Summary: Deaths by suicide rose significantly during the week of a full moon, particularly among people aged 55 and older. The study also identified a daily peak in suicides between 3 and 4 p.m. and a monthly peak in September. Source: Indiana University Psychiatrists at Indiana University School of Medicine report a measurable increase in … Read more

Summary: A recent study examines how people respond when individuals who publicly opposed COVID-19 vaccines become ill or die from the disease. The research reveals nuanced public reactions: while outright celebrations of such deaths are rare, many observers—particularly those who are vaccinated or identify as Democrats—express moral judgments that the unvaccinated person “deserved” worse outcomes. … Read more

EEG electrodes capture electrical oscillations as a remembered object is encoded and held in memory. Researchers at the University of Oregon have recorded the brain’s memory signals in near real time, revealing how rhythmic electrical activity corresponds to the precise content and quality of what we hold in short-term memory. Using electroencephalography (EEG), the research … Read more

Summary: New research indicates that using a cell phone during short breaks from mentally demanding tasks is more cognitively taxing than previously understood. Phone-based breaks do not restore focus or mental energy as effectively as breaks involving paper or larger computer screens, especially when people are already stressed or need true mental rest. Source: Rutgers … Read more

Summary: Glycerol monolaurate (GML), a natural compound present in human breast milk, helps suppress harmful bacteria while supporting beneficial microbes and reducing inflammation in epithelial cells. Researchers suggest GML could be a low-cost additive for cow’s milk and infant formula to better protect infants from bacterial and viral gut infections. Source: National Jewish Health Researchers … Read more

Summary: New research shows that ayahuasca’s long-term effects on mental health depend strongly on a person’s prior mental health history and the setting in which the brew is taken. While many users report reductions in anxiety and depression symptoms, adverse mental states—such as feelings of disconnection, hopelessness, or being energetically attacked—appear more often among people … Read more

Summary: During the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, many adults reported increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, fear, psychological trauma, and suicidal thoughts. Source: University of Arkansas New research from University of Arkansas sociologists finds that the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak were associated with a measurable rise in depression, anxiety, suicidal risk, and … Read more

Summary: A comprehensive review of 235 studies finds that persisting with unattainable goals harms mental and physical wellbeing—raising stress and lowering life satisfaction—while letting go of such goals and actively pursuing new, achievable objectives improves mood, resilience, and overall psychological health. The review highlights a wide range of influences, from personality and coping style to … Read more

Summary: A new study examines rising rates of prescription opioid use disorder and heroin use among adolescents and young adults. Source: Columbia University Medical Center. Odds of prescription opioid use disorder rose 37 percent among nonmedical users aged 18 to 25. Researchers at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health report an increase in the … Read more

New York University biologists have identified a mechanism that helps explain how the diversity of neurons that make up the visual system is generated. Researchers at New York University have uncovered a regulatory process that coordinates the timing of neuron production and the survival of those neurons to create the rich diversity of cell types … Read more