How Your Brain Makes Utilitarian Decisions
KEY POINTS The brain’s ventromedial prefrontal cortex compares diverse preferences for utilitarian welfare decisions. Study shows the brain’s ability to represent others’ preferences, crucial for complex social interactions. Insights challenge traditional moral philosophy notions, offering potential for more nuanced decision-making. How do …
Subconscious Fear: The Role of the Lower Brain
KEY POINTS Fear is essential for survival, but excessive fear can lead to anxiety disorders. Recent research reveals the cerebellum’s role in fear regulation beyond motor control. Understanding cerebellar involvement in fear offers insights for anxiety disorder treatments. Fear is a fundamental emotion necessary for …
How Your Brain Recognizes Emotion Through Brain Circuitry
KEY POINTS Emotion recognition, involving complex brain circuits, is vital for social interaction and survival. A new study links specific brain regions—the prefrontal and retrosplenial cortex—to emotion processing. Understanding these circuits may lead to targeted therapies for psychiatric disorders. The ability to …
How Brain Waves Influence Your Memory
KEY POINTS Brain waves influence cognitive control and memory formation, informing how the brain manages memory. Working memory stores and manipulates information temporarily for tasks like learning and decision-making. Phase-amplitude coupling neurons synchronize with brain waves, aiding cognitive control and memory retrieval. …
Are Your Decisions Based on Impulse or Reason?
KEY POINTS A recent study uncovered how our brains and behaviors differ when faced with food and money rewards. Brain regions react differently to rewards, revealing impulse-driven subconscious patterns of decision-making. Understanding these differences can improve strategies for managing impulsive behaviors and …
Can Ketamine Improve Treatment-Resistant Depression?
KEY POINTS A new study probes ketamine’s diverse brain impacts for depression treatment insights. Ketamine shows complex neural patterns, affecting inhibitory and excitatory brain circuits. Understanding ketamine’s varied responses is crucial for developing personalized depression therapies. Ketamine, a strong anesthetic, is growing …
Stress and Intimacy: Perception Colors Behaviors
KEY POINTS Stress appraisal influences relationship dynamics, shaping behaviors and feelings in romantic couples. Perceptions of stress impact conflict resolution, satisfaction, and coping strategies in relationships. Viewing stress as a challenge rather than a threat can foster intimacy and relationship satisfaction. The …
Stress Contagion: Does Observing Others’ Anxiety Affect You?
KEY POINTS Watching stress-inducing tasks leads to higher cortisol levels. Managing stress is crucial for individual well-being and productivity. Providing workers with stress management skills could prevent them from spreading their stress to colleagues. When you observe a person who is stressed, …
Heartfelt Appreciation: How Thanks Can Heal Your Heart
KEY POINTS A new study finds workplace appreciation linked to lower cardiovascular disease risk. Stress from lack of appreciation may increase heart disease risk. Recognition and gratitude promote employee well-being and heart health. Part of a series on stress. What if just …
Are You Blind and Deaf to Your Feelings?
KEY POINTS The brain’s emotional responses persist without sight or sound, illuminating innate processing. Plasticity in the brain allows it to adapt to sensory deprivation. The study results can inform interventions for sensory impairments. Humans rely on the five senses to make …
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