The beliefs a person holds about their ability to handle situations, complete tasks, and reach goals play a major role in determining whether they succeed. Low self-efficacy can block potential, but self-efficacy is also a capability that can be strengthened with practice and the right supports. This article reviews reliable measures, practical exercises, and evidence-based … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified a relationship between depressive disorders and altered mechanical properties of blood cells. Source: TUD Depression commonly presents with loss of interest, persistent low mood, reduced motivation and heightened fatigue. In Germany, roughly 5% of the population are affected, making it a major public health concern. Alongside psychological symptoms, depressive disorders frequently … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that changes in specific neuronal genes correlate with time spent in social isolation. Source: Max Planck Institute Have you wondered how social distancing or brief periods of isolation might influence the brain? An international team led by Erin Schuman at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research identified a brain molecule that … Read more

Have you ever felt so angry that you couldn’t see straight? Many of us have experienced moments when strong emotions cloud our judgment and prevent us from responding thoughtfully. You might: Say or do hurtful things in the heat of the moment. Feel paralyzed by an intense emotion and unable to move forward. Make poor … Read more

A large new genome-wide meta-analysis has identified six previously unreported genetic variants linked to habitual coffee consumption, offering fresh insight into why people experience different effects from the same amount of coffee or caffeine. Led by researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, the study provides a … Read more

Positive cognitive behavioral therapy (positive CBT) is a strengths-based approach that draws from positive psychology. Instead of focusing primarily on what is wrong, positive CBT highlights what is going well: the skills, character strengths, and resources a child or adolescent already has. A practitioner of positive CBT helps young clients build strengths and learn practical … Read more

Summary: Researchers have identified neural progenitor cells in the meninges. Source: VIB Flanders Possible implications for brain regeneration In a multidisciplinary study led by Professor Peter Carmeliet (VIB – KU Leuven), researchers report the discovery of neural progenitor cells located in the meninges, the protective membranes that surround the brain. These progenitors are radial glia–like … Read more

Few people would say they don’t want to be happier. The experience of happiness feels good emotionally and mentally, and it’s only natural to want more of it. Over the last decade, a large body of books, courses, and research has focused on how to cultivate happiness—from practical exercises to scientific investigations. Beyond simply feeling … Read more

Summary: The S198P mutation accelerates folding of the amyloid precursor protein (APP), enabling mature APP to produce amyloid-beta (Aβ) peptides more rapidly than the non-mutant form. This discovery reveals a previously unrecognized mechanism by which a rare genetic change can contribute to Alzheimer’s disease. Source: University of Chicago Medical Center Researchers at the University of … Read more

Summary: Children’s intuitive number sense supports approximate calculations, including true division. These findings point to ways educators might build on that intuition when teaching formal math. Source: Frontiers Many people assume multiplication and division are skills acquired only through schooling. Yet decades of research indicate that children possess an intuitive capacity for arithmetic well before … Read more