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(https://www.psypost.org/women-underestimate-their-spatial-intelligence-even-when-they-perform-just-as-well-as-men/) Women underestimate their spatial intelligence—even when they perform just as well as men
May 6th 2025, 10:00

Women tend to underestimate their spatial intelligence compared to men, despite performing just as well on tests, according to new research published in (https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-025-01572-8) Sex Roles.
People’s beliefs about their abilities often do not align with their actual skills. One area where this misalignment may matter is gender differences in self-assessments; women consistently rate themselves as less capable than men, even in the absence of true ability gaps. This tendency—called the hubris-humility effect—suggests men overestimate their abilities (hubris), while women underestimate theirs (humility).
Gabriela Hofer and colleagues explored this effect within spatial intelligence, a domain where men are commonly believed to excel, and which is critical for success in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Yet prior studies rarely included both self-assessments and performance measures, making it unclear whether the effect reflects male overconfidence, female underconfidence, or both.
In addition to gender, personality traits like narcissism and honesty-humility may influence how people evaluate their own abilities. (https://www.psypost.org/new-study-uncovers-intriguing-differences-in-metacognition-between-grandiose-and-vulnerable-narcissists/) Grandiose narcissism, for example, is linked to inflated self-views, whereas honesty-humility reflects modesty and sincerity. These traits, like spatial self-estimates, are also gendered; men tend to score higher in grandiose narcissism and women in honesty-humility. Because self-beliefs predict career interests more strongly than actual performance, these patterns may contribute to persistent gender gaps in STEM.
The study included 208 German-speaking participants (103 women, 105 men; aged 18–37) recruited primarily from university settings. Participants completed a 90-minute in-person session where they first completed six spatial intelligence tasks, then estimated their own performance both for each task (proximal self-estimates) and overall (distal self-estimates).
These tasks covered three major facets: spatial visualization, mental rotation, and visuospatial memory. Each facet was measured with two well-established tests taken from standard cognitive assessment batteries. For example, in the paper folding test, participants mentally visualized how holes punched in folded paper would appear when unfolded. In mental rotation tasks, they determined whether rotated 2D and 3D figures matched a target figure. Visuospatial memory was assessed by asking participants to memorize and redraw maps with specific routes or marked buildings. All tasks followed standardized formats with strict time limits.
After the tasks, participants completed personality questionnaires measuring honesty-humility (via the HEXACO scale), grandiose narcissism (via the NPI-d), and vulnerable narcissism. They also completed a validated vocational interest inventory focused on Realistic and Investigative interests, two domains closely linked to STEM. To examine gender and personality effects, the researchers computed misestimation scores (difference between self-estimated and actual performance).
Contrary to popular belief, women and men performed equally well on spatial intelligence tests. However, women gave significantly lower self-estimates than men on both the overall (IQ-style) and test-specific performance ratings. This suggests that women underestimated their abilities, particularly in the mental rotation task, while men’s estimates aligned more closely with their actual performance. Thus, the data support female humility but not male hubris.
Grandiose narcissism correlated positively with performance overestimation, meaning individuals high in this trait were more likely to rate themselves higher than they performed. Honesty-humility was associated with more modest estimates, but only for test-specific (not global) estimates. Even after controlling for personality traits, gender remained a significant predictor of underestimation: women were still more likely to underestimate themselves than men.
In terms of career interests, men reported higher Realistic and Investigative interests, than women. Importantly, self-estimated spatial intelligence had stronger associations with STEM interests than actual test scores did. When controlling for both performance and self-estimates, gender still explained a significant amount of variance in STEM interests.
The authors note that their sample, though reasonably balanced and comparable to national statistics in Austria, was limited to university students, which may limit generalizability to broader or older populations.
The research, “(https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-025-01572-8) Women’s Humility and Men’s Lack of Hubris: Gender Biases in Self-Estimated Spatial Intelligence,” was authored by Gabriela Hofer, Marla Hünninghaus, Jana Platzer, Sandra Grinschgl, and Aljoscha Neubauer.

(https://www.psypost.org/neuroscientists-identify-a-shared-brain-circuit-for-creativity/) Neuroscientists identify a shared brain circuit for creativity
May 6th 2025, 08:00

New research published in (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2830230) JAMA Network Open has identified a common brain circuit linked to creativity across multiple domains, such as music, writing, drawing, and idea generation. The findings indicate that damage to this circuit—caused by brain injuries or neurodegenerative diseases—may sometimes enhance creative abilities. This counterintuitive result adds to growing evidence that creativity is not only supported by specific brain networks but might also be released when certain regions are disrupted.
“We wanted to answer the questions, ‘What brain regions are key for human creativity and how does this relate to the effects of brain injuries?’” said study author Isaiah Kletenik, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, researcher at the (https://www.brighamandwomens.org/neurosciences-center/center-for-brain-circuit-therapeutics) Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics, and associate neurologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.
“As a cognitive neurologist, I take care of patients who have brain injuries or dementia which you would assume should only cause dysfunction but there are these rare situations in which people have a progressive brain disease and have new onset creativity. The first author, Julian Kutsche has a background in both neuroscience and in the study of music so this topic was a perfect combination of his research interests.”
To address this question, Kletenik and his colleagues at the Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics at Brigham and Women’s Hospital examined data from 857 participants who had taken part in 36 brain imaging studies of creativity. Each of these studies used functional MRI to identify brain regions activated during creative tasks compared to control tasks. The researchers then applied a technique known as coordinate network mapping to analyze the functional connectivity of those brain areas using resting-state data from 1,000 healthy adults.
Although the specific brain regions activated during creativity tasks varied widely across studies, the researchers found that a large majority—86%—shared a connection to a common brain circuit. This circuit was characterized by negative functional connectivity with a particular region in the brain known as the right frontal pole. That is, when creative brain regions were active, the right frontal pole tended to be less active, suggesting a possible suppressive or regulatory role in creative thinking.
This finding was consistent across different types of creative tasks, different statistical thresholds, and different levels of data analysis, making it a robust result. To ensure their findings were not due to random chance or general brain activity, the researchers also compared their data with brain networks involved in unrelated tasks like working memory. The creativity circuit stood out as distinct.
“Many complex human behaviors such as creativity don’t map to a specific brain region but do map to specific brain circuits,” Kletenik told PsyPost. “Some people with neurologic diseases experience a new onset of creative behavior and show specific patterns of damage that align with a brain circuit associated with creativity.”
“We found that many complex human behaviors such as creativity don’t map to a specific brain region but do map to specific brain circuits,” added co-senior author Michael D. Fox, who founded and leads the Center for Brain Circuit Therapeutics, and helped develop the techniques of coordinate and lesion network mapping employed in this work.
To validate their results, the team looked at three independent lines of evidence: brain activation patterns in an additional 30 fMRI studies, data from patients with focal brain lesions, and data from patients with neurodegenerative diseases. In each case, the results supported the existence of a common creativity circuit.
One of the more intriguing validations came from examining patients with brain lesions in different parts of the frontal lobe. Patients with lesions in areas negatively connected to the right frontal pole—such as the lateral frontal lobe—tended to show reduced creativity. But those with lesions in the right frontal pole itself sometimes showed enhanced creative output, suggesting that damage to this area may reduce self-monitoring or internal censorship, allowing freer expression of creative ideas.
Similarly, the researchers found that certain neurodegenerative diseases—such as semantic variant primary progressive aphasia (svPPA) and the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD)—are associated with increased creativity. The brain atrophy patterns in these diseases aligned strongly with the identified creativity circuit, especially in regions negatively linked to the right frontal pole. In other conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease or nonfluent aphasia, where increased creativity is less commonly observed, the alignment was weaker.
The team also analyzed data from patients with frontotemporal dementia who had experienced a surprising boost in artistic abilities. These individuals showed brain atrophy in areas that overlapped with the newly defined creativity circuit, adding further evidence that disruption of this network may allow creativity to emerge in unexpected ways.
Taken together, these results suggest that the right frontal pole may act as a kind of gatekeeper, suppressing spontaneous or unconventional thinking in favor of rule-based decision-making. When that control is reduced—whether by task-induced deactivation, injury, or degeneration—creative behavior may become more prominent. This idea is consistent with previous studies that found lower activity in parts of the frontal cortex during improvisation and other free-form tasks.
“The most surprising finding was that all the different forms of creative tasks shared a specific regional reduced activity on brain imaging,” Kletenik explained. “In functional neuroimaging we often focus on areas where there’s increased activation, but in this study the key finding was that all the creative tasks seem to share reduced activation in the right frontal pole. This part of your brain is important for monitoring and rule-based behaviors. Creativity may depend on inhibiting self-censoring assessments that could then allow free association and idea generation to flow more freely.”
While the findings are compelling, the researchers stress that creativity is complex and likely involves many different brain systems. Their work focused on identifying a shared neural pathway across studies, not on capturing every possible variation. Moreover, the observed relationships are correlational; while lesion data suggest a causal role for the right frontal pole, more direct interventions—such as brain stimulation studies—are needed to confirm this.
“These findings rely on retrospective analyses and do not represent the entire neural circuitry involved in creativity – there are many different parts of the brain necessary for completing different creative tasks,” Kletenik noted.
Still, the findings open the door to new ways of thinking about the brain and its relationship to creativity. They may also help explain why some people report an increase in artistic or musical output after brain injuries or during early stages of neurological disease. This phenomenon, known as paradoxical functional facilitation, suggests that impairments in one area of the brain can sometimes lead to gains in another.
“These findings could help explain how some neurodegenerative diseases might lead to paradoxical increase in creativity,” Kletenik explained. “We are learning more about neurodiversity and how brain changes that are considered pathological may improve function in some ways
The study, “(https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2830230) Mapping Neuroimaging Findings of Creativity and Brain Disease Onto a Common Brain Circuit,” was authored by Julian Kutsche, Joseph J. Taylor, Michael G. Erkkinen, Haya Akkad, Sanaz Khosravani, William Drew, Anna Abraham, Derek V. M. Ott, Juliana Wall, Alexander Li Cohen, Andreas Horn, Wolf-Julian Neumann, Isaiah Kletenik, and Michael D. Fox.

(https://www.psypost.org/women-also-prefer-younger-romantic-partners-according-to-a-major-new-psychology-study/) Women also prefer younger romantic partners, according to a major new psychology study
May 6th 2025, 06:00

People often say they want partners of a certain age, but what happens when they meet someone face-to-face? A new study published in the journal (https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2416984122) Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences suggests that both men and women are slightly more attracted to younger partners after a blind date—even if that contradicts what they previously claimed.
The researchers set out to test a common assumption in mating research: that men are typically attracted to younger women, and women prefer older men. This belief is supported by global data showing that, on average, men are about four years older than women in mixed-gender marriages. People also tend to express these age preferences when asked on surveys. But much of this past research has focused on self-reports or online behavior rather than real-world interactions.
“It isn’t easy to capture real-life romantic attraction for partners who cover a range of ages. Of course, there are many romantic attraction studies among college students, but college students typically span only a narrow range of ages,” said study author Paul W. Eastwick, a professor of psychology at the University of California at Davis and co-host of (https://www.lovefactuallypod.com/) The Love Factually Podcast.
“There are also many studies that look at people’s online dating behavior, but these studies never capture how people feel about each other once they meet face-to-face – an essential step in the dating process. In fact, only a single other study had ever captured how a partner’s age actually affects men’s and women’s initial attraction to real-life romantic partners (Kurzban & Weeden, 2005). So when we knew that we would be receiving this dataset from Tawkify, this was the first research question we preregistered: how would the partner’s age affect men’s and women’s attraction, and would people’s stated preferences for a partner’s age matter?”
To address this gap, the researchers analyzed data from 6,262 participants who signed up for Tawkify, a U.S.-based matchmaking service designed to help people find long-term partners. Participants were mostly middle-aged and diverse in terms of race, income, and relationship history. After each blind date, both individuals rated how much they enjoyed the date, how romantically attracted they were to their partner, and whether they wanted to go on a second date.
Importantly, participants had previously indicated their preferred maximum age for a partner. However, matchmakers sometimes paired them with people older than their stated limit if other traits seemed like a good match. This allowed the researchers to test whether people were less interested in partners who exceeded their preferred age threshold—and whether any age-related preferences were stronger for men than women.
The findings revealed a small but consistent trend: both men and women were slightly more romantically attracted to younger partners. Across three different measures—romantic attraction, overall impression, and willingness to go on a second date—youth was linked with higher ratings. This was true regardless of whether the partner exceeded the dater’s stated maximum age. Surprisingly, the effect was equally strong for women and men, despite longstanding assumptions about gender differences in age preferences.
“We found that both men and women were slightly more attracted to younger partners,” Eastwick told PsyPost. “So a key takeaway is that women say they are attracted to older men, but they actually appear to be (slightly) attracted to younger men. This is very surprising given that women say they want an older partner in nearly every study that has ever been conducted. In fact, the daters’ stated preferences for the partner’s age didn’t seem to affect how they felt about these partners one bit.”
This runs counter to the idea that women are drawn to older men due to greater resources or maturity. In fact, women in this study showed the same slight preference for younger partners as men did. And while women had higher stated upper-age limits on average, those preferences didn’t seem to guide their actual decisions. They were just as open—or closed—to older partners as men were.
“It’s quite surprising that the magnitude of the effect is nearly identical for men and women,” Eastwick said. “It would have been one thing if women simply had no partner age preference but men preferred younger women – even that result would have been somewhat surprising (because women say they desire older men). The true surprise was that the magnitude of the preference for youth was about the same (r = .10 or so) for men and women alike.”
“Here’s a way of understanding that value in simple terms: You’d be more likely to desire a younger rather than an older partner at about a 55% vs. 45% split. That is, 55% of the time, you would choose the younger partner. So it’s small – and you probably wouldn’t notice it yourself with just the ‘naked eye’ – but it makes a difference in the aggregate.”
The researchers also tested whether attraction dropped off suddenly when a partner was just over a participant’s age limit. It didn’t. There was no evidence of a sharp drop in romantic interest once a partner exceeded someone’s stated age maximum. Nor did the slope of attraction change for increasingly older partners. Participants’ preferences, it turns out, weren’t shaped by hard age cutoffs. Instead, their ratings of romantic interest gradually decreased as a partner’s age increased—regardless of stated preferences.
To account for potential confounding variables, the researchers ran separate analyses for male and female participants and controlled for repeated dates, mutual evaluations, and the natural overlap in the dating pool. In one analysis, they limited the sample to women under 40 to rule out concerns about age-related reproductive potential influencing attraction. The pattern held steady. Both men and women continued to show a modest preference for younger partners, even in this restricted sample.
Income, another possible factor, also failed to explain the results. The study included both high-earning and lower-earning individuals, but financial status didn’t significantly affect age preferences. Women with high incomes were no more or less drawn to younger partners than women with lower incomes. Likewise, the age of a wealthy or less wealthy date had no stronger influence on attraction.
One possible explanation for these findings is that the dating pool itself is skewed. Women are often introduced to slightly older men through matchmakers or social networks, partly because the idea that women prefer older men is so widespread. In this study, women’s average partner was about 3.5 years older than they were—reflecting how matchmakers applied traditional assumptions. But the mutual attraction between younger partners persisted across the board, suggesting these assumptions may be outdated.
The authors also consider that women’s preferences might shift depending on the context. In a blind date setting, where the goal is to make a good impression and assess chemistry, women may be more open to younger men than they would be in abstract surveys or in long-term relationship decisions. This initial attraction might fade over time or be overridden by other concerns. It’s also possible that social norms, rather than actual preferences, guide what people say they want in a partner.
Interestingly, the findings echo (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090513804000741) an earlier study that showed a similar pattern. That 2005 study also found no gender difference in attraction to younger partners in a speed-dating context. Yet because the earlier study involved younger adults and allowed people to preselect age ranges, some researchers questioned its relevance. The new study improves on this by examining middle-aged participants and using blind dates where people couldn’t choose their partners’ ages.
Despite the strength of the data—large sample size, preregistered analyses, and real-world interactions—there are limitations. Participants were all part of a paid matchmaking service, which might mean they are more open-minded or unconventional than the general population. It’s also unclear whether initial attraction translates into long-term compatibility or successful relationships. People may be drawn to younger partners on a first date, but over time, other qualities could become more important.
“These are just first dates – we don’t know what transpires on date two and so on,” Eastwick noted. “It’s certainly possible that women’s preference for an older man starts to matter later in the process, before a relationship ultimately forms.”
Still, the researchers suggest this work opens up new ways of thinking about how couple age gaps arise. The fact that most couples still consist of older men and younger women might have more to do with the structure of dating markets than with deep-rooted psychological preferences.
“This finding inspires a new angle for thinking about age preferences: What if the ‘couple age difference’ (men are about 3-4 years older than women in the average couple worldwide) is baked into the dating pool from the start?” Eastwick explained. “After all, young men are not considered viable dating partners until they reach a later age than girls. Older women may take themselves out of the pool because they don’t want to be a nurse or a purse. Those two features would create a system with an average gender-age difference in ‘who is dating’ in the first place. In that system, both genders could prefer a younger partner after a first date, and yet the man would be older than the women in the average couple.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2416984122) No gender differences in attraction to young partners: A study of 4,500 blind dates,” was authored by Paul W. Eastwick, Eli J. Finkel, Eva M. Meza, and Kellie Ammerman.

(https://www.psypost.org/sleep-disorders-associated-with-higher-risk-of-dementia-study-finds/) Sleep disorders associated with higher risk of dementia, study finds
May 5th 2025, 18:00

A new meta-analysis has found that individuals with sleep disorders face an increased risk of developing dementia. Specifically, those with obstructive sleep apnea had a 45% higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease, while individuals with insomnia had a 59% increased risk of vascular dementia and a 49% higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared to people without these sleep disorders. The research was published in (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-025-01637-2) GeroScience.
Sleep disorders are conditions that disrupt the quality, timing, or duration of sleep, affecting a person’s ability to function during the day. Common types include insomnia, sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, and narcolepsy.
Insomnia involves difficulty falling or staying asleep, while sleep apnea is characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep. Restless legs syndrome causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs and a strong urge to move them, often disrupting sleep. Narcolepsy is a neurological disorder that leads to sudden episodes of sleep during the day.
Sleep disorders can be caused by stress, medical conditions, lifestyle factors, or mental health issues. Chronic sleep problems are linked to fatigue, mood disturbances, memory impairments, and a higher risk for conditions such as hypertension and depression.
Study author Zoltan Ungvari and his colleagues set out to investigate whether sleep disorders are associated with an increased risk of dementia. They were particularly interested in exploring the links between sleep disturbances and the risk of developing vascular dementia or Alzheimer’s disease—the two most common types of dementia.
Vascular dementia is a form of cognitive decline caused by reduced blood flow to the brain, often as a result of strokes or other vascular conditions. It can lead to problems with memory, thinking, and reasoning. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain. It leads to progressive memory loss, cognitive impairment, and behavioral changes.
To conduct their analysis, the researchers performed a meta-analysis of previously published studies. They searched for research examining the associations between various sleep disorders—such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep-related movement disorders, and circadian rhythm sleep disorders—and the diagnosis of dementia.
Their search yielded 12,684 records from three major scientific databases: PubMed, Cochrane Central, and Web of Science. After removing duplicates and irrelevant studies, they included 60 studies that examined the relationships between sleep disorders and all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia, or cognitive decline.
The results revealed that individuals with obstructive sleep apnea had a 33% higher risk of all-cause dementia compared to those without the condition. Insomnia was associated with a 36% increased risk, and other sleep disorders showed a 33% increase in risk.
When focusing on specific types of dementia, the analysis found that obstructive sleep apnea was linked to a 45% higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease. Insomnia was associated with a 59% increased risk of vascular dementia and a 49% higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
“This meta-analysis highlights the critical role of sleep disorders in dementia risk, emphasizing the need for early detection and management of sleep disturbances. Targeted interventions could play a pivotal role in reducing dementia risk, particularly among high-risk populations,” the study authors concluded.
The study sheds light on the links between sleep disorders and dementia. However, study authors note that many of the analyzed studies were based on self-reports, leaving room for reporting bias to affect the results.
The paper, “(https://doi.org/10.1007/s11357-025-01637-2) Sleep disorders increase the risk of dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive decline: a meta‑analysis,” was authored by Zoltan Ungvari, Mónika Fekete, Andrea Lehoczki, Gyöngyi Munkácsy, János Tibor Fekete, Virág Zábó, György Purebl, Péter Varga, Anna Ungvari, and Balázs Győrfy.

(https://www.psypost.org/enhancing-glucose-metabolism-in-glia-cells-reduces-retinal-damage-in-alzheimers-model/) Enhancing glucose metabolism in glia cells reduces retinal damage in Alzheimer’s model
May 5th 2025, 16:00

New research published in the journal (https://journals.biologists.com/dmm/article/18/4/dmm052057/367846/Glucose-uptake-in-pigment-glia-suppresses-Tau) Disease Models & Mechanisms offers insights into how glial cells — the supportive cells of the nervous system — may influence the progression of Alzheimer’s disease. Using fruit flies as a model, researchers found that disrupted glucose metabolism in glial cells can worsen inflammation and damage to neurons triggered by the accumulation of tau protein. Enhancing glucose uptake in specific glial cells significantly reduced these harmful effects, highlighting a potential new therapeutic direction for slowing neurodegenerative processes.
Alzheimer’s disease is marked by the abnormal buildup of tau protein inside brain cells, along with brain inflammation and reduced glucose metabolism. While these features are well known, how they relate to each other has remained uncertain. In particular, scientists have been curious about the role of glial cells, which help maintain a healthy environment for neurons. These cells are also involved in immune responses in the brain and have been implicated in the progression of Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative conditions. 
Given their key role in energy metabolism and inflammation, researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University aimed to better understand how tau protein accumulation affects glial function, and whether changes in glial metabolism contribute to neurodegeneration.
To explore this, the researchers turned to the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, a widely used model organism in neuroscience. They genetically engineered the flies to express human tau protein in the retina, which includes both neurons and glial cells. This model allowed the researchers to observe signs of neurodegeneration, such as damage to photoreceptor cells and the appearance of abnormal, dense inclusions. They also noticed swelling in nearby brain regions, suggesting that inflammation was taking place. Microscopic analysis confirmed that the inclusions were formed by overactive glial cells attempting to clean up cellular debris — a process that can become damaging when uncontrolled.
The researchers then looked more closely at whether tau expression in the retina was affecting glucose metabolism. They introduced a human gene known as GLUT3, which enhances glucose uptake, into the flies. Interestingly, adding GLUT3 to the tau-expressing retina did not reduce the amount of tau protein, but it did significantly reduce inflammation, inclusion formation, and photoreceptor damage. This suggested that supporting glucose metabolism in glial cells could counteract the damaging effects of tau buildup.
To test whether the protective effects were specific to glial cells, the researchers expressed GLUT3 only in pigment glial cells, a type of glia that supports photoreceptor neurons in the fly retina. These pigment glia are known to help neurons by supplying nutrients and removing waste. When GLUT3 was expressed in these glial cells, the researchers again observed less swelling, fewer signs of inflammation, and improved survival of photoreceptor cells. In contrast, expressing GLUT3 in neurons did not reduce the damage, suggesting that the beneficial effects stemmed from changes in glial cell metabolism.
In addition to structural damage, the researchers examined gene expression and found that tau expression led to increased levels of antimicrobial peptides, which are typically produced during immune responses. These peptides are part of the inflammatory signaling pathways in flies, and their elevated levels further supported the idea that glial cells were becoming pathologically active in response to tau. However, when GLUT3 was expressed in glial cells, the levels of these inflammatory markers dropped, reinforcing the link between glucose metabolism and glial activation.
Interestingly, the protective effects of GLUT3 did not depend on lowering the tau protein itself or preventing its phosphorylation, a process associated with toxicity in Alzheimer’s disease. This suggests that glucose metabolism in glial cells acts downstream of tau accumulation — meaning that while the tau buildup triggers the problem, the glial response, shaped by metabolic capacity, may determine how much damage occurs.
In Alzheimer’s disease and related neurodegenerative diseases, excess activation of glial cells causes neuroinflammation and damage to neurons. The study found that increasing glucose uptake in glial cells suppresses the inflammatory response and alleviates neuronal cell death. [Tokyo Metropolitan University]
While the study was conducted in fruit flies, the findings point toward a possible role for glial metabolism in human neurodegenerative diseases. In the human brain, glial cells such as astrocytes and microglia are essential for maintaining the health of neurons. These cells are also known to become reactive and inflammatory in Alzheimer’s disease, which can lead to further neuronal damage. By showing that glucose metabolism can modulate this response, the study suggests that boosting energy availability in glial cells could help reduce inflammation and protect neurons — even when the underlying causes of the disease, such as tau buildup, remain.
The study has several strengths, including its detailed analysis of retinal structure, protein levels, and gene expression, as well as its use of both neuron- and glia-specific gene expression to pinpoint where the protective effects were occurring. However, as with all animal studies, there are limitations when it comes to applying the findings directly to humans. Fruit flies are useful models for basic biological processes, but their brains are much simpler than those of mammals. Additional research in mammals, including mice, will be necessary to confirm whether enhancing glucose metabolism in glial cells has similar protective effects in more complex brains.
Future research could also explore whether similar metabolic interventions might help in other neurodegenerative diseases that involve inflammation, such as Parkinson’s or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The authors also point out that further studies using advanced techniques like metabolic profiling and transcriptomics could help clarify the molecular pathways through which glucose affects glial behavior. Understanding these pathways could lead to new drugs that modulate glial metabolism or inflammation more precisely.
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1242/dmm.052057) Glucose uptake in pigment glia suppresses Tau-induced inflammation and photoreceptor degeneration,” was authored by Mikiko Oka, Sho Nakajima, Emiko Suzuki, Shinya Yamamoto, and Kanae Ando.

(https://www.psypost.org/creative-minds-often-come-from-broken-homes-and-its-not-a-coincidence/) Creative minds often come from broken homes — and it’s not a coincidence
May 5th 2025, 14:00

Many believe that a child’s creativity can only bloom in the warmth of a loving, nurturing and supportive household. While artistic talent can flourish in comfortable surroundings, research has shown that (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10147018/) this is not always the case.
Paradoxical though it may seem, studies have found that many (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30802732/) creative people had difficult childhoods. Indeed, many well-known artists (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5812101/) owe their genius to tough childhood events, from which they escaped by creating mental worlds where they were free to develop their talents.
Famous examples include artistic geniuses like Vincent van Gogh, Franz Kafka, Edgar Allan Poe, Virginia Woolf and Sinéad O’Connor, all of whom suffered adversity in childhood and went on to develop great artistic prowess. Sadly, though perhaps not surprisingly, their talents were often tempered by neuroses and other mental health issues.
Creative people have even noted this in one another. Jean Paul Sartre’s (https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/F/bo3618248.html) lengthy biography of Gustave Flaubert’s childhood describes its subject as an unwanted, neglected child who was considered mentally disabled by his parents. The book’s title shows how central this was to Flaubert’s identity: L’Idiot de la famille (The Family Idiot).
Escaping childhood suffering
My (https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12646-024-00816-z) recent study explores the development of human creativity, which can follow two paths: it can be an imitation of serene and pleasant parental models that inspire a child to thrive and improve, or it can be a way to manage the anxiety that stems from the absence of these models.
As Donald Winnicott explains in his seminal 1971 book “(https://books.google.es/books/about/Playing_and_Reality.html?id=HwAuAAAAYAAJ&source=kp_book_description&redir_esc=y) Playing and Reality”, children alleviate the anxiety of temporary separation from their parents by soothing themselves with objects (called “transitional objects”) or behaviours, which temporarily replace the absence of their parents’ affection or attention.
If the absence is prolonged and difficult, these behaviours continue and can, through repetition, develop into a creative skill. Unfortunately, along with creativity, these children sometimes develop harsh behavioural difficulties, and struggle with social relationships.
Some academics have proposed (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4112907/) a model to explain this phenomenon. Up to a certain level of separation or neglect from parents, the capacity to develop talents grows, but beyond a certain limit this decreases and alterations in social behaviour become more acute.
Therefore, it is likely that our talents, those of which we will be proud when adults, put down their roots in the first few months of life. The rest of our lives are spent honing the creative behaviours we learned, or took refuge in, when were babies.
By closely observing young children, psychologist Mary Ainsworth found that (https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1980-50809-000) our attachment style is already defined at the age of one. Other studies have found a similar precocious timing for other mental skills, and this is likely true for creativity as well. Early abandonment or neglect can have dire consequences, but can also be the source of creativity, as it helps children to survive.
Challenges in modern parenting
Today, affective relationships between parents and children are increasingly problematic. Cultural shifts often mean that modern parents are either scarcely or excessively focused on their babies. Working habits have also changed, meaning babies are more commonly separated from parents in the earliest stages of their development.
It is therefore unsurprising that young children today escape into a parallel word that replaces or supplements parental attention, one where they often develop considerable creative abilities and talents: (https://interestingengineering.com/lists/7-famous-computer-programmers-who-started-programming-at-an-early-age) computers and videogames. Screen time is, however, also linked to greater levels of (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39258642/) stress, anxiety and isolation, especially as children grow into teenagers.
No substitute for care
Adversity does not always have negative effects, and caregivers should help children to cultivate their creative talents, but this is by no means a substitute for proper care and attention.
Studies show that a supportive attitude is important from the early years of school, but parents can often be with physically absent or mentally distant or distracted from their offspring. This can cause a (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39910352/) raft of mental health issues, as a child’s first and most decisive cognitive maps are drawn in the earliest stages of life – late intervention is less effective.
The good news is that this research can help to identify and intervene when a child may be suffering. It also further highlights the deep, primordial psychological significance of children’s, and indeed adults’, talents and creativity.
 
This article is republished from (https://theconversation.com) The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the (https://theconversation.com/how-a-troubled-childhood-can-foster-creative-talent-new-study-249548) original article.

(https://www.psypost.org/new-study-identifies-four-distinct-narcissistic-personality-types/) New study identifies four distinct narcissistic personality types
May 5th 2025, 13:00

Some narcissists might not be as confident as they seem. A new study has uncovered four distinct personality types linked to narcissism, including one that combines boldness with hidden insecurity. These individuals may act charming and self-assured, but underneath, they’re emotionally sensitive and prone to self-doubt. The findings have been published in the (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0092656625000170) Journal of Research in Personality.
While much of the previous research on narcissism has focused on grandiose and vulnerable traits separately—using what’s known as a variable-centered approach—this study also applied a person-centered method to uncover how these traits combine within specific individuals. The goal was to identify distinct subtypes of narcissistic personalities and explore how these subtypes differ in terms of self-esteem, aggression, emotional stability, and openness.
The researchers were particularly interested in whether a “grandiose-vulnerable” subtype exists, in which a person simultaneously displays both outward confidence and inner insecurity. Identifying such profiles could help clarify why narcissistic traits sometimes appear contradictory and may also inform more nuanced clinical assessments.
At the heart of the study is the Narcissism Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire (NARQ), which breaks narcissistic tendencies into two core dimensions: admiration and rivalry. Narcissistic admiration reflects assertive strategies for self-enhancement. People high in admiration want to be seen as exceptional and seek approval through charm, confidence, and social dominance. This dimension is often linked to positive traits like extroversion and high self-esteem, and it aligns closely with the concept of grandiose narcissism, which includes feelings of superiority, inflated self-worth, and a strong desire for admiration.
In contrast, narcissistic rivalry reflects a defensive, antagonistic form of narcissism that aims to protect a fragile self-image. Individuals high in rivalry tend to respond to perceived threats with hostility, devaluation of others, and heightened sensitivity to criticism. This pattern aligns with vulnerable narcissism, which is characterized by insecurity, emotional volatility, low self-esteem, and a tendency to withdraw or lash out when feeling exposed. Unlike the socially confident traits of grandiose narcissism, vulnerable narcissism often involves a more hidden or internalized distress, though it may still lead to interpersonal conflict.
“Most previous studies on narcissism have been done from a variable-centered approach, meaning that trait data are aggregated across participants and therefore the information provided is about variable associations (e.g., correlation between grandiose and vulnerable features),” explained study author (https://craigsneumann.weebly.com/) Craig Neumann, a Regents Professor of Psychology at the University of North Texas.
“Many people unfortunately use variable-centered information to speculate about people (e.g., someone with elevated grandiose features will also have elevated vulnerable features). Technically, it is incorrect to assume that information about variable associations aggregated across people can be precisely applied to persons.”
“Basically, variable-centered approaches are looking to see how columns of variables in a dataset are correlated. To determine person profiles, one needs to examine if there are subgroups of people who have similar profiles across the columns of trait variables—i.e., looking for homogeneous person profiles among the rows of data in a dataset across via the different traits in the columns.”
Skyler Trace (Guillot) Maples, a psychology doctoral intern at the Federal Bureau of Prisons and first author of the study, added: “I was motivated to conduct this study because after doing my thesis on the correlates of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, it was clear there was more work to do in the area of the subtypes of narcissism. Luckily, Dr. Neumann is well-versed on person-centered analyses and we were able to combine the two approaches (i.e., variable- and person-centered) to get some cool information regarding the relationships of vulnerable (rivalry) and grandiose (admiration) narcissism as variables, but also within profiles of individuals.”
To investigate this, the researchers used data from three large general population samples totaling more than 50,000 people. Participants completed the Narcissism Admiration and Rivalry Questionnaire along with additional questionnaires measured traits such as aggression, self-esteem, and the broader dimensions of personality.
The researchers used two complementary approaches. First, they employed a variable-centered strategy to examine how admiration and rivalry related to other psychological traits. Then they used a person-centered approach—specifically, latent profile analysis—to identify subgroups of individuals who shared similar narcissism profiles. This allowed them to ask not just how traits correlate, but what kinds of people tend to exhibit particular patterns.
“We conducted person-centered analyses via latent profile analysis to determine if there were subgroups (or subtypes) of individuals with relatively unique profiles of narcissistic features,” Neumann said. “More specifically, we were on the hunt for a subtype that displayed elevated levels of both grandiose and vulnerable features.”
Across all three samples, statistical modeling supported the idea that admiration and rivalry are two distinct dimensions. Admiration was strongly associated with traits like extroversion, charm, and high self-esteem. People high in admiration tended to see themselves positively and reported higher levels of happiness. Rivalry, by contrast, was associated with neuroticism, antagonism, low self-esteem, and higher levels of aggression. These patterns closely aligned with traditional definitions of grandiose and vulnerable narcissism, respectively.
“There’s a lot of debate in the field about what exactly constitutes the core of narcissism. We found that entitlement runs through all forms of narcissism but there are different profiles of narcissism. Some people have a grandiose sense of entitlement without scoring high in vulnerability and low self-esteem,” explained co-author Scott Barry Kaufman, a professor of psychology at Columbia University and director of the Center for Human Potential.
“However, some people score high in both a grandiose sense of entitlement and also a defensive fragile ego which seems to have the biggest implications for aggression and low well-being. I think our findings also challenge the notion that grandiose narcissism is necessarily a bad thing or a negative trait. We may need to rethink grandiose narcissism. Without the vulnerable aspect, grandiose narcissism may just be a highly adaptive agentic trait to accomplish one’s goals!”
One particularly interesting finding came from structural models showing that rivalry was more strongly related to aggression and emotional instability than admiration. Admiration had a modest association with antagonism, but not with aggression. This suggests that individuals who manage their self-image through rivalry may be more prone to emotional volatility and interpersonal conflict, while those who rely on admiration may be more socially effective or well-adjusted.
Next, the researchers identified four distinct narcissistic subtypes using person-centered analyses. These profiles emerged consistently across all three samples:

Non-narcissistic individuals, who showed low scores on both admiration and rivalry.
Subclinical vulnerable narcissists, who scored moderately on rivalry but low on admiration.
Grandiose narcissists, who scored high on admiration and low on rivalry.
Grandiose-vulnerable narcissists, who showed elevated levels on both admiration and rivalry.

“The average person should understand that narcissism, like many other psychological constructs, is dimensional,” Maples told PsyPost. “Though our diagnostic systems currently promote a categorical view, narcissism is not an all-or-nothing. In this study, we see four subtypes of people with varying degrees of narcissistic traits. That is to say that narcissistic traits are present within all people to some level, not just those that would meet a clinical diagnosis of narcissistic personality disorder. Furthermore, there are adaptive/positive things that can come out of having elevations in grandiose narcissistic traits like extroversion, higher positive self-esteem and lower negative self-esteem.”
The grandiose-vulnerable subtype stood out as particularly significant. These individuals displayed the highest levels of narcissistic traits overall, including both grandiose and vulnerable characteristics. They also reported the highest levels of both positive and negative self-esteem, as well as the highest levels of aggression. This suggests a personality pattern marked by both self-confidence and inner conflict, supporting the idea that grandiosity may serve as a psychological defense against underlying vulnerability.
Interestingly, this subtype also reported lower levels of open-mindedness and higher levels of not being open-minded, suggesting rigidity in how they process feedback from others. These individuals were more likely to be male and tended to be younger than the other subtypes, a pattern consistent with past research on narcissistic traits.
By contrast, individuals in the grandiose subtype reported high self-esteem, low negative affect, and little aggression. While they exhibited traits associated with narcissism, such as dominance and a desire for recognition, they did not appear to experience the emotional instability or interpersonal problems seen in the grandiose-vulnerable group.
The subclinical vulnerable group, on the other hand, had higher levels of neuroticism and emotional reactivity, as well as more signs of low self-esteem and defensiveness. Unlike the grandiose-vulnerable group, they lacked the social assertiveness linked to admiration, which may leave them feeling insecure without the external validation that helps prop up self-image.
“There are unique profiles with respect to narcissism traits, some of which we might conclude reflect more so a health self-image versus pathological grandiose narcissism,” Neumann said. “On the other hand, individuals who display both vulnerable and grandiose features of narcissism (i.e., devaluation of others, aggressivity as well as sense of grandiose specialness) likely have significant intra- (e.g., variable self-esteem) and inter-personal (e.g., not open to others) problems, include risk of reactive or proactive aggression.”
The study also found that the structure of these subtypes was consistent across different racial, ethnic, and national contexts, even though the proportions of each subtype varied. In a diverse U.S. sample, for example, more participants fell into the grandiose category—possibly reflecting cultural differences in self-presentation or identity. Across all three samples, women were more likely to fall into the non-narcissistic subtype, while men were more likely to fall into the grandiose-vulnerable group.
While the results add clarity to the study of narcissism, the authors acknowledge several limitations. All data were based on self-report questionnaires, which can be influenced by social desirability or biased self-perceptions. Although the samples were large and diverse, they came from online platforms, which may not fully represent the general population. Additionally, the findings are cross-sectional, meaning they capture personality at a single point in time.
Future research, the authors suggest, should track individuals over time to examine how narcissistic traits change in response to life events or social context. One long-term goal is to better understand how people shift between grandiose and vulnerable states—an idea supported by the “mask model” of narcissism, which proposes that grandiosity can serve as a defense against feelings of inadequacy or rejection.
“In order to get more information about the vacillations of narcissistic traits (vulnerable to grandiose and back again) within individuals, a long-term goal for this line of research would be to follow individuals over time,” Maples explained. “This way we get a better understanding of the reasons behind the switches (hypothesizing it is a self-maintenance mechanism to adapt to the ever-changing environment like put forward in Back et al., 2013) and how long the phases occur. This would help us further comprehend the poor temporal stability of narcissistic personality disorder diagnoses and appreciate the self-regulating patterns of the narcissist.”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2025.104585) Profiling narcissism: Evidence for grandiose-vulnerable and other subtypes,” was authored by Skyler T. Maples, Craig S. Neumann, and Scott Barry Kaufman.

(https://www.psypost.org/olo-scientists-create-a-new-color-never-before-seen-by-human-eyes-using-targeted-laser-light/) Scientists create a new color never before seen by human eyes
May 5th 2025, 12:00

Scientists at the University of California, Berkeley have developed a technology that can directly stimulate individual photoreceptor cells in the human retina, allowing people to perceive colors that have never been seen before. Using a technique they call “Oz,” the scientists created a vivid blue-green hue—described as “unprecedented” in saturation and named “olo”—that lies outside the range of colors normally perceivable by human vision. Their findings, recently published in (https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adu1052) Science Advances, offer a powerful new tool for studying vision.
The goal of the project was to explore what happens when light is directed not broadly across the eye, but precisely to specific cone cells responsible for color perception. The research builds on earlier work in color theory and retinal imaging. Traditional color display technologies work by mixing red, green, and blue light to stimulate the L (long), M (medium), and S (short) cone cells.
But this always involves some overlap between different types of cones, due to their shared sensitivities. The Oz system attempts something radically different: stimulating just one type of cone—especially the M cone—while avoiding the others entirely. This kind of precise activation is impossible with conventional lighting or screens but becomes possible through finely targeted laser stimulation.
“I teach a visual computing course at UC Berkeley. In preparing for the lectures on color some years ago, I came across Professor Austin Roorda’s work on mapping the cells in the living human retina, and stimulating individual cone cells,” explained Ren Ng, an associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences.
“From a color theory perspective, it was clear that no light can stimulate only the M cone cells in the retina in normal viewing, so I was filled with curiosity about what it might look like to show someone a square of color where only the M cone cells were stimulated. We teamed up, became friends, and have pursued this research for some years together.”
To conduct the experiment, the researchers first had to map out the retina of each participant in incredible detail. Five subjects, all with normal color vision, underwent adaptive optics scanning and retinal imaging to classify the L, M, and S cones in a small portion of their retina. Then, using an advanced optical system that tracks eye movement and compensates for it in real time, they delivered laser microdoses directly to specific cones within a 0.9° square visual field—roughly the size of a grain of rice held at arm’s length.
This targeting required both high-speed tracking of eye motion and incredibly fine-tuned hardware to adjust the laser beam in real time. Even a slight misfire would stimulate the wrong cone and produce normal colors. But when done accurately, the stimulation of only M cones produced a visual experience beyond what people typically see in nature.
“When I initially wrote to Austin, I guessed that M-only color might look like the ‘greenest green you never saw’ — this is why we called the system to show it Oz Vision, alluding to the brilliant green of the Emerald City in The Wizard of Oz,” Ng told PsyPost.
“But olo looked blue-green. When Oz system performance matured enough (this took years of improvements) to see olo for the first time, the hue surprised me, delighted me, and excited me — because it was such a clear visual change that signified system precision was now close to targeting individual retinal cells at population scale.”
In color matching experiments, participants compared this new color to others and consistently reported that it could not be matched with any natural or artificial light source. They described it as a highly saturated teal or blue-green that could only be approximated by mixing it with white light. This mismatch confirmed that “olo” exists outside the normal human gamut of colors.
The researchers didn’t stop at color patches. They also used the Oz system to display lines and moving dots in image and video form, such as red shapes on an olo background. In these tasks, subjects successfully perceived orientation and motion only when the laser microdoses were delivered accurately. When the targeting was intentionally disrupted, these shapes disappeared or lost their distinct colors, reducing subjects’ performance to guessing. This confirmed that the perceived images were being formed through accurate cell-by-cell stimulation and not from any inherent qualities of the laser itself.
“As we’ve seen in the past few days, the very existence of olo, a hypersaturated teal beyond the human color gamut, has captured the imagination of the public in an enormous way,” Ng said. “That’s natural, because as humans we are very visual animals, and color is right there in the center of our everyday vision — what could feel more natural and complete than our personal sense of color?  I hope what people take away from this story is a sense of the delight that can come from scientific inquiry, of expanding our knowledge, and becoming aware of things just beyond what we can see today.”
The technical achievement of the Oz system lies in its ability to program the retina with unprecedented precision. While other methods—such as silent substitution or adaptation effects—have been used to explore cone-specific activation, they lack the sustained control, spatial resolution, or range that Oz provides. By directly stimulating thousands of cones with rapid pulses of light, the system can produce stable and measurable color experiences, not just fleeting impressions.
The study’s results are significant for both scientific and practical reasons. On the scientific side, they offer a new way to understand the limits and capabilities of human vision. Since all previous color perception research has been bounded by the spectral sensitivities of cone cells, Oz opens a path to explore what the brain does when it receives signals that don’t normally occur in nature. It also allows researchers to test how visual perception is constructed from patterns of cone activation, potentially informing models of visual processing at the neural level.
On the practical side, the Oz platform may have future applications in vision science, clinical diagnostics, or even entertainment. For example, it could be used to test or train individuals with color deficiencies by simulating the presence of a missing photopigment. It might even allow for the perception of “imaginary” colors in people who normally experience the world in only two or three dimensions of color. With further refinement, Oz could potentially enhance virtual or augmented reality experiences by expanding the palette of perceivable colors beyond what any display can currently show.
There are limitations to the current system. It only works in a small region of the retina and requires the subject to maintain strict gaze fixation. Expanding the technique to allow free viewing or to stimulate a wider field of vision would require major technological advances in both optics and computing. The method is also limited to laboratory conditions, relying on equipment that is currently too complex and expensive for broader use.
“This is a basic science project, not a technology or product development effort,” Ng noted. “Folks must understand that they will not be seeing olo on their smartphones or televisions anytime soon. Also, Oz Vision is currently a very small display — the size of your thumbnail at arm’s length or 5 times the area of the full moon.”
Still, the proof-of-principle achieved in this study is an important step forward. By showing that it is possible to program the retina at the level of individual cells and evoke perceptual experiences that go beyond natural vision, the researchers have introduced a new class of display technology—one based not on pixels, but on the biology of the eye itself.
“Olo is a visual sign that Oz Vision is now ready for broad scientific work — we can programmably set the activation of thousands of photoreceptors in the retina, as a basic platform for vision science and neuroscience,” Ng explained. “Some immediate goals are to simulate and study the visual perception that occurs in diseases where a large fraction of the cells have died off but patients are visually unaware; and to study the boosting of color dimension, such as boosting color blindness to full color vision, or full color to tetrachromacy.”
“But the long-term question is the scientific mystery underlying perception. Retinal signals differ so markedly from our experience of color vision, and it remains a mystery how the brain makes sense of such signals and produces the color vision that we enjoy every waking moment. The Oz Vision system enables us to scientifically probe this perceptual miracle in unprecedented ways, and hopefully to elucidate the underlying neural mechanisms.”
“I want to spotlight James Fong and Hannah Doyle, the graduate researchers who co-led this work to success over many years, requiring enormous talent and perseverance,” Ng added. “And my good friend and collaborator, Austin Roorda, who has worked for decades on the science and technology of looking into the eye, seeing individual cells in the retina, and stimulating them with mind-boggling precision.”
The study, “(https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adu1052) Novel color via stimulation of individual photoreceptors at population scale,” was authored by James Fong, Hannah K. Doyle, Congli Wang, Alexandra E. Boehm, Sofie R. Herbeck, Vimal Prabhu Pandiyan, Brian P. Schmidt, Pavan Tiruveedhula, John E. Vanston, William S. Tuten, Ramkumar Sabesan, Austin Roorda, and Ren Ng.

(https://www.psypost.org/the-psychology-behind-the-ick-study-links-sudden-dating-turn-offs-to-narcissism-and-perfectionism/) The psychology behind “the ick”: Study links sudden dating turn-offs to narcissism and perfectionism
May 5th 2025, 11:00

Why do some people experience a sudden, almost visceral repulsion toward a romantic partner—seemingly out of nowhere? A new study published in (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2025.113086) Personality and Individual Differences sheds light on this phenomenon, often called “the ick.” The research suggests that people who are more prone to disgust, who hold others to high standards, or who score higher in narcissism are more likely to experience the ick. Although often triggered by seemingly minor behaviors, the ick may reflect deeper psychological patterns that shape how people evaluate potential partners.
The researchers aimed to better understand what causes people to experience the ick, which has become a widely recognized concept in pop culture. From awkward gestures to quirky habits, the ick describes the sudden feeling of repulsion that leads people to want to end a romantic relationship—sometimes without a clear or logical reason. Despite its popularity on platforms like TikTok and in dating conversations, the psychological factors behind the ick have not been thoroughly studied. The research team sought to investigate whether personality traits such as disgust sensitivity, narcissism, and perfectionism help explain why some people are more prone to experiencing the ick than others.
“The ‘ick’ has become an increasingly prevalent topic over the last few decades. We found references to this phenomenon on social media and TV shows dating back to the mid 90s,” said study author Eliana Saunders, a graduate student at Azusa Pacific University.
“The researchers on this team have also heard it used in common conversation, which sparked interest. While we can’t say how long the phenomenon has been around, conversations about the ‘ick’ have definitely become more popular–especially in younger generations. Personally, I became interested in learning more about the ick when I heard that a friend of mine kept a running list on her phone notes app of every ick she’d ever experienced from a guy (it was several pages long).”
To begin, the researchers conducted a pilot analysis of the first 100 TikTok videos tagged with #theick. After filtering out unrelated content, they categorized the ick triggers shared in 86 videos—most of which described experiences from women. These triggers included behaviors like wearing awkward clothing, saying annoying phrases, or exhibiting socially embarrassing conduct. These categories formed the basis for a follow-up study, which examined how people react to different types of ick-inducing partner behavior.
In the main study, 125 single adults were recruited through Amazon’s Mechanical Turk platform. The final sample included 74 men and 51 women, ranging in age from 24 to 72. Participants were first asked if they had heard the term “the ick” and whether they had personally experienced it. They then rated the likelihood of experiencing the ick in response to specific behaviors, completed personality assessments, and answered questions about their dating experiences.
To measure disgust sensitivity, participants completed a scale assessing how easily they felt disgusted in general. Narcissism was measured using a questionnaire that presented forced-choice statements reflecting grandiose self-perception. To capture perfectionism directed toward others, participants responded to statements about holding high standards for the people in their lives. These three traits were then analyzed in relation to participants’ self-reported experiences with the ick.
The results revealed that 64 percent of participants had experienced the ick at some point. Women were significantly more likely than men to be familiar with the term and to report having felt it. While the number of times people reported experiencing the ick varied widely, most said it happened rarely or occasionally.
Interestingly, the ick led many participants to stop dating a partner—either immediately (26 percent) or later on (42 percent). Others (32 percent) continued the relationship despite feeling put off. Most people (92 percent) talked to someone else about their experience, often confiding in friends or family. Only a minority shared their feelings with the person who caused the ick.
“I thought it was surprising that about a quarter of participants reported ending a relationship immediately upon experiencing the ick,” Saunders told PsyPost. “As the ick increases in popularity, I’m curious if this number will rise or fall.”
While women were more likely than men to recognize and report the ick, there was no significant difference in how frequently they experienced it overall. Both genders reported similar average numbers of ick experiences. However, women and men differed in what triggered the ick for them. For example, women were more likely to be turned off by misogynistic behavior or annoying speech, while men were more sensitive to traits like vanity or “overly trendy” behavior.
Personality traits showed distinct patterns. Higher disgust sensitivity was associated with a greater likelihood of experiencing the ick in response to specific behaviors. However, it did not predict how often someone actually felt the ick. This suggests that people high in disgust sensitivity may react more strongly to individual triggers but do not necessarily experience the ick more frequently across partners.
Narcissism was also linked to the likelihood—but not the frequency—of experiencing the ick. People who scored higher in grandiose narcissism were more likely to react negatively to perceived imperfections, especially those that contradicted their idealized expectations of a partner. However, their ick reactions appeared selective, not routine.
By contrast, other-oriented perfectionism predicted both the likelihood and frequency of experiencing the ick. People who imposed high standards on others were more likely to report being put off by a wide range of partner behaviors, and they experienced the ick more often. Their rigid expectations may lead them to reject partners over relatively minor or superficial issues.
Additional analysis found that different traits were associated with different types of triggers. Among women, perfectionism and narcissism were linked to greater aversion to public embarrassment and physical appearance issues. Among men, disgust sensitivity was tied to speech habits and trendy behavior. These findings suggest that the ick may manifest in diverse ways depending on both gender and personality.
“I think one of the most important lessons a reader can take from our findings is that it’s important to take each ‘ick’ with a grain of salt,” Saunders said. “While this feeling of disgust could be a valid marker of mate incompatibility, it could also be a symptom of high sensitivity to disgust, narcissism, other-oriented perfectionism, etc. Before dumping a partner because their feet dangle when they sit in a chair, we should think critically about why we’re feeling ‘icked’ out. Ask yourself: Is this something I truly can’t deal with, or am I being overly critical? Is this ‘ick’ their fault, or is it mine?”
Although the study reveals meaningful associations, the researchers caution against overinterpreting the results. The sample size fell slightly below the threshold set by a power analysis, which may limit the ability to detect small effects. The study also relied on self-reported data from an online sample, which may not fully capture the nuances of romantic aversion in more long-term or diverse dating contexts.
The researchers note that it remains unclear whether experiencing the ick leads to better relationship decisions. While some ick responses may help people identify subtle signs of incompatibility—such as misogynistic behavior—others, like disliking how someone chases a ping pong ball, may reflect socially shaped aversions with little relevance to long-term compatibility. In this sense, the ick may sometimes help avoid mismatches but may also promote a rejection mindset that undermines dating success.
One avenue for future research is to explore whether repeated exposure to ick-related content on social media increases the likelihood of experiencing the ick. If people begin to adopt others’ aversions through social learning, it may lead to increasingly rigid rejection standards over time.
“It would be interesting to see if icks are rigid or socially malleable,” Saunders said. “If I consume media about others experiencing the ick, will I begin to experience it more? We’re also curious about how much/to what extent the ick could impact long-term relationship success. It would also be interesting to explore ick prevalence in more mature relationships–i.e. Do people still experience the ick with a partner they’ve been with for several years? How does that differ from the ick at the beginning of a relationship?”
The study, “(https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2025.113086) The ick: Disgust sensitivity, narcissism, and perfectionism in mate choice thresholds,” was authored by Brian Collisson, Eliana Saunders, and Chloe Yin.

Forwarded by:
Michael Reeder LCPC
Baltimore, MD

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