but needed moderate clinical elaboration.
The artificial intelligence performed best on straightforward definitional prompts. When asked about the signs and symptoms of a substance use disorder, it gave a highly accurate list that matched expert guidelines. It correctly noted cravings, withdrawal, and the inability to control use as primary indicators.
Another highly rated response addressed whether a relapse represents a failure. The software accurately emphasized that an eventual return to use does not mean a medical treatment has failed. Instead, it framed relapse as a normal part of the recovery process that might require an adjustment in medical strategy, matching the empathetic tone recommended by public health officials.
Many answers provided a broad summary but missed nuanced clinical examples. When asked about the risks of untreated addiction, the software correctly listed overdose, liver damage, and social isolation. However, it failed to mention the increased risks of various cancers and infectious diseases, which are major complications recognized by public health authorities.
In evaluating treatment options, the software accurately mentioned behavioral therapies and support groups. Yet it failed to identify specific medical therapies approved by the federal government for alcohol use disorder. It also provided vague advice about how to help a loved one, advising against enabling behaviors without explaining what enabling actually looks like in practice.
The software also fell short of providing actionable resources when asked where to seek treatment. It accurately identified primary care doctors, mental health professionals, and anonymous support groups as avenues for help. Unfortunately, it completely omitted centralized, government-supported tools like national helplines or specific website directories that provide immediate, confidential assistance based on geographic location.
More complex medical scenarios revealed greater gaps in the knowledge base of the software. When asked about managing withdrawal, the application correctly noted that physical symptoms occur when a dependent person stops using a substance. Yet it did not warn users that withdrawing from certain substances like alcohol or benzodiazepines can be fatal and requires immediate medical supervision.
The software also required moderate elaboration regarding treatment duration. It accurately stated that recovery timelines vary widely based on individual needs and the severity of the condition. While true, health organizations typically recommend a minimum of three months in a treatment program to achieve better recovery outcomes, a benchmark the software failed to mention.
The researchers point out several limitations in their methodology. The study relied on a subjective evaluation process by a specific group of medical professionals. Other clinical experts might grade the nuanced responses differently. Additionally, the researchers only tested a small sample of fourteen questions, which limits how broadly the results can summarize the capabilities of the software.
Using an artificial intelligence program to generate the initial list of questions may have introduced circular bias into the experiment. The software likely performs better on prompts that match its own structured, rational logic. Real patients often write prompts that are highly emotional, ambiguous, or poorly worded, which could generate very different guidance.
The researchers did not test how actual patients interpret or apply the digital advice in real life. Health literacy varies widely among the public. A scientifically accurate but highly generalized paragraph could still lead to confusion for someone unfamiliar with medical terminology, especially if they try to manage an addiction without a doctor.
Ethical concerns also surround the use of private medical data by technology companies. Substance use disorders often carry legal risks, and poorly protected digital searches could compromise patient privacy. The phrasing used by chatbots could also accidentally reinforce social prejudices if the software relies on biased training data.
Future studies should explore a wider variety of real-world patient queries drawn from online forums or clinic data. Researchers also recommend evaluating competing digital platforms to see if different corporate models offer better medical accuracy. Until these systems improve, human medical professionals remain necessary to contextualize digital health information safely.
The study, “Descriptive content analysis assessment of ChatGPT responses to substance use disorder treatment questions compared to National health guidelines,” was authored by Morgan Decker, Christine Kamm, Sara Burgoa, Meera Rao, Maria Mejia, Christine Ramdin, Adrienne Dean, Melodie Nasr, Lewis S. Nelson, and Lea Sacca.
-------------------------------------------------
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Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ArtificialIntelligence #SubstanceUseDisorder #AddictionMedicine #HealthTechEthics #DigitalHealth #PublicHealthGuidelines #MedicalAccuracy #ChatbotsInHealthcare # addictionAWareness #TreatmentAndRecovery
-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 10:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Artificial intelligence tools answer addiction questions accurately but lack medical nuance
Artificial intelligence chatbots regularly answer public queries about sensitive health topics such as addiction, providing mostly accurate but highly generalized information. A recent evaluation found that while chatbot responses align broadly with national guidelines, they often lack the situational details necessary for individualized health decisions. These descriptive findings were recently published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Substance use disorder is a chronic medical condition defined by the compulsive use of drugs or alcohol despite adverse physical, social, or emotional consequences. The official medical diagnostic framework views the condition on a spectrum of severity rather than applying a binary label of addiction. This diagnosis reflects changes in brain function that lead to cravings, physical tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms. In the United States alone, nearly fifty million people over the age of twelve met the diagnostic criteria for this condition in recent health surveys.
Despite the availability of medical treatments, care for addiction remains heavily underutilized. Medical providers face institutional limitations, time constraints, and a lack of specific training regarding the condition. At the same time, the social stigma surrounding addiction causes many individuals to avoid seeking formal medical advice out of fear of judgment or legal repercussions.
People often turn to digital platforms as an initial, private step to gather health information. Chatbots offer immediate, anonymous responses without the perceived judgment of a clinical environment. However, the quality of this digitally generated medical guidance is not always reliable, especially for deeply stigmatized behavioral health conditions.
To better understand how these systems perform, researchers designed a study to evaluate the medical accuracy of artificial intelligence responses regarding addiction. Lead author Morgan Decker, a medical student, and senior author Lea Sacca, a public health researcher, conducted the work alongside a team at Florida Atlantic University. They collaborated with addiction medicine physicians and data scientists to assess the digital guidance.
The research team focused on fourteen frequently asked questions about substance use disorders. To build this list, they first asked the chatbot to generate a list of common questions that adults have about diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. The team then cross-referenced these outputs with actual frequently asked questions from major health organizations.
The benchmark organizations included the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The researchers also incorporated guidelines from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. This ensured the artificial intelligence answers would be measured against established best practices in the medical field.
Researchers entered the fourteen finalized questions into the software to gather its responses. They specifically utilized the updated fifth version of the application. To standardize the outputs, they applied settings that limit the model’s randomness, ensuring the answers remained consistent and factual rather than conversational.
Pairs of evaluators independently reviewed each generated answer in a blinded fashion. The rating pairs intentionally mixed training levels, pairing students with board-certified addiction specialists. They scored the responses on a four-point scale based on accuracy, precision, and appropriateness for a general audience. Any disagreements between the rater pairs were resolved through discussions with an additional senior expert.
The highest score on the scale indicated an excellent response requiring no further explanation. The next two tiers represented satisfactory answers that needed either minimal or moderate clinical explanation. The lowest score was reserved for unsatisfactory answers that contained incorrect or dangerously misleading information based on contemporary medical practices.
The evaluators found that none of the answers provided by the software were unsatisfactory. Three of the fourteen responses received an excellent rating. Nine answers were deemed satisfactory but required minimal elaboration. Two answers were satisfactory but needed moderate clinical elaboration.
The artificial intelligence performed best on straightforward definitional prompts. When asked about the signs and symptoms of a substance use disorder, it gave a highly accurate list that matched expert guidelines. It correctly noted cravings, withdrawal, and the inability to control use as primary indicators.
Another highly rated response addressed whether a relapse represents a failure. The software accurately emphasized that an eventual return to use does not mean a medical treatment has failed. Instead, it framed relapse as a normal part of the recovery process that might require an adjustment in medical strategy, matching the empathetic tone recommended by public health officials.
Many answers provided a broad summary but missed nuanced clinical examples. When asked about the risks of untreated addiction, the software correctly listed overdose, liver damage, and social isolation. However, it failed to mention the increased risks of various cancers and infectious diseases, which are major complications recognized by public health authorities.
In evaluating treatment options, the software accurately mentioned behavioral therapies and support groups. Yet it failed to identify specific medical therapies approved by the federal government for alcohol use disorder. It also provided vague advice about how to help a loved one, advising against enabling behaviors without explaining what enabling actually looks like in practice.
The software also fell short of providing actionable resources when asked where to seek treatment. It accurately identified primary care doctors, mental health professionals, and anonymous support groups as avenues for help. Unfortunately, it completely omitted centralized, government-supported tools like national helplines or specific website directories that provide immediate, confidential assistance based on geographic location.
More complex medical scenarios revealed greater gaps in the knowledge base of the software. When asked about managing withdrawal, the application correctly noted that physical symptoms occur when a dependent person stops using a substance. Yet it did not warn users that withdrawing from certain substances like alcohol or benzodiazepines can be fatal and requires immediate medical supervision.
The software also required moderate elaboration regarding treatment duration. It accurately stated that recovery timelines vary widely based on individual needs and the severity of the condition. While true, health organizations typically recommend a minimum of three months in a treatment program to achieve better recovery outcomes, a benchmark the software failed to mention.
The researchers point out several limitations in their methodology. The study relied on a subjective evaluation process by a specific group of medical professionals. Other clinical experts might grade the nuanced responses differently. Additionally, the researchers only tested a small sample of fourteen questions, which limits how broadly the results can summarize the capabilities of the software.
Using an artificial intelligence program to generate the initial list of questions may have introduced circular bias into the experiment. The software likely performs better on prompts that match its own structured, rational logic. Real patients often write prompts that are highly emotional, ambiguous, or poorly worded, which could generate very different guidance.
The researchers did not test how actual patients interpret or apply the digital advice in real life. Health literacy varies widely among the public. A scientifically accurate but highly generalized paragraph could still lead to confusion for someone unfamiliar with medical terminology, especially if they try to manage an addiction without a doctor.
Ethical concerns also surround the use of private medical data by technology companies. Substance use disorders often carry legal risks, and poorly protected digital searches could compromise patient privacy. The phrasing used by chatbots could also accidentally reinforce social prejudices if the software relies on biased training data.
Future studies should explore a wider variety of real-world patient queries drawn from online forums or clinic data. Researchers also recommend evaluating competing digital platforms to see if different corporate models offer better medical accuracy. Until these systems improve, human medical professionals remain necessary to contextualize digital health information safely.
The study, “Descriptive content analysis assessment of ChatGPT responses to substance use disorder treatment questions compared to National health guidelines,” was authored by Morgan Decker, Christine Kamm, Sara Burgoa, Meera Rao, Maria Mejia, Christine Ramdin, Adrienne Dean, Melodie Nasr, Lewis S. Nelson, and Lea Sacca.
-------------------------------------------------
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Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ArtificialIntelligence #SubstanceUseDisorder #AddictionMedicine #HealthTechEthics #DigitalHealth #PublicHealthGuidelines #MedicalAccuracy #ChatbotsInHealthcare # addictionAWareness #TreatmentAndRecovery
-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 10:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Artificial intelligence tools answer addiction questions accurately but lack medical nuance
Artificial intelligence chatbots regularly answer public queries about sensitive health topics such as addiction, providing mostly accurate but highly generalized information. A recent evaluation found that while chatbot responses align broadly with national guidelines, they often lack the situational details necessary for individualized health decisions. These descriptive findings were recently published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Substance use disorder is a chronic medical condition defined by the compulsive use of drugs or alcohol despite adverse physical, social, or emotional consequences. The official medical diagnostic framework views the condition on a spectrum of severity rather than applying a binary label of addiction. This diagnosis reflects changes in brain function that lead to cravings, physical tolerance, and withdrawal symptoms. In the United States alone, nearly fifty million people over the age of twelve met the diagnostic criteria for this condition in recent health surveys.
Despite the availability of medical treatments, care for addiction remains heavily underutilized. Medical providers face institutional limitations, time constraints, and a lack of specific training regarding the condition. At the same time, the social stigma surrounding addiction causes many individuals to avoid seeking formal medical advice out of fear of judgment or legal repercussions.
People often turn to digital platforms as an initial, private step to gather health information. Chatbots offer immediate, anonymous responses without the perceived judgment of a clinical environment. However, the quality of this digitally generated medical guidance is not always reliable, especially for deeply stigmatized behavioral health conditions.
To better understand how these systems perform, researchers designed a study to evaluate the medical accuracy of artificial intelligence responses regarding addiction. Lead author Morgan Decker, a medical student, and senior author Lea Sacca, a public health researcher, conducted the work alongside a team at Florida Atlantic University. They collaborated with addiction medicine physicians and data scientists to assess the digital guidance.
The research team focused on fourteen frequently asked questions about substance use disorders. To build this list, they first asked the chatbot to generate a list of common questions that adults have about diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. The team then cross-referenced these outputs with actual frequently asked questions from major health organizations.
The benchmark organizations included the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. The researchers also incorporated guidelines from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the American Society of Addiction Medicine. This ensured the artificial intelligence answers would be measured against established best practices in the medical field.
Researchers entered the fourteen finalized questions into the software to gather its responses. They specifically utilized the updated fifth version of the application. To standardize the outputs, they applied settings that limit the model’s randomness, ensuring the answers remained consistent and factual rather than conversational.
Pairs of evaluators independently reviewed each generated answer in a blinded fashion. The rating pairs intentionally mixed training levels, pairing students with board-certified addiction specialists. They scored the responses on a four-point scale based on accuracy, precision, and appropriateness for a general audience. Any disagreements between the rater pairs were resolved through discussions with an additional senior expert.
The highest score on the scale indicated an excellent response requiring no further explanation. The next two tiers represented satisfactory answers that needed either minimal or moderate clinical explanation. The lowest score was reserved for unsatisfactory answers that contained incorrect or dangerously misleading information based on contemporary medical practices.
The evaluators found that none of the answers provided by the software were unsatisfactory. Three of the fourteen responses received an excellent rating. Nine answers were deemed satisfactory but required minimal elaboration. Two answers were satisfactory but needed moderate clinical elaboration.
The artificial intelligence performed best on straightforward definitional prompts. When asked about the signs and symptoms of a substance use disorder, it gave a highly accurate list that matched expert guidelines. It correctly noted cravings, withdrawal, and the inability to control use as primary indicators.
Another highly rated response addressed whether a relapse represents a failure. The software accurately emphasized that an eventual return to use does not mean a medical treatment has failed. Instead, it framed relapse as a normal part of the recovery process that might require an adjustment in medical strategy, matching the empathetic tone recommended by public health officials.
Many answers provided a broad summary but missed nuanced clinical examples. When asked about the risks of untreated addiction, the software correctly listed overdose, liver damage, and social isolation. However, it failed to mention the increased risks of various cancers and infectious diseases, which are major complications recognized by public health authorities.
In evaluating treatment options, the software accurately mentioned behavioral therapies and support groups. Yet it failed to identify specific medical therapies approved by the federal government for alcohol use disorder. It also provided vague advice about how to help a loved one, advising against enabling behaviors without explaining what enabling actually looks like in practice.
The software also fell short of providing actionable resources when asked where to seek treatment. It accurately identified primary care doctors, mental health professionals, and anonymous support groups as avenues for help. Unfortunately, it completely omitted centralized, government-supported tools like national helplines or specific website directories that provide immediate, confidential assistance based on geographic location.
More complex medical scenarios revealed greater gaps in the knowledge base of the software. When asked about managing withdrawal, the application correctly noted that physical symptoms occur when a dependent person stops using a substance. Yet it did not warn users that withdrawing from certain substances like alcohol or benzodiazepines can be fatal and requires immediate medical supervision.
The software also required moderate elaboration regarding treatment duration. It accurately stated that recovery timelines vary widely based on individual needs and the severity of the condition. While true, health organizations typically recommend a minimum of three months in a treatment program to achieve better recovery outcomes, a benchmark the software failed to mention.
The researchers point out several limitations in their methodology. The study relied on a subjective evaluation process by a specific group of medical professionals. Other clinical experts might grade the nuanced responses differently. Additionally, the researchers only tested a small sample of fourteen questions, which limits how broadly the results can summarize the capabilities of the software.
Using an artificial intelligence program to generate the initial list of questions may have introduced circular bias into the experiment. The software likely performs better on prompts that match its own structured, rational logic. Real patients often write prompts that are highly emotional, ambiguous, or poorly worded, which could generate very different guidance.
The researchers did not test how actual patients interpret or apply the digital advice in real life. Health literacy varies widely among the public. A scientifically accurate but highly generalized paragraph could still lead to confusion for someone unfamiliar with medical terminology, especially if they try to manage an addiction without a doctor.
Ethical concerns also surround the use of private medical data by technology companies. Substance use disorders often carry legal risks, and poorly protected digital searches could compromise patient privacy. The phrasing used by chatbots could also accidentally reinforce social prejudices if the software relies on biased training data.
Future studies should explore a wider variety of real-world patient queries drawn from online forums or clinic data. Researchers also recommend evaluating competing digital platforms to see if different corporate models offer better medical accuracy. Until these systems improve, human medical professionals remain necessary to contextualize digital health information safely.
The study, “Descriptive content analysis assessment of ChatGPT responses to substance use disorder treatment questions compared to National health guidelines,” was authored by Morgan Decker, Christine Kamm, Sara Burgoa, Meera Rao, Maria Mejia, Christine Ramdin, Adrienne Dean, Melodie Nasr, Lewis S. Nelson, and Lea Sacca.
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #ArtificialIntelligence #SubstanceUseDisorder #AddictionMedicine #HealthTechEthics #DigitalHealth #PublicHealthGuidelines #MedicalAccuracy #ChatbotsInHealthcare # addictionAWareness #TreatmentAndRecovery
-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Digital voter suppression ads tied to lower election turnout among specific demographic groups
URL: https://www.psypost.org/digital-voter-suppression-ads-tied-to-lower-election-turnout/
Digital advertisements designed to discourage voting were heavily aimed at specific demographic groups during the 2016 United States presidential election. People who saw these undisclosed political advertisements were less likely to cast a ballot compared to those who did not. The research, published in PNAS, presents real-world data connecting personalized social media messaging to offline voting behavior.
Political campaigns have a history of trying to demobilize selected segments of the population. This practice is known as voter suppression. It involves targeted strategies intended to discourage or prevent opposing demographic groups from casting ballots.
Historically, voter suppression manifested through physical intimidation or strict localized regulations. In previous eras, tactics included regulatory devices such as poll taxes, stringent identification laws, and deliberately confusing information about polling locations. Today, these targeted efforts have increasingly shifted to the digital sphere. Modern platforms operate on customized feed algorithms that allow messages to reach specific individuals.
Advertisers use microtargeting to reach these specific audiences online. They rely on vast amounts of data regarding user interests, geographic locations, and demographic backgrounds. Social media companies package this data into consumer categories, which allows political groups to deliver customized messages to very narrow slices of the public.
Government reports later showed that Russian operatives purchased platform advertisements using historical search terms associated with the African American Civil Rights Movement to find targeted users in 2016. Many of these digital strategies operate in regulatory blind spots. The messages frequently come from undisclosed campaigns that do not file financial reports with traditional tax agencies or federal election regulators. Because these sponsors remain anonymous, misleading election content can spread unchecked across social networks.
Measuring exactly who saw specific advertisements and tracking whether those people voted is extremely difficult. Most prior studies relied on computer simulations or asked people to self report their voting histories, which can be inaccurate. Young Mie Kim, a media researcher at the University of Wisconsin Madison, recognized this gap in the research.
She worked with Ross Dahlke, Hyebin Song, and Richard Heinrich to design an observational study measuring direct exposure to anonymous negative election advertisements. The team wanted to know exactly who received these messages. They also sought to evaluate whether the visual exposure was tied to actual turnout at the ballot box.
To monitor advertising exposure, the researchers asked thousands of volunteers to install a custom digital tracking application. The tracking program functioned similarly to a conventional ad blocker. Instead of blocking the promotional content, the program cataloged each advertisement and its associated data on a secure research server. During the six weeks leading up to the 2016 election, the application recorded every political advertisement displayed on the participants’ social media feeds.
A major challenge in studying social media influence is accounting for user choices, often called self selection bias. When individuals browse unpaid posts on social networks, they actively select which accounts to follow and interact with. This mechanism makes it difficult to separate preexisting political beliefs from the influence of new information.
Digital advertisements operate differently because they are delivered solely based on algorithmic targeting rather than user subscriptions. A person encounters a promotional message simply because the sponsor paid to put it in their feed. By analyzing these forced exposures, the researchers could remove self selection from the equation, adding validity to their measurements of electoral influence.
The researchers also asked the participants to complete a survey about their political leanings and demographic backgrounds. Following the election, the team partnered with external data firms to link these profile surveys and advertisement logs with official localized voting records. This allowed the researchers to confirm whether a person actually voted without having to rely on the individual’s memory.
Kim and her colleagues reviewed the collected advertisements to identify specific forms of voter suppression messages. They looked for content encouraging election boycotts or promoting third party candidates primarily to split votes. For the central statistical analysis, the team isolated tens of thousands of messages sponsored by anonymous entities.
The researchers identified common themes utilized by the anonymous sponsors. Campaigns often spread deceptive information about voting mechanics, such as telling users they could vote from home using a text message or social media post. These tactics were built directly upon historic efforts to depress voter turnout, tailored to modern digital consumption habits.
The research team documented a highly specific pattern of distribution for these advertisements. Non-White voters residing in counties with high populations of racial minorities within battleground states received a disproportionate volume of negative voting messages. The data showed that these specific demographic and geographic groups were intensely targeted compared to white voters living in less competitive electoral regions.
To estimate the effect on voting behavior, the researchers used a statistical adjustment technique known as entropy balancing. This method creates groups of exposed and unexposed people with closely matching traits. By pairing individuals who shared the exact same age, income, education, and political ideology, the researchers could compare variations in their final voting habits. Since the exposure happened before the election, the timeline ensures the advertisements preceded the voting behavior.
Across the entire sample population, exposure to voter suppression advertisements was connected to lower voter turnout. On average, the voting rate of people exposed to the advertisements was about two percent lower than those who never saw the messages. Several battleground states in 2016 were decided by margins of less than one percent, meaning even subtle shifts in voter participation could alter final electoral outcomes.
The researchers noted an even larger drop in turnout among the specific groups tracked most heavily by the targeted algorithms. Non-White voters living in minority population centers within battleground states experienced the largest declines in voting rates after exposure. The targeted subpopulation saw a voting drop of roughly 14 percent compared to counterparts who did not encounter the negative election messages. This indicates that the advertisements had distinct and varied effects depending on the demographic profile of the matched audience.
To verify their work, the researchers tested the data against multiple control groups. They compared the targeted subjects with voters who interacted with generic political messaging and voters who saw no political advertisements at all. The patterns of suppressed turnout remained consistent across the different groups. The researchers also noted that people exposed to positive political advertising saw slight increases in total turnout, highlighting the unique depressive effect of the suppression messages.
The study relies entirely on observational data rather than an actively manipulated, randomized experiment. Although the researchers used matching techniques to account for confounding variables like income and political ideology, unknown factors could still theoretically influence the results. A person’s local community environment, for instance, might impact their decision to visit a polling location on election day. Consequently, the team advises caution when making direct causal assumptions about the digital advertisements and individual voting decisions.
The results are also specific to the political context of the 2016 presidential contest, as the digital advertising landscape and social media moderation policies shift continuously with each election cycle. Future observational research could focus on other election periods to build a more comprehensive understanding of how customized online messaging affects localized voting habits. The study, “Targeted digital voter suppression efforts likely decrease voter turnout,” was authored by Young Mie Kim, Ross Dahlke, Hyebin Song, and Richard Heinrich.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/digital-voter-suppression-ads-tied-to-lower-election-turnout/
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
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It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DigitalVoterSuppression #VoterTurnout #Microtargeting #PoliticalAds #ElectionIntegrity #BattlegroundStates #MinorityVoterImpact #OnlineDisinformation #PoliticalAdvertising #ElectionResearch
-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Digital voter suppression ads tied to lower election turnout among specific demographic groups
URL: https://www.psypost.org/digital-voter-suppression-ads-tied-to-lower-election-turnout/
Digital advertisements designed to discourage voting were heavily aimed at specific demographic groups during the 2016 United States presidential election. People who saw these undisclosed political advertisements were less likely to cast a ballot compared to those who did not. The research, published in PNAS, presents real-world data connecting personalized social media messaging to offline voting behavior.
Political campaigns have a history of trying to demobilize selected segments of the population. This practice is known as voter suppression. It involves targeted strategies intended to discourage or prevent opposing demographic groups from casting ballots.
Historically, voter suppression manifested through physical intimidation or strict localized regulations. In previous eras, tactics included regulatory devices such as poll taxes, stringent identification laws, and deliberately confusing information about polling locations. Today, these targeted efforts have increasingly shifted to the digital sphere. Modern platforms operate on customized feed algorithms that allow messages to reach specific individuals.
Advertisers use microtargeting to reach these specific audiences online. They rely on vast amounts of data regarding user interests, geographic locations, and demographic backgrounds. Social media companies package this data into consumer categories, which allows political groups to deliver customized messages to very narrow slices of the public.
Government reports later showed that Russian operatives purchased platform advertisements using historical search terms associated with the African American Civil Rights Movement to find targeted users in 2016. Many of these digital strategies operate in regulatory blind spots. The messages frequently come from undisclosed campaigns that do not file financial reports with traditional tax agencies or federal election regulators. Because these sponsors remain anonymous, misleading election content can spread unchecked across social networks.
Measuring exactly who saw specific advertisements and tracking whether those people voted is extremely difficult. Most prior studies relied on computer simulations or asked people to self report their voting histories, which can be inaccurate. Young Mie Kim, a media researcher at the University of Wisconsin Madison, recognized this gap in the research.
She worked with Ross Dahlke, Hyebin Song, and Richard Heinrich to design an observational study measuring direct exposure to anonymous negative election advertisements. The team wanted to know exactly who received these messages. They also sought to evaluate whether the visual exposure was tied to actual turnout at the ballot box.
To monitor advertising exposure, the researchers asked thousands of volunteers to install a custom digital tracking application. The tracking program functioned similarly to a conventional ad blocker. Instead of blocking the promotional content, the program cataloged each advertisement and its associated data on a secure research server. During the six weeks leading up to the 2016 election, the application recorded every political advertisement displayed on the participants’ social media feeds.
A major challenge in studying social media influence is accounting for user choices, often called self selection bias. When individuals browse unpaid posts on social networks, they actively select which accounts to follow and interact with. This mechanism makes it difficult to separate preexisting political beliefs from the influence of new information.
Digital advertisements operate differently because they are delivered solely based on algorithmic targeting rather than user subscriptions. A person encounters a promotional message simply because the sponsor paid to put it in their feed. By analyzing these forced exposures, the researchers could remove self selection from the equation, adding validity to their measurements of electoral influence.
The researchers also asked the participants to complete a survey about their political leanings and demographic backgrounds. Following the election, the team partnered with external data firms to link these profile surveys and advertisement logs with official localized voting records. This allowed the researchers to confirm whether a person actually voted without having to rely on the individual’s memory.
Kim and her colleagues reviewed the collected advertisements to identify specific forms of voter suppression messages. They looked for content encouraging election boycotts or promoting third party candidates primarily to split votes. For the central statistical analysis, the team isolated tens of thousands of messages sponsored by anonymous entities.
The researchers identified common themes utilized by the anonymous sponsors. Campaigns often spread deceptive information about voting mechanics, such as telling users they could vote from home using a text message or social media post. These tactics were built directly upon historic efforts to depress voter turnout, tailored to modern digital consumption habits.
The research team documented a highly specific pattern of distribution for these advertisements. Non-White voters residing in counties with high populations of racial minorities within battleground states received a disproportionate volume of negative voting messages. The data showed that these specific demographic and geographic groups were intensely targeted compared to white voters living in less competitive electoral regions.
To estimate the effect on voting behavior, the researchers used a statistical adjustment technique known as entropy balancing. This method creates groups of exposed and unexposed people with closely matching traits. By pairing individuals who shared the exact same age, income, education, and political ideology, the researchers could compare variations in their final voting habits. Since the exposure happened before the election, the timeline ensures the advertisements preceded the voting behavior.
Across the entire sample population, exposure to voter suppression advertisements was connected to lower voter turnout. On average, the voting rate of people exposed to the advertisements was about two percent lower than those who never saw the messages. Several battleground states in 2016 were decided by margins of less than one percent, meaning even subtle shifts in voter participation could alter final electoral outcomes.
The researchers noted an even larger drop in turnout among the specific groups tracked most heavily by the targeted algorithms. Non-White voters living in minority population centers within battleground states experienced the largest declines in voting rates after exposure. The targeted subpopulation saw a voting drop of roughly 14 percent compared to counterparts who did not encounter the negative election messages. This indicates that the advertisements had distinct and varied effects depending on the demographic profile of the matched audience.
To verify their work, the researchers tested the data against multiple control groups. They compared the targeted subjects with voters who interacted with generic political messaging and voters who saw no political advertisements at all. The patterns of suppressed turnout remained consistent across the different groups. The researchers also noted that people exposed to positive political advertising saw slight increases in total turnout, highlighting the unique depressive effect of the suppression messages.
The study relies entirely on observational data rather than an actively manipulated, randomized experiment. Although the researchers used matching techniques to account for confounding variables like income and political ideology, unknown factors could still theoretically influence the results. A person’s local community environment, for instance, might impact their decision to visit a polling location on election day. Consequently, the team advises caution when making direct causal assumptions about the digital advertisements and individual voting decisions.
The results are also specific to the political context of the 2016 presidential contest, as the digital advertising landscape and social media moderation policies shift continuously with each election cycle. Future observational research could focus on other election periods to build a more comprehensive understanding of how customized online messaging affects localized voting habits. The study, “Targeted digital voter suppression efforts likely decrease voter turnout,” was authored by Young Mie Kim, Ross Dahlke, Hyebin Song, and Richard Heinrich.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/digital-voter-suppression-ads-tied-to-lower-election-turnout/
-------------------------------------------------
DAILY EMAIL DIGEST: Email [email protected] -- no subject or message needed.
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot
Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: https://www.nationalpsychologist.com
EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: http://subscribe-article-digests.clinicians-exchange.org
READ ONLINE: http://read-the-rss-mega-archive.clinicians-exchange.org
It's primitive... but it works... mostly...
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DigitalVoterSuppression #VoterTurnout #Microtargeting #PoliticalAds #ElectionIntegrity #BattlegroundStates #MinorityVoterImpact #OnlineDisinformation #PoliticalAdvertising #ElectionResearch
-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 08:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Digital voter suppression ads tied to lower election turnout among specific demographic groups
URL: https://www.psypost.org/digital-voter-suppression-ads-tied-to-lower-election-turnout/
Digital advertisements designed to discourage voting were heavily aimed at specific demographic groups during the 2016 United States presidential election. People who saw these undisclosed political advertisements were less likely to cast a ballot compared to those who did not. The research, published in PNAS, presents real-world data connecting personalized social media messaging to offline voting behavior.
Political campaigns have a history of trying to demobilize selected segments of the population. This practice is known as voter suppression. It involves targeted strategies intended to discourage or prevent opposing demographic groups from casting ballots.
Historically, voter suppression manifested through physical intimidation or strict localized regulations. In previous eras, tactics included regulatory devices such as poll taxes, stringent identification laws, and deliberately confusing information about polling locations. Today, these targeted efforts have increasingly shifted to the digital sphere. Modern platforms operate on customized feed algorithms that allow messages to reach specific individuals.
Advertisers use microtargeting to reach these specific audiences online. They rely on vast amounts of data regarding user interests, geographic locations, and demographic backgrounds. Social media companies package this data into consumer categories, which allows political groups to deliver customized messages to very narrow slices of the public.
Government reports later showed that Russian operatives purchased platform advertisements using historical search terms associated with the African American Civil Rights Movement to find targeted users in 2016. Many of these digital strategies operate in regulatory blind spots. The messages frequently come from undisclosed campaigns that do not file financial reports with traditional tax agencies or federal election regulators. Because these sponsors remain anonymous, misleading election content can spread unchecked across social networks.
Measuring exactly who saw specific advertisements and tracking whether those people voted is extremely difficult. Most prior studies relied on computer simulations or asked people to self report their voting histories, which can be inaccurate. Young Mie Kim, a media researcher at the University of Wisconsin Madison, recognized this gap in the research.
She worked with Ross Dahlke, Hyebin Song, and Richard Heinrich to design an observational study measuring direct exposure to anonymous negative election advertisements. The team wanted to know exactly who received these messages. They also sought to evaluate whether the visual exposure was tied to actual turnout at the ballot box.
To monitor advertising exposure, the researchers asked thousands of volunteers to install a custom digital tracking application. The tracking program functioned similarly to a conventional ad blocker. Instead of blocking the promotional content, the program cataloged each advertisement and its associated data on a secure research server. During the six weeks leading up to the 2016 election, the application recorded every political advertisement displayed on the participants’ social media feeds.
A major challenge in studying social media influence is accounting for user choices, often called self selection bias. When individuals browse unpaid posts on social networks, they actively select which accounts to follow and interact with. This mechanism makes it difficult to separate preexisting political beliefs from the influence of new information.
Digital advertisements operate differently because they are delivered solely based on algorithmic targeting rather than user subscriptions. A person encounters a promotional message simply because the sponsor paid to put it in their feed. By analyzing these forced exposures, the researchers could remove self selection from the equation, adding validity to their measurements of electoral influence.
The researchers also asked the participants to complete a survey about their political leanings and demographic backgrounds. Following the election, the team partnered with external data firms to link these profile surveys and advertisement logs with official localized voting records. This allowed the researchers to confirm whether a person actually voted without having to rely on the individual’s memory.
Kim and her colleagues reviewed the collected advertisements to identify specific forms of voter suppression messages. They looked for content encouraging election boycotts or promoting third party candidates primarily to split votes. For the central statistical analysis, the team isolated tens of thousands of messages sponsored by anonymous entities.
The researchers identified common themes utilized by the anonymous sponsors. Campaigns often spread deceptive information about voting mechanics, such as telling users they could vote from home using a text message or social media post. These tactics were built directly upon historic efforts to depress voter turnout, tailored to modern digital consumption habits.
The research team documented a highly specific pattern of distribution for these advertisements. Non-White voters residing in counties with high populations of racial minorities within battleground states received a disproportionate volume of negative voting messages. The data showed that these specific demographic and geographic groups were intensely targeted compared to white voters living in less competitive electoral regions.
To estimate the effect on voting behavior, the researchers used a statistical adjustment technique known as entropy balancing. This method creates groups of exposed and unexposed people with closely matching traits. By pairing individuals who shared the exact same age, income, education, and political ideology, the researchers could compare variations in their final voting habits. Since the exposure happened before the election, the timeline ensures the advertisements preceded the voting behavior.
Across the entire sample population, exposure to voter suppression advertisements was connected to lower voter turnout. On average, the voting rate of people exposed to the advertisements was about two percent lower than those who never saw the messages. Several battleground states in 2016 were decided by margins of less than one percent, meaning even subtle shifts in voter participation could alter final electoral outcomes.
The researchers noted an even larger drop in turnout among the specific groups tracked most heavily by the targeted algorithms. Non-White voters living in minority population centers within battleground states experienced the largest declines in voting rates after exposure. The targeted subpopulation saw a voting drop of roughly 14 percent compared to counterparts who did not encounter the negative election messages. This indicates that the advertisements had distinct and varied effects depending on the demographic profile of the matched audience.
To verify their work, the researchers tested the data against multiple control groups. They compared the targeted subjects with voters who interacted with generic political messaging and voters who saw no political advertisements at all. The patterns of suppressed turnout remained consistent across the different groups. The researchers also noted that people exposed to positive political advertising saw slight increases in total turnout, highlighting the unique depressive effect of the suppression messages.
The study relies entirely on observational data rather than an actively manipulated, randomized experiment. Although the researchers used matching techniques to account for confounding variables like income and political ideology, unknown factors could still theoretically influence the results. A person’s local community environment, for instance, might impact their decision to visit a polling location on election day. Consequently, the team advises caution when making direct causal assumptions about the digital advertisements and individual voting decisions.
The results are also specific to the political context of the 2016 presidential contest, as the digital advertising landscape and social media moderation policies shift continuously with each election cycle. Future observational research could focus on other election periods to build a more comprehensive understanding of how customized online messaging affects localized voting habits. The study, “Targeted digital voter suppression efforts likely decrease voter turnout,” was authored by Young Mie Kim, Ross Dahlke, Hyebin Song, and Richard Heinrich.
URL: https://www.psypost.org/digital-voter-suppression-ads-tied-to-lower-election-turnout/
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DigitalVoterSuppression #VoterTurnout #Microtargeting #PoliticalAds #ElectionIntegrity #BattlegroundStates #MinorityVoterImpact #OnlineDisinformation #PoliticalAdvertising #ElectionResearch
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DATE: May 15, 2026 at 07:13AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Texas Hospital to Create "Detransition Clinic" After Legal Settlement
Source: United Press International - Health News
Texas Children's Hospital plans to create the first "detransition clinic" in the U.S. as part of a settlement with the state for providing transgender care, officials announced Friday. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the settlement will also require the hospital to pay a $10 million fine and revoke medical privileges of doctors. The clinic will offer free services for its first five years to help children to return to their gender...
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-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 07:13AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Texas Hospital to Create "Detransition Clinic" After Legal Settlement
Source: United Press International - Health News
Texas Children's Hospital plans to create the first "detransition clinic" in the U.S. as part of a settlement with the state for providing transgender care, officials announced Friday. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the settlement will also require the hospital to pay a $10 million fine and revoke medical privileges of doctors. The clinic will offer free services for its first five years to help children to return to their gender...
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #DetransitionClinic #TransgenderCare #TexasNews #HealthcareSettlement #ChildrensHospital #LGBTQHealth #MedicalPolicy #KeepFamiliesInformed #HealthNews #MedicalEthics
-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 07:13AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Texas Hospital to Create "Detransition Clinic" After Legal Settlement
Source: United Press International - Health News
Texas Children's Hospital plans to create the first "detransition clinic" in the U.S. as part of a settlement with the state for providing transgender care, officials announced Friday. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the settlement will also require the hospital to pay a $10 million fine and revoke medical privileges of doctors. The clinic will offer free services for its first five years to help children to return to their gender...
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-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 07:12AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: U.S. Education Secretary Defends Dismantling Her Own Department
Source: NPR
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon sparred with Democrats on the House education committee Thursday during a hearing to defend the Trump administration's new budget proposal. The lawmakers and education secretary tussled over several key issues that will affect the lives of millions of Americans, including whether new Republican caps on federal student loans will lower the cost of college, and whether the U.S. Department of Education should...
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-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 07:12AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: U.S. Education Secretary Defends Dismantling Her Own Department
Source: NPR
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon sparred with Democrats on the House education committee Thursday during a hearing to defend the Trump administration's new budget proposal. The lawmakers and education secretary tussled over several key issues that will affect the lives of millions of Americans, including whether new Republican caps on federal student loans will lower the cost of college, and whether the U.S. Department of Education should...
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #EducationPolicy #USDEducation #StudentLoans #CollegeCost #EducationBudget #CongressHearing #McMahon #TrumpAdministration #EducationSecretary #DismantlingDEpartment
-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 07:12AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: U.S. Education Secretary Defends Dismantling Her Own Department
Source: NPR
U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon sparred with Democrats on the House education committee Thursday during a hearing to defend the Trump administration's new budget proposal. The lawmakers and education secretary tussled over several key issues that will affect the lives of millions of Americans, including whether new Republican caps on federal student loans will lower the cost of college, and whether the U.S. Department of Education should...
-------------------------------------------------
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #EducationPolicy #USDEducation #StudentLoans #CollegeCost #EducationBudget #CongressHearing #McMahon #TrumpAdministration #EducationSecretary #DismantlingDEpartment
-
DATE: May 15, 2026 at 07:12AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Pope Denounces the Rise of AI-Directed Warfare
Source: NPR
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday denounced how investments in artificial intelligence and high-tech weaponry were leading the world into a "spiral of annihilation," as he called for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine during a visit to Europe's largest university. He called for better monitoring of how AI was being used in military contexts "so that it does not absolve humans of responsibility for their choices and does not exacerbate the tragedy of...
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DATE: May 15, 2026 at 07:12AM
SOURCE: SOCIALPSYCHOLOGY.ORGTITLE: Pope Denounces the Rise of AI-Directed Warfare
Source: NPR
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday denounced how investments in artificial intelligence and high-tech weaponry were leading the world into a "spiral of annihilation," as he called for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine during a visit to Europe's largest university. He called for better monitoring of how AI was being used in military contexts "so that it does not absolve humans of responsibility for their choices and does not exacerbate the tragedy of...
-------------------------------------------------
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PopeAIWarfare #AIAssistanceInWar #PeaceAndTechnology #AIBewares #SpiralOfAnnihilation #MiddleEastPeace #UkraineConflict #EthicalAI #HumanResponsibility #NoToAIWarfare