Psychology News and Research

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Psychology is the study of human mental functions, behavior and processes.

New study expands treatment options for parents of autistic children

Training parents of children with autism spectrum disorder virtually about early behavioral intervention is an accessible and effective approach during the coronavirus pandemic or in other instances when in-person instruction is not possible, according to a Rutgers researcher.

6 Oct 2020

No connection found between internet gaming disorder and psychiatric problems

Many of our children play a lot of computer games. Some youth play so much and develop such big problems that a new diagnosis called Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD) has been proposed.

1 Oct 2020

Scientists receive two-year grant to develop tool for treating mood disorders

A team of Georgia State scientists has received a two-year, $875,110 grant from the National Institute of Mental Health to further develop a tool to help psychiatrists treat mood disorders.

1 Oct 2020

Researchers explore the effect of screen time on vision

The coronavirus pandemic has shifted many of our interactions online, with Zoom video calls replacing in-person classes, work meetings, conferences and other events. Will all that screen time damage our vision?

1 Oct 2020

Simple interactions between nerve cells can shape complex brain circuits

Complex brain circuits in rodents can organize themselves with genetics playing only a secondary role, according to a new computer modelling study published today in eLife.

30 Sep 2020

Fear of COVID-19 can increase risk of substance abuse

Long after a COVID-19 vaccination is developed and years after the coronavirus death toll is tallied, the impact on mental health will linger, continuing to inflict damage if not addressed, according to new research.

29 Sep 2020

Researchers study placebo effect in nausea treatment at the molecular level

The molecular bases of the placebo effect are poorly understood. A team led by Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet in Munich researcher Karin Meissner has now studied the phenomenon in the context of nausea, and identified specific proteins that correlate with its favorable impact.

28 Sep 2020

Study may explain why hormone therapy slows progression of heart disease

As one of the most common treatments for effectively managing menopause symptoms, hormone therapy (HT) is also known to provide multiple health benefits, including slowing the progression of atherosclerosis.

28 Sep 2020

People who had friendly interactions with Chinese people are less likely to support discriminatory policies

People with a history of positive social interactions with Chinese people were less likely to support discriminatory anti-Chinese policies as Covid-19 reached the UK - according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

28 Sep 2020

Researchers gain deep insights into the structure of birds’ brains

Some birds can perform amazing cognitive feats – even though their forebrains seem to just consist of lumps of grey cells, while mammalian forebrains harbour a highly complex neocortex.

26 Sep 2020

Students without pre-existing mental health issues more severely affected by COVID-19 stressors

Surprisingly, university students without pre-existing mental health concerns seem to be suffering greater psychological distress during the pandemic than their peers with pre-existing mental health problems according to a study of close to 800 university students in Toronto carried out by researchers from McGill and University of Toronto.

25 Sep 2020

Study elucidates the developmental trajectory of self-esteem in Japan

Self-esteem does not remain constant through life, but changes as a person develops. A large number of studies conducted on this topic, mainly in the United States, have shown that self-esteem is high in childhood, declines in adolescence, but then continues to increase throughout adulthood, peaking in the 50s and 60s, and declining thereafter.

25 Sep 2020

Racism is a “secondary contagion" that threatens Asian Americans

Many people are feeling anxious during these uncertain times as they navigate the risks associated with COVID-19 and experience the tension from physical distancing or isolation for what can seem like an eternity.

25 Sep 2020

NIA grant supports research on lifespan behavioral development and cognitive aging

The National Institute on Aging, or NIA, has awarded psychologists Chandra A. Reynolds of the University of California, Riverside, and Sally J. Wadsworth of the University of Colorado-Boulder a grant of more than $11 million to continue studying lifespan behavioral development and cognitive aging as individuals transition to mid-adulthood.

24 Sep 2020

Home-based pediatric teleneuropsychology evaluations shown to be effective

Administering neuropsychology evaluations to children online in the comfort of their own homes is feasible and delivers results comparable to tests traditionally performed in a clinic, a new study led by UT Southwestern researchers and Children's Health indicates.

24 Sep 2020