Summary: A new study from the University of Tokyo shows that actively exploring how movements map to outcomes—motor exploration—is essential for developing a genuine sense of agency (SoA) when learning a new motor skill. Using a data glove to control a cursor, researchers found that early judgments of control depend mainly on timing between movement … Read more

Summary: Researchers report that using and appreciating humor supports overall wellbeing and psychological health. Source: The Conversation Humor appears in all cultures and at every age. For much of the history of psychology it received little respect, often being cast in a negative light as a sign of vulgarity, superiority, or as a defensive mask. … Read more

Researchers at the Georgia Institute of Technology are expanding the frontiers of artificial intelligence (AI) by collaborating with IBM’s Watson to explore how computers can augment human creativity and problem solving across engineering, architecture, systems design, and computing. “Searching Google still requires a lot of search,” says Ashok Goel, professor in Georgia Tech’s School of … Read more

Why This Matters: Why this matters: Reveals neural mechanisms that explain how people balance exploration and exploitation when facing potential rewards or losses. How this aligns with previous research: Extends prior work linking the amygdala to exploration and mood regulation, showing these processes also apply in loss-avoidance settings. Future implications: Could guide development of treatments … Read more

Summary: Post-mortem analysis of brain tissue from people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) shows an abnormal, hyperphosphorylated form of tau protein mislocalized to novel brain regions where it is not normally found. This altered tau interacts with the mitochondrial fission protein DRP1, promoting mitochondrial fragmentation and increased oxidative stress. Applying a selective tau degrader reversed … Read more

Summary: Researchers find that caregivers who talk and respond to their infants boost language development. This benefit applies to all children, including those later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Source: UT Dallas New research shows that increased caregiver speech and conversational interaction in infancy supports later language skills for children both with and without … Read more

Summary: People who score high on self-essentialism—the belief that personal attributes stem from a deeper, stable “essence”—are more likely to be attracted to others who share those attributes, the study found. Source: APA We tend to feel drawn to people who share our preferences or opinions. New research from the American Psychological Association suggests that … Read more

Summary: Using a nonlinear signal-processing approach on experimental recordings, researchers have revealed a clear link between motor behavior and brain activity. These findings offer promising directions for brain-computer interface design, neurorehabilitation, and applied artificial intelligence. Source: American Institute of Physics Accurate detection, quantification, and classification of motor-related brain activity remain major goals for researchers aiming … Read more

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have mapped the complete wiring diagram for the section of the nervous system that controls mating in the male roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, according to a study published today in Science. This work marks a significant advance in connectomics — the scientific effort to map the … Read more

Accelerated Cellular Aging Detected in Major Depressive Disorder Using the GrimAge Methylation Clock Summary: DNA methylation markers in blood cells from people with Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) indicate a cellular age roughly two years older, on average, than markers from similarly aged individuals without the disorder. Source: UCSF Key findings: A multidisciplinary team at the … Read more