What does sleep deprivation do to the way in which we perceive various emotional stimuli? A researcher from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden has written a thesis aiming to answer this question. Sleep deprivation makes us more likely to have negative emotional perceptions. Ever felt grumpy after a sleepless night? When we do not manage […]
Humans have a compulsion to simulate the activities and behaviors of others in their social group, but why is that? The findings of a new study may change the way that we understand empathy and phenomena of emotional and behavioral contagion. New research suggests a different way of looking at the evolution of empathy. Empathy […]
Stamina describes a person’s ability to sustain physical and mental activity. People with low mental stamina may find it difficult to focus on tasks for long periods and become distracted easily. People with low physical stamina may tire when walking up a flight of stairs, for example. Having low stamina often causes a person to […]
Modern science brings us endless possibilities to help our bodies and our minds stay healthy, but some recent scientific pursuits have also been the center of controversy. One of these is researchers’ interest in manipulating memories. Is this feat possible, and if so, why would we want to achieve it? In this Spotlight feature, we […]
New research from the United Kingdom has found that people who experience recurrent episodes of depression throughout adulthood are more at risk of developing memory problems later in life. Accumulated depression and anxiety can predict a person’s likelihood of developing memory problems. Scientists have already shown that depression and other mental health problems can affect […]
Practicing meditation or mindfulness techniques is, at least anecdotally, supposed to smooth your way to a happier, more healthful life. But what does science say about these practices? What does research say about the effects of meditation and mindfulness? We investigate. Meditation “keeps our minds and hearts calm, peaceful, and loving, i.e., in the right […]
A person can experience visual hallucinations for many reasons, including consuming hallucinogenic substances or as a symptom of schizophrenia. But what are the brain mechanisms that explain hallucinations? New research aims to reveal more about how hallucinations manifest in the brain. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) defines hallucinations as “perception-like experiences […]
Getting enough sleep is vital for both physical and emotional well-being. Sleep deprivation can lead to many short- and long-term health effects. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that adults between the ages of 18 and 60 years get at least 7 hours of sleep a night. However, approximately 35 percent of […]
When we sleep poorly, we may feel less inclined to participate in social activities. Now, researchers have found evidence that being sleep-deprived can not only make us less sociable, but it can also prevent our peers from seeking us out. Poor sleep can render us more unsociable and isolated, researchers warn. Sleep deprivation can contribute […]
Zoloft is a type of medication that doctors call a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI. They may recommend it for mental health conditions, including certain types of bipolar disorder. There are some side effects to consider before using this drug, however, and some may be cause for concern. Anyone who is uncertain about their […]