Summary: Researchers have built a new conversational AI agent that learns from human input. Named Evorus, the system is trained alongside people, and the team reports it becomes progressively less reliant on humans as it learns. Source: Carnegie Mellon University. Modern conversational agents such as Siri, Alexa and Cortana handle routine requests well but can … Read more

New research shows that playing Tetris for as little as three minutes can reduce cravings for drugs, food and activities—such as sex or sleep—by about one fifth. In the first study of its kind conducted in everyday environments rather than a laboratory, researchers monitored participants’ cravings throughout the day and randomly prompted them to play … Read more

Summary: Up to 90% of people with Parkinson’s disease experience a reduced sense of smell, often years before motor symptoms appear. New research from Yale identifies biological changes in the olfactory system that explain this early loss of smell: mice engineered to model Parkinson’s show severe pathology in the projection neurons of the olfactory pathway … Read more

We all know someone who seems unusually tuned into emotions — they read others well, understand their own feelings, and handle tense situations calmly and effectively. What explains this capacity? What do they possess that others might lack, and can it be measured? One common explanation is high emotional intelligence (Mayer & Salovey, 1993). Emotional … Read more

Summary: A new meta-analysis has identified a distinct brain network that connects the diverse patterns of brain atrophy observed in schizophrenia. Analyzing neuroimaging findings from more than 90 published studies and over 8,000 participants, researchers generated an atrophy-connectivity map that converges on regions long implicated in schizophrenia—most notably the insula, hippocampus and fusiform cortex. This … Read more

Summary: New research finds that people who prefer evenings—so-called night owls—face higher risks of cardiometabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. One likely reason is that evening types tend to eat more irregularly and choose less healthy foods, often eating later into the night. Source: Northumbria University. Evening Chronotype Linked to Poorer … Read more

An assertive person expresses themselves clearly and calmly, with confidence. They recognize they can keep learning and therefore do not fear a challenge or a difference of opinion. They regard their own needs as legitimate and, while appearing self-assured, are not aggressive. In conversation an assertive person respects both themselves and the people with whom … Read more

Summary: During REM sleep the brain’s locus coeruleus reduces or stops releasing noradrenaline, which helps decouple the emotional charge from memories. When this REM-related process is interrupted—common in restless or fragmented sleep—memories can remain emotionally powerful, contributing to rumination and symptoms similar to PTSD. For people who sleep well, emotional intensity linked to embarrassing or … Read more

Summary: Many dog owners and enthusiasts believe dogs can tell who is trustworthy, but new evidence suggests the picture is more complicated. Researchers tested 40 pet dogs to see whether they form reputations of people by watching how those people treated another dog. The study found no clear preference for a generous person over a … Read more

Summary: New research adds to evidence that chronic, low-grade inflammation during pregnancy is linked to a higher risk of neurodevelopmental delays in children. Source: Elsevier Obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, depression and anxiety during pregnancy are associated with greater odds of learning difficulties, behavioral problems and early mental health concerns in children. A study published … Read more