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<td><span style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;">PsyPost – Psychology News Daily Digest (Unofficial)</span></td>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/unsweetened-coffee-associated-with-reduced-risk-of-alzheimers-and-parkinsons-diseases-study-finds/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Unsweetened coffee associated with reduced risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases, study finds</a>
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<p><p>Recent research has found that older individuals with a higher intake of caffeinated coffee, particularly the unsweetened variety, are less likely to suffer from Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias, and Parkinson’s disease. This association was not observed for sweetened or artificially sweetened coffee. The research was published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.08.012"><em>American Journal of Clinical Nutrition</em></a>.</p>
<p>Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases are the most common neurodegenerative disorders and are among the leading causes of disability and dependency in aging populations worldwide. Estimates indicate that these conditions currently affect over 63 million people globally.</p>
<p>Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that impacts memory, thinking, and behavior, making it the most common cause of dementia. It typically begins with mild memory loss and gradually worsens, interfering with daily life and independence. The disease is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and tau tangles in the brain, which lead to the death of brain cells. While there is no cure, treatments focus on managing symptoms and improving quality of life.</p>
<p>Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that primarily affects movement due to the degeneration of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain. Common symptoms include tremors, stiffness, slow movement (bradykinesia), and balance difficulties, which worsen over time. Non-motor symptoms, such as sleep disturbances, depression, and cognitive changes, can also occur.</p>
<p>Study author Tingjing Zhang sought to examine the associations between coffee consumption and the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Unlike previous studies, this research also considered the type of coffee consumed.</p>
<p>The researchers analyzed data from the UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical database containing health, genetic, and lifestyle information from approximately 500,000 individuals living in the United Kingdom. This resource is available for research analyses to researchers worldwide.</p>
<p>Data for this analysis came from 204,847 UK Biobank participants who completed dietary assessments between 2009 and 2012. Participants were between 40 and 69 years old, and 55% were female.</p>
<p>Coffee consumption data were collected using the Oxford Web-Q, a web-based questionnaire that asked participants to recall the types and amounts of foods and beverages they consumed in the previous 24 hours. Participants completed this questionnaire on five separate occasions over the course of one year, allowing researchers to examine variations in food and beverage intake.</p>
<p>Participants reported the quantity of coffee consumed in the previous 24 hours. Based on their responses, they were categorized into four groups: non-coffee consumers, consumers of unsweetened coffee, consumers of sugar-sweetened coffee, and consumers of artificially sweetened coffee. Participants who reported coffee intake in at least one dietary recall were categorized as coffee consumers, while those who did not were classified as non-coffee consumers. Those who consistently consumed the same type of coffee across different recalls were identified as sole consumers, while others were categorized as overlapping consumers and excluded from the analysis.</p>
<p>Results showed that approximately 54% of participants consumed unsweetened coffee, while 24% did not drink coffee at all. Sugar-sweetened coffee was consumed by 16% of participants, and the remaining 7% drank artificially sweetened coffee. Participants who did not drink coffee generally preferred tea.</p>
<p>Those who consumed more unsweetened coffee had a 29–30% lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease, related dementias, and Parkinson’s disease, as well as a 43% lower risk of dying from these conditions, compared to non-coffee drinkers. In contrast, consumption of sweetened or artificially sweetened coffee was not associated with a reduced risk of these diseases or related mortality.</p>
<p>Further analysis by caffeine content revealed that drinking decaffeinated coffee was associated with a 34–37% lower risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases and a 47% lower risk of related mortality, compared to non-coffee drinkers. These associations were absent among consumers of sweetened or artificially sweetened decaffeinated coffee.</p>
<p>“Our study reveals significant negative associations of the consumption of unsweetened caffeinated coffee with the risk of ADRD and PD [Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and Parkinson’s disease], as well as related mortality. This underscores an important public health message: the addition of sugar or artificial sweeteners to coffee may have harmful effects and should be approached cautiously. Instead, the recommendation leans toward the consumption of unsweetened and caffeinated coffee,” the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>While the study sheds light on the links between coffee consumption and neurodegenerative diseases, its design does not allow for causal inferences. It remains unclear whether coffee consumption reduces the risk of these diseases, whether these diseases (or their early symptoms) influence beverage intake habits, or if a third factor affects both disease risk and beverage consumption.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajcnut.2024.08.012">Associations between different coffee types, neurodegenerative diseases, and related mortality: findings from a large prospective cohort study,</a>” was authored by Tingjing Zhang, Jiangen Song, Zhenfei Shen, Kewan Yin, Feifei Yang, Honghao Yang, Zheng Ma, Liangkai Chen, Yanhui Lu, and Yang Xia.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/the-oral-brain-axis-new-research-uncovers-surprising-links-between-the-bacteria-in-your-mouth-and-mental-health-symptoms/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">The oral-brain axis: New research uncovers surprising links between the bacteria in your mouth and mental health symptoms</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 16th 2025, 06:00</div>
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<p><p>A recent study published in <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-024-03122-4"><em>Translational Psychiatry</em></a> has found a connection between the bacteria in our mouths and mental health. Researchers analyzed the salivary microbiome of individuals experiencing mental health symptoms comparing it to the microbiome of mentally healthy individuals. Their analysis revealed notable differences in the composition of oral bacteria, suggesting that the oral microbiome may play a significant role in mental well-being. These findings contribute to the growing body of evidence supporting the concept of the “oral-brain axis.”</p>
<p>Mental health disorders are a leading cause of global health burden, affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. While advancements in treatment have improved outcomes for many, obstacles such as treatment resistance, partial responses, and high relapse rates highlight the need for innovative and complementary therapeutic strategies.</p>
<p>Recent research has turned attention to the human microbiome, the vast ecosystem of microorganisms living in and on our bodies, as a potential factor influencing mental health. The gut microbiome, in particular, has been extensively studied for its role in the “gut-brain axis,” a bidirectional communication network connecting the gut and the brain. Changes in the composition and function of gut bacteria have been linked to various mental health conditions, suggesting that targeting the gut microbiome might offer new therapeutic opportunities.</p>
<p>However, the oral microbiome—another critical and diverse microbial community—has received comparatively less attention, despite its potential to influence systemic and brain health. The oral cavity is home to hundreds of bacterial species that interact with the host and other microbial communities.</p>
<p>“My research originally focused on how the gut microbiome influences mental health,” said study author <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?hl=en&user=skH8_UQAAAAJ&view_op=list_works&sortby=pubdate">Stefanie Malan-Müller</a>, a postdoctoral fellow at the Complutense University of Madrid. “Over the years, many studies have shown how the gut and brain communicate through the ‘gut-brain axis,’ affecting mental well-being. But our bodies host microbes in many places, not just the gut. One of these key areas is the mouth, which is directly connected to the gut.”</p>
<p>“We also know that oral health impacts the whole body—research shows, for example, that gum disease can increase the risk of heart disease. This made me wonder: could certain oral bacteria also play a role in mental health? That curiosity led to this study.”</p>
<p>The study analyzed saliva samples from 470 participants recruited from two Spanish population-based microbiome studies. The recruitment criteria ensured that all participants were Spanish residents aged 18 or older, fluent in Spanish, and not recently exposed to antibiotics, which could alter their microbiome.</p>
<p>The sample included both mentally healthy individuals and those experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, or posttraumatic stress disorder. The participants provided detailed self-reports on mental health and periodontal health and submitted saliva samples for analysis using 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing, a technique that identifies and categorizes bacteria based on their genetic material.</p>
<p>The researchers also collected blood samples from a subset of participants to measure levels of tryptophan and serotonin—compounds linked to mental health—and analyzed associations between these levels and oral bacterial composition.</p>
<p>The researchers found significant differences in the composition of the salivary microbiome between individuals with mental health symptoms and healthy controls. Participants with symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder and depression exhibited higher levels of certain bacteria, such as <em>Prevotella histicola</em>. This bacterium, associated with oral inflammation, was also linked to lower interpersonal quality of life scores. Conversely, participants with anxiety disorders had lower levels of <em>Neisseria elongata</em>, a bacterium associated with oral and cardiovascular health.</p>
<p>“What happens in the mouth doesn’t stay in the mouth,” Malan-Müller told PsyPost. “Our results suggest a role for the oral-brain axis—a concept proposing that the bacteria in our mouths could also play a critical role in mental well-being.”</p>
<p>Another key finding was the association between oral microbiota and early life trauma. For instance, higher levels of <em>Streptococcus mutans</em>, a bacterium often linked to dental decay, were found in individuals who reported experiencing childhood emotional neglect.</p>
<p>“We also confirmed that gum health impacts the oral microbiome,” Malan-Müller explained. “People with conditions like gingivitis or periodontitis had distinct patterns of bacteria, including higher levels of <em>Eggerthia</em> and <em>Shuttleworthia</em>, and lower levels of <em>Capnocytophaga</em>.”</p>
<p>Additionally, participants with anxiety disorders showed higher levels of <em>Oribacterium asaccharolyticum</em>, which has been implicated in both oral and gut inflammation. Interestingly, periodontal health also influenced mental health treatment outcomes. Two types of oral bacteria, <em>Eggerthia</em> and <em>Haemophilus parainfluenzae</em>, were linked to both self-reported gum disease (periodontitis or gingivitis) and the perceived effectiveness of psychotherapy.</p>
<p>Importantly, the researchers found evidence of a shared biological pathway linking periodontal health and mental health, involving tryptophan metabolism. Participants with symptoms of depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder exhibited lower levels of tryptophan degradation, which is critical for serotonin production. Reduced tryptophan metabolism was also observed in participants with severe gum disease, linking periodontal health and mental health through a common metabolic pathway.</p>
<p>“One surprising finding was that we didn’t identify a single bacteria directly linked to both mental health and gum health,” <span lang="EN-US">Malan-Müller said. “</span>However, we discovered a potential common biological process performed by microbes that connects the two: the breakdown of tryptophan, an important amino acid.”</p>
<p>“Using PICRUSt analysis, we identified microbial functions associated with mental health symptoms and symptoms of gum disease, revealing reduced tryptophan breakdown in people with PTSD, childhood trauma, poor social relationships, and those with possible gum disease. Reduced tryptophan breakdown can lead to lower serotonin levels—a key chemical involved in regulating mood. Interestingly, we also found lower serotonin levels in the blood of participants with mental health symptoms, suggesting a possible metabolic link between oral bacteria and mental health.”</p>
<p>However, it is important to note that the cross-sectional design of the study also limits the ability to determine causation—whether changes in the oral microbiome contribute to mental health symptoms or result from them. It is also possible that a third factor influences both.</p>
<p>“One important caveat is that our study only shows a link between the types of bacteria in the mouth and mental health symptoms at a single point in time,” Malan-Müller said. “To determine whether the bacteria actually contribute to these symptoms, future research will need to track changes over time and explore how these relationships evolve.”</p>
<p>Future studies could also investigate the mechanisms linking oral bacteria to mental health, such as their role in systemic inflammation or neurotransmitter regulation. Exploring whether improving oral health through better hygiene or targeted interventions could enhance mental well-being is another promising direction.</p>
<p>“Based on our findings, one exciting area for future research is exploring the potential of dental care and oral hygiene as therapeutic tools for improving mental health,” <span lang="EN-US">Malan-Müller explained.</span> “I am currently involved in a randomized controlled trial investigating this approach. Additionally, it’s important to understand the biological pathways linking the oral microbiome to mental health. We need to explore how specific types of bacteria in the mouth may influence brain function and emotional regulation.”</p>
<p>“As we unravel the mysteries of the oral-brain axis, we invite you to consider the importance of maintaining good oral health—not just for a bright smile but also for mental well-being,” she added.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-024-03122-4">Probing the oral-brain connection: oral microbiome patterns in a large community cohort with anxiety, depression, and trauma symptoms, and periodontal outcomes</a>,” was authored by Stefanie Malan-Müller, Rebeca Vidal, Esther O’Shea, Eduardo Montero, Elena Figuero, Iñaki Zorrilla, Javier de Diego-Adeliño, Marta Cano, Maria Paz García-Portilla, Ana González-Pinto, and Juan C. Leza.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/focused-ultrasound-shows-promise-in-treating-alzheimers-by-reducing-amyloid-plaques/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Focused ultrasound shows promise in treating Alzheimer’s by reducing amyloid plaques</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 15th 2025, 16:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in the <em><a href="https://thejns.org/view/journals/j-neurosurg/aop/article-10.3171-2024.8.JNS24989/article-10.3171-2024.8.JNS24989.xml" target="_blank">Journal of Neurosurgery</a></em> highlights the potential of focused ultrasound technology in treating Alzheimer’s disease. The clinical trial demonstrated that repetitive opening of the blood-brain barrier using focused ultrasound reduced amyloid plaques—protein buildups linked to Alzheimer’s—without using Alzheimer’s medications. In addition to clearing plaques, the treatment led to improvements in neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety and irritability, for the majority of participants, showing promise as a new approach to managing this debilitating condition.</p>
<p>Jin Woo Chang, a neurosurgeon at Korea University Anam Hospital, led the study alongside neurologists from Yonsei University. The researchers aimed to explore the potential of focused ultrasound to tackle Alzheimer’s more effectively. </p>
<p>Alzheimer’s disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, is marked by cognitive decline and the accumulation of harmful amyloid-beta plaques in the brain. These plaques have been a primary target for therapies, but existing treatments often struggle to effectively deliver drugs to the brain due to the protective blood-brain barrier. Focused ultrasound offers a way to temporarily open this barrier, enabling access to deeper brain regions.</p>
<p>The study enrolled six women aged 50 to 85 diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Participants underwent three sessions of blood-brain barrier opening at two-month intervals using the ExAblate Neuro 220 kHz low-intensity focused ultrasound system. A microbubble agent, DEFINITY®, was injected intravenously during the procedure to enhance the ultrasound’s effect. This treatment targeted both frontal lobes, focusing on areas of the brain commonly affected by Alzheimer’s. Before and after the sessions, researchers used advanced imaging techniques and neuropsychiatric assessments to evaluate changes in amyloid levels and mental health symptoms.</p>
<p>The study achieved a significant milestone by safely opening a blood-brain barrier volume of 43.1 cubic centimeters—double the volume of previous trials. Importantly, this approach reduced amyloid plaques in four of the six participants. Neuropsychiatric symptoms, measured through the Caregiver-Administered Neuropsychiatric Inventory, improved in five participants, with reductions in issues like agitation, delusions, and anxiety. No serious side effects were reported, and participants tolerated the procedure well, despite its duration and the requirement to remain still.</p>
<p>Chang and his colleagues emphasized that the study’s design isolated the effects of the blood-brain barrier opening alone, without combining it with medications. This allowed them to assess whether focused ultrasound could independently reduce amyloid plaques and improve symptoms. The findings suggest that even without drugs, clearing plaques may positively impact Alzheimer’s symptoms, particularly those related to behavior and mood.</p>
<p>“We developed this protocol to provide optimal benefit and to test the technology in larger regions of the brain that are affected by Alzheimer’s disease,” said Chang. “This study begins to provide a more complete understanding of the effects of blood-brain barrier opening alone. It will serve as the basis for future trials comparing any potential benefit of adding drug delivery the affected areas of the brain.”</p>
<p>The research was funded by the Focused Ultrasound Foundation.</p>
<p>“This study is critical to the field as a whole,” said Foundation Chairman Neal F. Kassell, MD. “Knowing what happens with blood-brain barrier opening in the absence of drugs in patients with Alzheimer’s disease adds a tremendous amount of knowledge to the field and lays the groundwork for further exploration with multiple focused ultrasound mechanisms of action. Focused ultrasound is a new technology that is now being explored in patients with Alzheimer’s disease, a field that has remained stagnant in terms of therapeutic options over the past several decades.” </p>
<p>However, the study’s small sample size limits the generalizability of its results. With only six participants, further research with larger groups is needed to confirm these findings. Additionally, while neuropsychiatric symptoms improved, the study did not observe significant cognitive improvements, such as better memory or problem-solving abilities. This may be because the treatment focused solely on the frontal lobes, while regions like the hippocampus—critical for memory—were not targeted.</p>
<p>Looking ahead, researchers plan to build on these results by conducting larger trials. Future studies will explore the effects of opening even larger brain regions and combining focused ultrasound with Alzheimer’s medications to enhance treatment outcomes. These efforts aim to refine the technique and maximize its potential benefits for patients at various stages of the disease.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://thejns.org/view/journals/j-neurosurg/aop/article-10.3171-2024.8.JNS24989/article-10.3171-2024.8.JNS24989.xml" target="_blank">Repetitive and extensive focused ultrasound–mediated bilateral frontal blood-brain barrier opening for Alzheimer’s disease</a>,” was authored by Byoung Seok Ye, Kyung Won Chang, Sungwoo Kang, Seun Jeon, and Jin Woo Chang.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/generative-ai-simplifies-science-communication-boosts-public-trust-in-scientists/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Generative AI simplifies science communication, boosts public trust in scientists</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 15th 2025, 14:00</div>
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<p><p>AI-generated summaries of scientific studies are not only simpler and more accessible to general readers but also improve public perceptions of scientists’ trustworthiness and credibility, according to recent research published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae387"><em>PNAS Nexus</em></a>. By comparing traditional summaries written by researchers with AI-generated versions, the study highlights how AI can enhance the public’s understanding of scientific information while fostering positive attitudes toward science.</p>
<p>Large language models, such as ChatGPT, are advanced artificial intelligence systems trained on vast amounts of text data to understand and generate human-like language. These models rely on deep learning techniques, specifically neural networks, to analyze patterns in text and predict the most likely sequences of words based on input. The primary strength of these models lies in their ability to process and produce natural language, making them useful for tasks like text summarization, translation, and answering questions.</p>
<p>“I was interested in this topic because many social scientific studies on AI (at the time) were focused on benchmarking AI performance against human performance for a range of tasks (e.g., how well could AI models respond to surveys or behavioral tasks like humans),” said <a href="https://www.davidmarkowitz.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">David M. Markowitz</a>, an associate professor of communication at Michigan State University.</p>
<p>“I wanted to take this a step further to see how AI could enhance and improve consequential aspects of everyday life, not just meet human-like performance. Therefore, I studied how people appraise and make sense of scientific information. The results of this paper largely suggest AI can make scientific information simpler for people, and this can have downstream positive impacts for how humans think about scientists, research, and their understanding of scientific information.”</p>
<p>Markowitz first examined whether lay summaries of scientific articles are simpler than the corresponding scientific abstracts. He focused on articles published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), a highly regarded journal that provides both technical summaries (abstracts) and lay summaries (significance statements), compiling a dataset of over 34,000 articles that included both types of summaries.</p>
<p>The texts were analyzed using an automated linguistic tool called Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC). This software evaluates texts on various linguistic dimensions, including the use of common words, writing style, and readability. Common words were identified as those frequently used in everyday language, which tend to make texts more accessible. Writing style was measured by analyzing how formal or analytical the text appeared, while readability scores considered the length of sentences and the complexity of vocabulary.</p>
<p>The analysis revealed that lay summaries were indeed simpler than scientific abstracts. They contained more common words, shorter sentences, and a less formal writing style. But these differences, while statistically significant, were relatively small. This raised questions about whether lay summaries were simplified enough for non-expert readers to fully understand the scientific content. The findings highlighted a potential opportunity for further simplification, which led to the exploration of AI-generated summaries in the next phase of the study.</p>
<p>Markowitz next conducted an experiment to evaluate whether AI-generated summaries could simplify scientific communication more effectively than human-authored lay summaries. He selected 800 scientific abstracts from the PNAS dataset and used a popular generative AI model, ChatGPT-4, to create corresponding summaries. The AI was instructed to write concise, clear significance statements, following the guidelines provided to PNAS authors for writing lay summaries.</p>
<p>Participants for Study 2 were recruited online and included a diverse sample of 274 individuals from the United States. Each participant was presented with summaries from both AI and human authors, but the pairings were randomized to avoid bias. After reading the summaries, participants were asked to evaluate the credibility, trustworthiness, and intelligence of the authors. They were also asked to assess the complexity and clarity of the summaries and to indicate whether they believed each summary was written by a human or AI.</p>
<p>The results showed that AI-generated summaries were perceived as simpler, clearer, and easier to understand compared to human-authored ones. Participants rated the authors of AI-generated summaries as more trustworthy and credible but slightly less intelligent than the authors of human-written summaries. Interestingly, participants were more likely to mistake AI-generated summaries for human work, while associating the more complex human-written summaries with AI.</p>
<p>These findings demonstrated the potential of generative AI to enhance science communication by making it more accessible and fostering positive perceptions of scientists. However, the slight reduction in perceived intelligence highlighted a trade-off between simplicity and expertise.</p>
<p>In his third and final study, Markowitz expanded on Study 2 by examining not only public perceptions of AI-generated summaries but also their impact on comprehension. The experiment included a larger and more diverse set of stimuli, with 250 participants reading summaries from 20 pairs of AI and human-authored texts. Each participant was randomly assigned to five pairs of summaries, with one summary from each pair being AI-generated and the other human-written.</p>
<p>After reading each summary, participants were asked to answer a multiple-choice question about the scientific content to test their understanding. They were also asked to summarize the main findings of the research in their own words. The summaries provided by participants were evaluated for accuracy and detail using an independent coding process.</p>
<p>Markowitz found that participants demonstrated better comprehension when reading AI-generated summaries. They were more likely to correctly answer multiple-choice questions and provided more detailed and accurate summaries of the scientific content. These results indicated that the linguistic simplicity of AI-generated summaries facilitated deeper understanding and better retention of information.</p>
<p>As in Study 2, participants rated AI-generated summaries as clearer and less complex than human-written ones. However, the perception of authors’ intelligence remained lower for AI-generated texts, and there were no significant differences in credibility and trustworthiness ratings between the two types of summaries.</p>
<p>“I hope that the average person recognizes the positive impact of simplicity in everyday life,” Markowitz told PsyPost. “Simple language feels better to most people than complex language and therefore, I hope this work also suggests that people should demand more from scientists to make their work more approachable, linguistically. Complex ideas do not necessarily need to be communicated in a complex manner.”</p>
<p>While the results are promising, the study has limitations. The data were drawn from a single journal, PNAS, which may not represent all scientific fields or publication practices. Future studies could expand the scope to include a variety of journals and disciplines to confirm the generalizability of these findings.</p>
<p>Future research could explore how AI-generated summaries perform across different scientific domains, the long-term effects on public scientific literacy, and ways to balance simplicity with nuance. It could also examine whether integrating AI tools into the writing process improves the quality of scientific communication from the outset.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae387">From complexity to clarity: How AI enhances perceptions of scientists and the public’s understanding of science</a>,” was published September 2024.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/male-victimhood-ideology-driven-by-perceived-status-loss-not-economic-hardship-among-korean-men/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Male victimhood ideology driven by perceived status loss, not economic hardship, among Korean men</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 15th 2025, 12:00</div>
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<p><p>Research published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-024-01554-2"><em>Sex Roles</em></a> suggests that male victimhood ideology among South Korean men is driven more by perceived socioeconomic status decline rather than objective economic hardship.</p>
<p>In recent years, male victimhood ideology—the belief that men are primary targets of gender discrimination—has gained prominence globally. Advocates of this view argue that feminist policies unfairly disadvantage men. South Korea offers a unique context for exploring this ideology due to significant economic and gender-related social shifts.</p>
<p>Despite high levels of education, young South Korean men face precarious job markets and increasing competition in traditionally male-dominated domains, which has created fertile ground for such beliefs.</p>
<p>Joeun Kim investigated the roots of male victimhood ideology, questioning whether it arises from actual economic hardships or a perceived loss of social privilege.</p>
<p>The study utilized data from four large-scale surveys conducted in South Korea between 2015 and 2023. Each survey assessed male victimhood ideology through agreement with statements like “Men are discriminated against due to excessive feminist policies.” Other variables included age, marital status, education, employment, income, and perceptions of socioeconomic status.</p>
<p>Study 1 surveyed 1,200 men aged 15 to 34, and responses were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale. Study 2 expanded to 3,000 men aged 19 to 59, adding measures of anxiety about social status decline, captured on a 4-point scale. Study 3 included 8,917 men aged 19 to 39, introducing comparisons between participants’ current socioeconomic status and their perceived status at age 15 to evaluate downward mobility. Study 4 analyzed 2,028 men aged 19 to 44, focusing on whether participants perceived their socioeconomic status as lower than their parents’ and including parental class data to examine privilege-related status loss.</p>
<p>All surveys were conducted online to improve accessibility and minimize social desirability bias.</p>
<p>The results consistently showed no significant relationship between male victimhood ideology and objective economic hardship. In Study 1, variables like education, unemployment, and non-regular employment did not predict male victimhood beliefs. Study 2 similarly found no association between income or precarious employment and such beliefs. In some cases, higher-income men were more likely to endorse victimhood ideology.</p>
<p>On the other hand, perceived status decline was a consistent and strong predictor. In Study 2, men with anxiety over status decline were more likely to adopt victimhood beliefs. Study 3 reinforced this finding, showing that men perceiving downward mobility, comparing their current socioeconomic status unfavorably to their status at age 15, were more likely to endorse male victimhood ideology, especially among middle- and upper-class men who experienced sharper losses in privilege. Study 4 further confirmed that perceived status decline relative to one’s parents strongly correlated with male victimhood beliefs, again most pronounced in men from higher socioeconomic backgrounds.</p>
<p>These patterns were absent in women, who displayed much lower levels of victimhood ideology under similar conditions. The findings consistently demonstrate that male victimhood beliefs are driven by perceived privilege loss rather than objective economic hardship.</p>
<p>Findings may not fully generalize to other cultural contexts with different gender and economic dynamics.</p>
<p>The research, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-024-01554-2">Male Victimhood Ideology Among Korean Men: Is It Economic Hardship or Perceived Status Decline?</a>,” was authored by Joeun Kim.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/natures-beauty-inspires-cooperation-study-reveals-the-power-of-aesthetics-in-environmental-conservation/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Nature’s beauty inspires cooperation: Study reveals the power of aesthetics in environmental conservation</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 15th 2025, 10:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/00139165241291700"><em>Environment and Behavior</em></a> highlights the profound impact of nature’s beauty on human behavior, specifically in fostering cooperative efforts to conserve environmental resources. Researchers found that participants were more likely to cooperate in resource-sharing scenarios when the potential environmental consequences of overconsumption were made evident, especially when paired with an image of a beautiful tree. The study provides evidence for the significant role of moral and aesthetic appreciation in driving pro-environmental actions.</p>
<p>Environmental challenges require cooperative efforts to manage shared resources, such as forests, water, and clean air. While economic incentives and penalties have been widely studied as motivators for conservation, they often fail to capture the intrinsic, non-monetary value people place on the environment. The current study sought to explore whether emphasizing certain features of nature could enhance this moral connection and, in turn, inspire greater cooperation in resource-sharing contexts.</p>
<p>“I’ve always been fascinated by the line we walk every day when we make decisions—like whether to take the last slice of pizza, let someone merge in traffic, or go out of our way to recycle,” said study author <a href="https://psychology.uq.edu.au/profile/2626/kelly-kirkland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kelly Kirkland</a> (<a href="https://bsky.app/profile/kellykirkland.bsky.social" target="_blank" rel="noopener">@kellykirkland</a>), a research fellow at the University of Queensland.</p>
<p>“These might seem like tiny, insignificant choices, but they add up, shaping the balance between what’s best for us as individuals and what helps us all as a collective. In psychology, this is called a ‘resource dilemma,’ where our self-interest can clash with the greater good. When we all do our part for the collective, we can create highly cohesive, well-functioning societies. But when everyone looks out for themselves, it can lead to societies that struggle to thrive.”</p>
<p>“And in 2024, the hottest year on record, it’s clear we’re facing a massive, global resource dilemma: putting aside our own immediate self-interest to make choices that can help slow down climate change. That’s what drew me to this topic—understanding how something like our appreciation for beauty or the moral value we place on nature might help tip the scales toward cooperation and action.”</p>
<p>The research involved two experiments using a “resource dilemma game” to simulate real-world decision-making scenarios. In this game, participants had to decide how many points to take from a communal pool, with the understanding that overconsumption could deplete the pool for everyone. Points taken could be converted into monetary rewards, creating an incentive for individual gain.</p>
<p>In first experiment, 185 U.K. participants were divided into three groups. The control group played the resource dilemma game without additional context. The second group, called the “environmental consequence” group, was told that overconsumption would reduce funds donated to a tree and plant preservation charity. The third group, the “anthropomorphic condition,” received the same environmental consequence but was also exposed to a podcast emphasizing the human-like qualities of trees, such as their ability to “communicate” through their root systems.</p>
<p>The game consisted of 10 rounds, with participants able to take up to 10 points per round. A warning appeared midway through the game to indicate that the pool was nearing depletion. At the end of the experiment, participants completed surveys assessing their motivations and perceptions of trees, including questions about intrinsic value, moral worth, and perceived harm.</p>
<p>The researchers found that the group exposed to environmental consequences showed higher cooperation than the control group. Their behavior was driven by a desire to preserve trees and protect nature, rather than by financial motivations or concerns about other players’ actions.</p>
<p>Participants in the anthropomorphic condition perceived trees as having “mind-like” qualities, but this did not significantly enhance cooperation compared to the standard environmental consequence group. This suggests that while anthropomorphism can influence perceptions, it may not be as effective in driving conservation behavior as other factors, such as moral value or beauty.</p>
<p>“What stood out to me was just how clear the impact of beauty was on people’s willingness to cooperate,” Kirkland told PsyPost. “Interestingly, we didn’t find much evidence that emphasizing the human-like qualities of trees—such as giving them traits we typically associate with sentient beings (creatures that can feel or experience things)—activated moral concern or inspired cooperation. This suggests that our moral concern isn’t solely reserved for humans, animals, or other sentient creatures. We seem to extend moral concern to non-sentient objects, like trees, and this concern motivates us to protect them.”</p>
<p>Building on the results of the first experiment, the second experiment introduced the concept of beauty as a potential motivator for conservation. A sample of 246 participants were again divided into three groups: a control group, a “high beauty” group, and a “low beauty” group. The environmental consequence was maintained for both the high and low beauty groups, with points remaining in the pool donated to a tree preservation charity. However, these groups also viewed images of trees that had been pre-rated for their aesthetic appeal—one image represented a highly beautiful tree, while another depicted a less beautiful tree.</p>
<p>The game procedure remained the same as in the first experiment, with participants making point allocation decisions over 10 rounds. As in the first experiment, surveys were administered afterward to gauge participants’ motivations and their perceptions of the trees’ beauty, purity, and moral value.</p>
<p>The researchers found that participants in the high beauty group cooperated more than those in the control group, taking fewer points from the pool to protect the depicted tree. However, no significant difference in behavior was observed between the control group and the low beauty group, indicating that the perceived aesthetic appeal of nature plays a critical role in driving pro-environmental actions.</p>
<p>The surveys further supported these findings. Participants in the high beauty condition reported stronger motivations to protect the trees and expressed greater moral concern for their preservation. They were also more likely to believe that harming the trees was morally wrong. The perception of beauty emerged as a key predictor of cooperative behavior, surpassing other factors such as the belief that trees could be harmed.</p>
<p>“One thing we need to understand better is what motivates people to put their own self-interest aside to take actions that benefit the greater good,” Kirkland said. “Research shows that we’re often moved to act when we feel a strong moral concern—a sense that protecting something is the ‘right’ thing to do, or that failing to act would be ‘wrong.’ So, we wanted to explore how we can activate this sense of moral obligation to inspire action for the environment.”</p>
<p>“What we found was that beauty stood out as a powerful motivator: when people see nature as beautiful or valuable for its own sake, they’re more likely to cooperate to protect it. This shows how fostering a moral connection to the natural world could be a key tool for encouraging conservation efforts.”</p>
<p>But as with all research, there are limitations to consider. The experiments were conducted in controlled, artificial settings, which may not fully capture the complexity of real-world conservation behavior.</p>
<p>“While we were able to show how beauty and moral concern influenced decisions in this controlled setting, there’s still a need to see how this translates to real-world behavior,” Kirkland noted. “Also, these effects might vary depending on cultural or individual differences, so more research is needed to explore that.”</p>
<p>Another area for exploration is the long-term impact of fostering aesthetic appreciation. The current study measured immediate cooperative behavior, but it remains unclear whether emphasizing nature’s beauty can sustain pro-environmental actions over time. Researchers are also interested in investigating whether other moral properties, such as rarity or sentimentality, could similarly inspire conservation efforts.</p>
<p>“We know that seeing the environment as beautiful really matters, but in reality, most of us don’t take the time in our daily lives—like on our commute home or during an afternoon run—to really notice and reflect on the beauty of nature and the trees around us,” Kirkland said. “I’d love to explore how we can encourage people to be more mindful of that beauty and whether it could lead to longer-term impacts on their actions for the environment.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/00139165241291700">Beauty Builds Cooperation by Increasing Moral Concern for the Environment</a>,” was authored by Kelly Kirkland, Paul A. M. Van Lange, Noah Charalambous, Calypso Strauss, and Brock Bastian.</p></p>
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<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
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