Psychology News and Research

RSS

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

High maternal cortisol levels linked to unexpected birth problems

A snippet of hair can reveal a pregnant person's stress level and may one day help warn of unexpected birth problems, a study indicates.

1 Feb 2024

Body positive images on social media boost body satisfaction for men and women

Exposure to body positive imagery on social media increase body satisfaction and reduces weight concerns in both men and women, a new study from the University of Surrey reports.

31 Jan 2024

Ketamine therapy for mental health a ‘wild West’ for doctors and patients

In late 2022, Sarah Gutilla's treatment-resistant depression had grown so severe, she was actively contemplating suicide.

31 Jan 2024

Nature walk enhances certain executive control processes in the brain

New research from University of Utah psychology researchers is helping prove what American authors John Muir and Henry David Thoreau tried to teach more than 150 years ago: Time spent in nature is good for the heart and soul.

30 Jan 2024

Female sex hormone estradiol makes women more susceptible to cocaine addiction

Previous studies focused on cocaine use have found that women are more likely than men to develop an addiction, try cocaine at a younger age, use larger amounts of the drug, and suffer from overdose.

30 Jan 2024

New study reveals widespread concealment of infectious illnesses

A startling number of people conceal an infectious illness to avoid missing work, travel, or social events, new research at the University of Michigan suggests.

29 Jan 2024

Teen substance use tied to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts

High school students who reported using cannabis, alcohol, or nicotine were more likely to have thoughts about suicide, feel depressed or anxious, have unusual experiences, and exhibit inattention or hyperactivity, according to recent survey-based study conducted by researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) and the University of Minnesota.

29 Jan 2024

Embracing mindfulness to combat life’s stressors and optimize cognitive performance

Professor Andra Smith, from the School of Psychology at the Faculty of Social Sciences, has combined her research and her personal experience with mindfulness to teach the course Neuroscience of Mindfulness: Neurons to Wellness.

27 Jan 2024

Handwriting boosts brain connectivity and learning

As digital devices progressively replace pen and paper, taking notes by hand is becoming increasingly uncommon in schools and universities.

26 Jan 2024

Researchers discover "protective switches" that shield the coronavirus from immune system attacks

Over 700 million people were infected and almost seven million died, making SARS-CoV-2 the most devastating pandemic of the 21st century.

25 Jan 2024

Mood boosters reduce inflammation in IBD by 18%, study finds

New King's College London research reveals that interventions which improve mood can reduce levels of inflammation in people with inflammatory bowel disease by 18 per cent, compared to having no mood intervention.

24 Jan 2024

Kiwifruit improves vitality and mood in as little as four days

Kiwifruit has proven itself as a powerful mood booster and new research from the University of Otago has shown just how fast its effects can be.

24 Jan 2024

Belief in caffeine improves running performance

The placebo effect of caffeine ingestion on running performance.

24 Jan 2024

Specialist support helps new moms with severe mental illness reduce relapse risk

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King's College London, and in partnership with the University of Exeter and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, has found that women with a history of severe mental illness face a lower risk of relapse after giving birth in regions where they have access to a community perinatal mental health team (CPMHT).

23 Jan 2024

Study shows how social media fuels unhappiness and materialism

You won’t find another place that makes it as easy to compare yourself with others as social media. That’s not good for you.

22 Jan 2024

MIT study reveals consistent oscillation patterns across brain cortex layers

Throughout the brain's cortex, neurons are arranged in six distinctive layers, which can be readily seen with a microscope.

18 Jan 2024

ARCHA at Aston University secures £400,000 to recruit four PhD students for dementia research

The Aston Research Centre for Health in Ageing (ARCHA) at Aston University has received £400,000 in funding to recruit four PhD students for a dementia research programme.

18 Jan 2024

Study reveals the emotional and social fallout of antidepressant discontinuation

Coming off antidepressants is known to trigger physical symptoms, such as restlessness, fatigue and excessive sweating, but new research suggests people can also experience emotional and social difficulties, and changes in their thinking patterns when they stop taking antidepressants like Prozac.

16 Jan 2024

Study links stress to metabolic syndrome, highlights inflammation's role

New research links stress to metabolic syndrome through inflammation, suggesting stress management as a potential strategy for improving biological health outcomes.

13 Jan 2024

Study finds psychotherapy as effective treatment for PTSD patients after multiple traumatic events

Psychotherapy is an effective treatment for adults with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) following exposure to multiple traumatic events, according to new research from the University of East Anglia.

11 Jan 2024