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<td><span style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;">PsyPost – Psychology News</span></td>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/artificial-confidence-people-feel-more-creative-after-viewing-ai-labeled-content/" 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;">Artificial confidence? People feel more creative after viewing AI-labeled content</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">May 16th 2025, 10:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in the <em><a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-09140-001?doi=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Personality and Social Psychology</a></em> suggests that simply believing a piece of creative work was made by artificial intelligence—rather than a human—can make people feel more confident in their own creative abilities. Across multiple experiments involving jokes, poetry, visual art, and storytelling, people consistently felt more capable when they thought they were comparing themselves to an AI creator.</p>
<p>Generative artificial intelligence refers to computer systems that can produce text, images, and other forms of media in response to prompts, mimicking human creativity. Tools like ChatGPT, Midjourney, and others are now widely accessible and regularly used to create jokes, artwork, stories, and summaries. As people interact more with this kind of content online, the researchers set out to understand how these interactions might shape people’s self-perceptions—especially their creative self-confidence, which is a person’s belief in their own creative potential.</p>
<p>“As generative artificial intelligence (gen-AI) becomes more widespread, it is increasingly important to understand how people psychologically respond to the content it produces,” said study author <a href="https://www.stern.nyu.edu/faculty/bio/taly-reich" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Taly Reich</a>, an associate professor of marketing at NYU Stern School of Business</p>
<p>The researchers designed a series of preregistered experiments to explore whether exposure to AI-generated content changes how people view their own abilities. Their guiding theory drew from classic ideas in psychology about social comparison. People often evaluate themselves by comparing their abilities to those of others. If someone views a peer’s work and believes the peer is more skilled, their own confidence might go down. But if the comparison target seems less capable, their confidence may go up. The researchers wanted to know where generative AI falls on this spectrum: Do people view AI as a higher or lower creative standard?</p>
<p>To explore this, researchers conducted seven experiments involving a total of 6,801 participants from the United States and the United Kingdom. In each study, participants were shown the same creative work, but it was randomly labeled as being produced either by a generative AI system or by a fellow participant. The studies spanned different creative domains, including humor, poetry, drawing, storytelling, and caption writing.</p>
<p>Participants were then asked to evaluate their own creative abilities and how capable they thought the content’s author was. Across studies, the researchers also explored whether this boost in confidence led to behavioral outcomes—such as a greater willingness to create content—and tested whether the effect would still occur with high- or low-quality content or in non-creative domains like factual writing.</p>
<p>In Studies 1A, 1B, and 1C, participants were exposed to jokes, visual art, and poetry, respectively. In each case, the content was exactly the same, but half of the participants were told it came from AI, while the other half were told it came from another person. After reading or viewing the content, participants were asked how confident they were in their ability to produce something better. Those who believed the work came from AI consistently rated themselves as more capable. This effect was strongest when participants also believed the AI was less talented in that domain, suggesting that people use the perceived lower ability of AI as a way to boost their own self-assessments.</p>
<p>Study 2 focused on storytelling. Participants read a short story that was either labeled as AI- or human-generated and then were given the option to write their own story using a prompt. Those who believed the original story came from AI were significantly more likely to say they wanted to try writing a story themselves. The researchers found that the increase in creative self-confidence translated into a greater willingness to engage in the task.</p>
<p>Study 3 tested whether this newfound self-confidence was warranted. Participants read a cartoon caption they believed was written by either AI or a human, then wrote their own caption. Although those who read the AI-attributed caption reported higher confidence and rated their own captions more positively, external judges found no difference in the actual quality of their work. This suggests that the confidence boost may not always be justified.</p>
<p>In Study 4, the researchers manipulated the quality of the creative content itself. Regardless of whether participants were shown a low-quality or high-quality caption, they still felt more confident in their abilities when they believed the caption came from AI. This indicates that people’s perceptions of the author’s general ability—not just the quality of the specific work—played a stronger role in shaping their self-confidence.</p>
<p>Study 5 tested whether the effect was limited to creative domains. Participants were shown either a creative story or a factual explanation about rain, again labeled as either AI- or human-generated. As before, participants felt more confident after seeing AI-labeled creative content. But this effect disappeared in the factual domain. People judged AI and human authors equally when it came to fact-based writing, and their own confidence remained unchanged regardless of the label.</p>
<p>Together, the studies show that people tend to view AI as a less capable social comparison point when it comes to creative work. This makes them feel more confident in their own creative abilities, even when the content they viewed was identical to what they would have seen had it been attributed to a human. The researchers argue that this is a form of downward social comparison, where people compare themselves to a perceived lower-performing “other” to feel better about their own skills.</p>
<p>“Can exposure to generative AI content reshape people’s self-views? This work finds that when people are exposed to the exact same creative content but believe that it was created by generative AI (vs. another person), they have greater confidence in their own creative abilities,” Reich told PsyPost. “This can lead people to be more likely to attempt a creative activity, even if they don’t have the objective ability underlying their newfound creative self-confidence.”</p>
<p>This boost in self-confidence could have both benefits and drawbacks, the researchers said. On the one hand, it might help people overcome hesitation and take creative risks they might otherwise avoid. For example, students struggling to begin a writing assignment might feel more confident after seeing an AI-generated example. On the other hand, if the confidence boost is not grounded in actual ability, it could lead to overconfidence and poor performance.</p>
<p>“For companies and educators looking to bolster the creative self-confidence of their members, exposure to generative AI-labeled work can help bolster those self-perceptions,” Reich said. “This can also be useful if people are simply stuck in how to proceed with a task; asking generative AI to create something can help inspire psychological confidence to do it yourself.”</p>
<p>The researchers also explored whether perceptions of AI’s creative ability could change over time. In follow-up studies, they found that people’s self-confidence was affected by whether the AI was described as having emotional depth or authenticity—traits that are commonly associated with human creativity. This suggests that people may be willing to update their beliefs about AI’s creative potential, which could in turn shift how comparisons to AI influence self-perception.</p>
<p>One strength of the research is its use of preregistered designs for most of the studies, which helps reduce researcher bias and strengthens the credibility of the findings. The large overall sample size and replication of key results across multiple independent studies also support the reliability and generalizability of the conclusions within Western contexts.</p>
<p>But there are still some limitations to consider. The experimental settings were intentionally minimalistic, designed to isolate specific psychological processes. As a result, they may not fully capture how people engage with AI-generated content in everyday life. The samples were also drawn exclusively from Western countries, so the findings may not apply universally. Finally, most of the conclusions rely on mediation analysis, which infers the psychological process from statistical patterns rather than direct observation.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/pspa0000450" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Does Artificial Intelligence Cause Artificial Confidence? Generative Artificial Intelligence as an Emerging Social Referent</a>,” was authored by Taly Reich and Jacob D. Teeny.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/oxytocin-pathways-in-the-brain-fuel-spontaneous-helping-behavior-in-mice/" 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;">Oxytocin pathways in the brain fuel spontaneous helping behavior in mice</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">May 16th 2025, 08:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in the <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/pnas.2423374122"><em>Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences</em></a> has revealed that mice spontaneously help unconscious peers recover from anesthesia through grooming and licking behaviors. These actions, which occur without training or external rewards, not only speed up the recovery of the anesthetized mice but also appear to reduce the emotional stress of the helping mice. The research identifies two distinct brain pathways—both relying on the neuropeptide oxytocin—that regulate the emotional and motor aspects of this behavior.</p>
<p>Scientists have long been fascinated by acts of spontaneous helping in humans and animals. While certain species like dogs, elephants, and primates have been known to engage in helping behaviors, the extent to which rodents are capable of untrained, prosocial actions has been unclear. The current study set out to investigate whether mice could exhibit a type of altruistic behavior known as “rescue-like behavior” and to understand the brain mechanisms behind it.</p>
<p>“The study originated from a serendipitous observation,” explained study author Zhou-Feng Chen, senior principal investigator at the Institute of Neurological and Psychiatric Disorders at <a href="https://en.szbl.ac.cn/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Shenzhen Bay Laboratory</a>. “During routine experiments, a student noticed awake mice repeatedly licking and grooming an anesthetized companion in their home cage. This unexpected behavior sparked our curiosity: Why were they doing this? Further investigation revealed that such social grooming and licking appeared to accelerate the anesthetized mouse’s recovery from unconsciousness, which became the foundation of our research.”</p>
<p>Intrigued by this unexpected interaction, the research team began systematically studying the phenomenon. They wanted to know whether this behavior was driven by empathy-like processes, whether it helped the unconscious mice recover, and which neural circuits were involved.</p>
<p>To investigate, the researchers developed a new behavioral test. An awake mouse (called the observer) was placed in a chamber with a peer (the demonstrator) who had been anesthetized with ketamine. The observer typically approached the anesthetized demonstrator and began licking its face and grooming its body. These interactions were recorded on video and scored for the amount of time spent in social grooming behavior.</p>
<p>The team tested various conditions to see whether this behavior was specific to certain types of demonstrators. Observer mice interacted much more with live anesthetized animals than with dead mice or artificial models, suggesting that they could detect signs of life and directed their behavior accordingly.</p>
<p>“Mice could distinguish between unconsciousness and death, avoiding deceased companions,” Chen told PsyPost. “This implies unconscious mice may emit ‘distress signals’ to elicit help—a phenomenon reminiscent of ‘SOS’ signals.”</p>
<p>In follow-up experiments, the researchers found that this rescue-like behavior helped the unconscious mice regain their righting reflex—the ability to flip themselves upright—sooner than they would have without help. Electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings confirmed that mice receiving social grooming emerged from anesthesia more quickly, showing a shift from low-frequency brain waves (associated with deep unconsciousness) to higher-frequency patterns linked to wakefulness.</p>
<p>Chen was surprised by the dramatic effect of licking. “Anesthetized mice regained consciousness up to 30% faster when licked,” he noted.</p>
<p>To explore whether the observer mice were emotionally affected by the state of their peers, the researchers measured levels of corticosterone, a hormone associated with stress. Mice that could see but not touch an anesthetized cage mate had higher stress levels than those exposed to a healthy peer, suggesting that witnessing a non-responsive conspecific caused emotional distress. Giving the observer mice a drug that reduces social stress led to delayed approaches and less grooming, indicating that emotional arousal may motivate the rescue-like behavior.</p>
<p>At the neurobiological level, the researchers focused on the role of oxytocin, a hormone known to be involved in social bonding. Mice that lacked the gene for oxytocin showed significantly less rescue-like behavior. Using fiber photometry to track real-time brain activity, the researchers observed that oxytocin-producing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus became active when mice approached and groomed an anesthetized peer.</p>
<p>To pinpoint how oxytocin influences different aspects of the behavior, the team examined two brain regions that receive projections from the PVN. The central amygdala (CeA) appeared to be involved in the emotional recognition of the demonstrator’s state. When oxytocin receptors in this region were blocked, mice showed less social grooming and took longer to approach. The dorsal bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (dBNST), by contrast, controlled the execution of the grooming behavior itself. Stimulating this area led mice to perform grooming behaviors even without a demonstrator present, while shutting it down stopped grooming altogether.</p>
<p>The two pathways played different roles in shaping the behavior. Activity in the CeA peaked right at the start of grooming, suggesting it functions as a trigger for the behavior. In contrast, the dBNST showed a sustained activation pattern that matched the duration of grooming. These findings suggest that the CeA helps initiate the response, while the dBNST keeps it going.</p>
<p>“Mice spontaneously lick/groom unconscious peers, significantly shortening their recovery time,” Chen told PsyPost. “The primary motivator for this behavior seems to be emotional stress in the awake mice, suggesting that ‘helping’ others might stem from self-preservation instincts rather than pure altruism. Reciprocal care—helping others to benefit oneself or the group ultimately—appears deeply rooted in evolution and common among social animals. This reciprocity likely strengthens communal bonds and enhances species survival.”</p>
<p>Despite the strengths of the study, several questions remain. It is still unclear exactly how mice detect that a peer is unconscious or in need of help. The sensory cues—such as smell, movement, or posture—that signal distress have yet to be identified. The research also does not resolve whether separate populations of oxytocin neurons control the emotional and motor aspects of the behavior, or whether the same neurons serve both functions.</p>
<p>The authors hope future studies will further investigate how sensory information is processed in the brain and translated into targeted actions. They also suggest that this new model of spontaneous rescue-like behavior in mice could be used to study disorders of social functioning, such as autism or depression, where empathy and prosocial behavior are often impaired.</p>
<p>“We aim to decode the licking-recovery link by identifying the underlying mechanisms (neural and molecular) by which social touch accelerates awakening,” Chen explained. “Besides oxytocin, which plays a dual role in rescue-like behavior (emotion and action), we want to identify additional molecules involved. We also like to explore how self-interested behaviors paradoxically foster group survival, potentially bridging the altruism-versus-self-interest debate in the evolution of empathy and prosocial behavior.”</p>
<p>“It is remarkable that mice are genetically programmed to engage in social licking and grooming to assist their peers, even without conscious intent. Although it remains unclear how these behaviors manifest in the wild, the observation that mice display instinctive helping behaviors suggests that rodents may have a greater capacity for prosociality than previously recognized.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2423374122" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Distinct oxytocin signaling pathways synergistically mediate rescue-like behavior in mice</a>,” was authored by Feng-Rui Zhang, Juan Liua, Jieqi Wend, Zi-Yan Zhang, Yijia Li, Eric Song, Li Hu, and Zhou-Feng Chen.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/scientists-use-brain-activity-to-predict-starcraft-ii-skill-in-fascinating-new-neuroscience-research/" 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;">Scientists use brain activity to predict StarCraft II skill in fascinating new neuroscience research</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">May 16th 2025, 06:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in <em>Computers in Human Behavior</em> sheds light on the brain mechanisms that support visual search skills in real-time strategy video games. Researchers found that people with specific patterns of brain activity and white matter structure performed better in the game StarCraft II, especially when it came to resource-related tasks that require scanning a complex visual environment. The results suggest that efficient attentional processing and underlying neural traits can facilitate skill development in fast-paced gaming environments.</p>
<p>StarCraft II is a real-time strategy game that requires players to manage resources, control armies, and make decisions under time pressure. Unlike action games that rely heavily on reflexes, StarCraft II emphasizes strategic planning and rapid information processing. Because the game demands frequent shifts in visual attention and quick identification of important in-game elements, it offers a unique opportunity to study how cognitive functions like visual search operate in dynamic, realistic settings.</p>
<p>“While research on video games is well-established, only in recent years have we begun to systematically explore their potential benefits for cognitive functioning,” said study author Natalia Jakubowska, an assistant professor at SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities. “At the same time, esports has evolved into a serious discipline, where discussions about individual predispositions—much like in traditional sports—are increasingly common. We became curious whether there might be neurobiological traits that support effective learning or high-level performance in complex games.”</p>
<p>“On a more personal level, video games have always been part of my life—I grew up with them, and over time began to look at them through a research lens as well. During my student years, I somehow managed to spend over 1,200 hours playing The Witcher 3. These days I rarely dive into RPGs, but they definitely hold a special (and slightly nostalgic) place in my heart. Being able to combine my scientific interests with a long-standing personal fascination felt like a natural and rewarding direction.”</p>
<p>Jakubowska and her colleagues designed their study to investigate how attention-related brain activity and brain structure predict success in StarCraft II. They were particularly interested in a brain signal called the N2pc, an electrical pattern measured using electroencephalography (EEG) that reflects how attention is allocated in space. In addition to EEG, participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to examine the integrity of white matter pathways in the brain, which are essential for communication between different brain regions. The team wanted to know whether these neural markers, recorded before any gameplay training, could predict how well participants would perform in the game over time.</p>
<p>The study included 21 non-gamers who received 30 hours of supervised StarCraft II training. Before the training began, all participants completed a visual search task while their brain activity was recorded. This task involved identifying a target shape among distracting shapes—sometimes in an easy “pop-out” condition, and other times in a harder “inefficient” search condition. The N2pc component was extracted from EEG data during these tasks. In parallel, participants underwent diffusion MRI scans to assess white matter integrity in key brain regions.</p>
<p>During the 30 hours of StarCraft II training, detailed in-game telemetry was collected. This included behavioral metrics like resource collection rates, unit production, strategic decision timing, and camera movement. The researchers used statistical modeling to condense these numerous metrics into three main gameplay factors: a “Proficiency Factor” related to strategic skill and unit management, a “Resource Factor” reflecting efficiency in acquiring and using in-game resources, and an “Efficiency Factor” linked to timing and multitasking.</p>
<p>The findings revealed several significant relationships between pre-training brain data and later in-game performance. Participants who showed lower N2pc amplitudes during the inefficient visual search condition performed better on resource-related tasks in StarCraft II. This suggests that those who needed less neural effort to carry out a difficult search task were better equipped to manage resource-gathering strategies in the game. In other words, efficient neural processing of visual information seemed to translate into better gameplay in a visually demanding environment.</p>
<p>In addition, white matter integrity in two specific brain areas—the right anterior limb of the internal capsule and the left external capsule—was positively associated with the same resource-related gameplay factor. These brain regions are known to connect frontal areas involved in decision-making with subcortical structures that support learning and attention. Higher fractional anisotropy, a measure of white matter coherence, in these regions was linked to both lower N2pc amplitudes and better in-game performance. This suggests a broader interaction between stable brain structure and dynamic attentional processes in shaping how players develop expertise in the game.</p>
<p>“We were surprised by how clearly individual differences emerged even at the pre-training stage—and how well they predicted later in-game performance,” Jakubowska told PsyPost. “This suggests that some people may have neurobiological predispositions for developing specific skills in environments that demand rapid visual information processing—and that these traits can be detected even before any formal training takes place.”</p>
<p>“At the same time, we were genuinely thrilled that our integrative approach worked so well. This was our first study combining functional (EEG), structural (MRI), and behavioral (telemetry-based game data) perspectives, and despite its methodological complexity, our model held up. We’re especially excited because very few studies to date have managed to integrate all three levels of analysis—particularly using real in-game telemetry rather than artificial lab tasks.”</p>
<p>Interestingly, the N2pc amplitude during the easier “pop-out” condition showed a possible relationship with overall strategic proficiency, though this link was weaker. The researchers suggest that the ability to detect salient visual information rapidly might help players with early-stage strategy planning, but more advanced strategic behavior likely draws on a broader set of cognitive skills beyond visual attention alone.</p>
<p>The study also highlights that these functional and structural brain measures were not related to each other, but independently contributed to performance. This supports the idea that efficient visual search relies on both moment-to-moment attentional control and long-term neural architecture. The anterior limb of the internal capsule, in particular, connects brain areas involved in planning, learning, and attentional control. Its role in visual search and skill acquisition is consistent with past research showing its importance for cognitive speed and strategy execution. The external capsule, though less understood, also links various brain regions involved in perception and memory, which may aid in complex environmental scanning.</p>
<p>“Our study suggests that individuals who are more efficient at processing visual information—for example, locating relevant targets quickly amidst distractions—may have a natural advantage when it comes to performing well in complex strategy games like StarCraft II,” Jakubowska explained. “Interestingly, these differences are reflected not only in behavior, but also in brain activity and white matter structure.”</p>
<p>“This indicates that success in video games—at least those that rely heavily on attention and planning—is not solely a matter of practice or habit. It may also relate to individual cognitive and neurobiological traits. More broadly, our findings support the idea that video games can serve as valuable tools for studying human attention and learning in dynamic, real-world-like environments.”</p>
<p>“At the same time, it’s important to remember that performance in games is rarely driven by a single cognitive skill,” Jakubowska continued. “Much depends on the strategy a player adopts, as well as on the specific nature and demands of the game. In our research, we focused on one specific mechanism—selective visual attention—but our findings clearly point to how much remains to be explored. Games like StarCraft II provide a cognitively rich environment that deserves further investigation from multiple angles.”</p>
<p>“And this is just one game—we should keep in mind that the diversity of genres and mechanics in the world of video games offers an even broader landscape for future research.”</p>
<p>While the results are promising, the authors note several limitations. The study had a relatively small sample size, which means it may not have had enough statistical power to detect smaller effects or allow detailed subgroup comparisons. Participants were also limited to non-gamers, so it remains to be seen whether the same neural patterns would predict performance in experienced players or professionals.</p>
<p>“We specifically recruited young adults (aged 18–35) with minimal experience in video games and no prior exposure to RTS, FPS, or TPS titles,” Jakubowska explained. “This made recruitment particularly challenging, but allowed us to control for prior gaming-related cognitive adaptation.”</p>
<p>“It’s also important to emphasize that this is a preliminary study—we are not yet measuring the effects of training itself, but rather identifying potential predictors of in-game success. Moreover, we focused on a single cognitive mechanism—selective visual attention—and examined it within the context of one game with specific demands. This represents a narrow, but promising, slice of a much broader landscape that warrants further investigation.”</p>
<p>“Despite these limitations, our findings clearly show that this kind of integrated approach—combining functional, structural, and behavioral data—holds significant promise for advancing our understanding of attention and learning in complex human–computer interaction environments,” Jakubowska said.</p>
<p>As interest grows in the potential of video games for cognitive training, this research lays the groundwork for future investigations. Whether the goal is to enhance attention, design better training programs, or understand how the brain supports learning in dynamic settings, real-time strategy games like StarCraft II may continue to offer a powerful and flexible research tool.</p>
<p>“Our main long-term goal is to expand this line of research by examining other cognitive functions,” Jakubowska said. “In this study, we focused on selective visual attention, but complex video games engage a much broader range of processes—such as working memory, cognitive flexibility, and decision-making. We are interested in exploring whether and how these functions are reflected in brain structure, brain activity, and game performance.”</p>
<p>“Another key direction is longitudinal research. We now have data from four time points: before training, and after 10, 30, and 60 hours of gameplay. This gives us a rare opportunity to track how cognitive and neural indicators evolve over time in response to structured, high-intensity training. We’re particularly interested in whether early predispositions remain stable, diminish, or are eventually “caught up” by less initially advantaged participants.”</p>
<p>“Equally important is the training environment itself,” Jakubowska continued. “Many cognitive studies rely on overly simplified or repetitive tasks that only superficially resemble real gaming. We aimed to strike a balance between experimental control and ecological validity. Our participants trained in a structured environment where we controlled for difficulty, scenario complexity, and—at later stages—enabled multiplayer interactions. This allowed us to construct two types of training conditions: more “lab-like” and more similar to real-world gaming. I strongly believe that even a highly capable individual may fail to develop cognitively in an inadequate environment—one that is too easy, monotonous, or unengaging. That may help explain why previous findings on the cognitive impact of gaming have been so mixed.”</p>
<p>“In the future, I would also love to conduct a comparative study involving professional players. I’m curious whether the differences we observe are purely quantitative—driven by training time and intensity—or whether elite gamers function differently on a qualitative level, both cognitively and neurologically.”</p>
<p>“Finally, I’d like to express my deepest gratitude to the entire research team,” Jakubowska added. “Collecting data from a single participant—four behavioral assessments, four EEG sessions, four MRI scans, and 60 hours of in-lab training—required an enormous amount of coordinated effort. We estimate that each participant accounted for at least 100–120 hours of work, often involving multiple researchers at the same time. This really highlights the scale and dedication needed for studies of this kind, and I am incredibly grateful to everyone who contributed.”</p>
<p>“This project also reminded us that while integrated studies—combining neural, behavioral, and environmental data—are deeply fascinating and full of scientific promise, they are also extremely difficult to carry out. The reward of meaningful, high-quality data is often delayed by months or even years of hard work—not to mention the challenges of recruitment, training adherence, and logistical complexity across multiple measurement points.”</p>
<p>“Lastly, I’d like to share a personal belief: I think games, while not always and not all equally, can be a valuable part of our lives,” Jakubowska concluded. “I don’t believe they are harmful in moderation—quite the opposite. Today’s games are not only entertainment tools; they are also complex learning environments, spaces for decision-making, social interaction, and even cultural expression. I believe it’s time we approached them with more openness—including from a scientific perspective.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2025.108689" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brainwaves on battlegrounds: Preliminary insights into EEG, white matter microstructure, and StarCraft II performance</a>,” was authored by Weronika Nieciecka, Paulina Lewandowska, Stanisław Adamczyk, Alicja Anna Binkowska, Aneta Brzezicka, Patryk Szczeciński, and Natalia Jakubowska.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/caffeine-and-alzheimers-disease-moderate-intake-may-slow-cognitive-decline/" 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;">Caffeine and Alzheimer’s disease: Moderate intake may slow cognitive decline</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">May 15th 2025, 17:36</div>
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<p><p>A new scientific review published in <em><a href="http://10.7759/cureus.80923" target="_blank">Cureus</a></em> suggests that moderate caffeine consumption might help protect against the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, especially in individuals with mild cognitive impairment. Although the evidence is not entirely consistent, the findings point toward a possible dose-dependent relationship, with higher caffeine levels associated with slower cognitive decline.</p>
<p>Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia, affecting millions of people worldwide. As life expectancy increases, the number of individuals living with Alzheimer’s is expected to rise significantly, tripling by 2050. This has sparked a global effort to identify factors that could slow or prevent the disease’s progression. Since current treatments offer only limited relief, researchers are increasingly exploring lifestyle factors—such as diet, exercise, and sleep—for their potential protective effects. Caffeine, found in coffee, tea, and other beverages, is one such factor under investigation.</p>
<p>Caffeine is one of the most widely consumed substances in the world. It stimulates the brain, increases alertness, and improves mood. But scientists have also been exploring whether its effects go deeper—perhaps even helping to protect the brain against neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s. Animal studies have shown that caffeine can reduce the buildup of harmful proteins in the brain. Human research has produced mixed results, but some studies have reported that regular coffee drinkers tend to have lower rates of cognitive decline.</p>
<p>To better understand the potential link between caffeine intake and Alzheimer’s progression, a team of researchers from institutions in Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and the United States conducted a systematic review. They examined studies from major scientific databases to identify those that looked at how caffeine consumption affected the risk of developing Alzheimer’s or the progression from mild cognitive impairment to full-blown dementia.</p>
<p>The review included four studies that met strict inclusion criteria. One of the most compelling pieces of evidence <a href="https://doi.org/10.3233/JAD-2012-111781" target="_blank">came from a study</a> that measured caffeine levels in the blood of people with mild cognitive impairment. Those with higher plasma caffeine levels—above 1200 nanograms per milliliter—did not go on to develop dementia during the study period. In contrast, those with lower levels had a significantly higher risk of progressing to Alzheimer’s.</p>
<p>Another <a href="https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.14169" target="_blank">study from the BALTAZAR cohort</a>, a large European sample, found that individuals who consumed less than 216 milligrams of caffeine per day—roughly two cups of coffee—had more memory problems and worse biological markers associated with Alzheimer’s. This supports the idea that a threshold amount of caffeine may be needed to see protective effects.</p>
<p>A <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/nu14091697" target="_blank">genetic study using data from the UK Biobank</a> added more nuance to the picture. Researchers used a method called Mendelian randomization, which looks at genetic variants associated with naturally higher caffeine levels in the blood. They found a modest protective effect, but the result did not reach statistical significance. Still, it suggested that the connection between caffeine and brain health could be partly influenced by how each person’s body processes caffeine.</p>
<p>Another <a href="https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1468-1331.2002.00421.x" target="_blank">long-term study from Portugal</a> compared people with Alzheimer’s to healthy individuals. Over the 20 years leading up to diagnosis, those who developed Alzheimer’s had consumed less caffeine than those who remained cognitively healthy. After accounting for other health conditions, this pattern remained.</p>
<p>Overall, the review suggests that moderate caffeine intake—generally over 200 milligrams per day—may offer some protection against Alzheimer’s disease. This protective effect seems to be strongest in people with mild cognitive impairment, a condition that often precedes Alzheimer’s but doesn’t yet cause major disruptions in daily life. Caffeine may help delay or prevent the transition from this early stage to full dementia.</p>
<p>The researchers also examined potential biological explanations for the effect. Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain, which can reduce inflammation and support better communication between brain cells. It may also help limit the accumulation of amyloid-beta, a protein that forms plaques in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s. Other studies have shown that caffeine boosts levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, a molecule that supports learning and memory by strengthening connections between neurons.</p>
<p>The review highlights several factors that may influence the relationship between caffeine and Alzheimer’s. Genetics play a role, especially in how the body breaks down caffeine. For example, people with certain versions of the CYP1A2 gene metabolize caffeine more slowly, which could affect how long it stays active in the body. Timing also matters. People who have consumed caffeine regularly over many years, particularly during midlife, seem to benefit more than those who start later in life.</p>
<p>Although these findings are encouraging, the researchers caution that the evidence is still incomplete. The four studies included in the review varied widely in design, participant populations, and methods of measuring caffeine intake. Some relied on self-reported dietary surveys, while others used blood tests. These differences make it hard to draw firm conclusions or recommend specific intake levels for everyone.</p>
<p>Another limitation is that most of the studies were observational. They can show associations, but they can’t prove that caffeine directly causes a reduction in Alzheimer’s risk. It’s possible that people who drink more coffee also engage in other healthy behaviors that contribute to better brain health, such as regular physical activity or a healthy diet.</p>
<p>The researchers call for more well-designed clinical trials that can test how different amounts of caffeine affect brain health over time. They also suggest studying different sources of caffeine—like coffee, tea, or chocolate—to determine whether the benefits come from caffeine itself or from other compounds found in these foods and drinks.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="http://10.7759/cureus.80923" target="_blank">Association Between Caffeine Intake and Alzheimer’s Disease Progression: A Systematic Review</a>,” was authored by Zarbakhta Ashfaq, Zainab Younas, Eemaz Nathaniel, Abdur Rehman, Arzoo Siddiqi, Naveed Rasool, and Maaz Amir.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/new-research-links-postnatal-depression-to-a-disrupted-oxytocin-response-during-breastfeeding/" 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;">New research links postnatal depression to a disrupted oxytocin response during breastfeeding</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">May 15th 2025, 16:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107374"><em>Psychoneuroendocrinology</em> </a>sheds light on the complex relationship between postnatal depression and oxytocin, a hormone essential for breastfeeding and bonding between mothers and their infants. The research found no significant difference in oxytocin levels in breast milk between mothers with postnatal depression and those without, but it did reveal that oxytocin administered via nasal spray increased milk oxytocin only in mothers without depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that depression may disrupt the normal oxytocin response to breastfeeding, with potential implications for maternal well-being and infant development.</p>
<p>The motivation behind this study comes from growing interest in how breastfeeding supports emotional bonding between mothers and babies, and how difficulties in this process may be linked to postnatal depression. Past research has shown that breastfeeding can reduce stress, improve mood, and strengthen the emotional connection between mother and infant. However, mothers with postnatal depression are more likely to report early weaning, negative experiences while breastfeeding, and difficulty forming intimate bonds. One hypothesis is that hormonal disruptions, particularly involving oxytocin, may help explain these patterns.</p>
<p>Oxytocin plays a central role in milk release during breastfeeding and in emotional bonding. It is released in both the brain and the body during skin-to-skin contact and when the infant suckles. In the brain, oxytocin contributes to feelings of calm, safety, and connection. In the body, it triggers the contraction of muscle cells in the breast to release milk. The researchers wanted to know whether mothers experiencing symptoms of postnatal depression produce less oxytocin in their breast milk, and whether this could help explain some of the challenges they face in breastfeeding and bonding with their babies.</p>
<p>“The transition to motherhood during pregnancy and the year following childbirth is a period of vulnerability for women, and approximately 10–20% of new mothers experience anxiety and depression. This causes feelings of sadness, loss, and shame for the woman, and if left untreated can also have a damaging impact on the health of her baby,” said study author <a href="https://profiles.ucl.ac.uk/53130-kate-lindley-baroncohen/publications">Kate Lindley Baron-Cohen</a>, a postdoctoral researcher at University College London.</p>
<p>“We know that breastfeeding can have a positive effect on the mother–infant relationship and on children’s development. Breastfeeding can also be protective against mental health difficulties in new mothers. But many women who experience depression after childbirth do not breastfeed, or struggle with it if they try, which can worsen their mental health and reduce their baby’s opportunities to receive the benefits that breastfeeding can offer. We were driven to explore this further to improve the support that can be offered to new mothers and their babies.”</p>
<p>To investigate, the researchers recruited 62 breastfeeding mothers between the ages of 23 and 42. All participants were between 3 and 9 months postpartum and were currently breastfeeding, either exclusively or alongside other foods. The mothers completed a questionnaire that assessed their symptoms of postnatal depression using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, a widely used screening tool. Based on their scores, the researchers divided the sample into two groups: 26 mothers who met the threshold for probable postnatal depression and 36 who did not.</p>
<p>Each mother attended three sessions at a research lab. In the first session, breast milk samples were collected during a regular breastfeeding session to measure baseline levels of naturally occurring oxytocin. In the second and third sessions, the mothers received a nasal spray—either a placebo or one containing oxytocin—before breastfeeding. The order was randomized and double-blinded, meaning neither the participants nor the researchers knew which spray was being administered. After a resting period to allow the spray to take effect, the mothers breastfed and another milk sample was collected.</p>
<p>The researchers used a laboratory technique called ELISA to measure the concentration of oxytocin in the breast milk samples. They then analyzed whether oxytocin levels were related to depression scores and whether they changed after the oxytocin nasal spray was administered.</p>
<p>Contrary to the researchers’ predictions, there was no evidence that mothers with postnatal depression had lower oxytocin levels in their breast milk compared to those without depression. The analysis showed no significant correlation between breast milk oxytocin levels and depression symptoms. In other words, depressive symptoms did not appear to reduce the amount of oxytocin in breast milk at baseline.</p>
<p>“This suggested to us the possibility that lactation difficulties reported by mothers with depression may be more attributable to psychological factors than biological ones such as oxytocin, and could be best supported by psychological therapy,” Baron-Cohen told PsyPost.</p>
<p>However, when the researchers looked at how oxytocin levels changed in response to the nasal spray, an interesting pattern emerged. Mothers without depression showed an increase in breast milk oxytocin after receiving the nasal spray, while mothers with depression did not.</p>
<p>“This indicates there may be a disruption in the brain-to-breast oxytocin pathway in mothers experiencing postnatal depression during breastfeeding, and might explain why some mothers experiencing depression are able to lactate to feed their infant but do not report the calming or rewarding effects of breastfeeding related to mother–infant bonding as do mothers who are not depressed,” Baron-Cohen explained.</p>
<p>The authors propose that this difference might reflect a disruption in the coordination between central and peripheral oxytocin systems. Central oxytocin is released in the brain and is involved in emotional regulation and bonding. Peripheral oxytocin, released into the bloodstream, supports milk letdown. In healthy mothers, these systems appear to work in a loop that reinforces both breastfeeding and bonding. But in mothers with postnatal depression, this loop may not function as effectively, which could make breastfeeding less emotionally rewarding and more challenging.</p>
<p>These findings may also help explain why some mothers with depression can successfully breastfeed while others struggle. The researchers suggest that while the peripheral oxytocin system might still allow for milk production, the central system—which contributes to the calming and rewarding effects of breastfeeding—may not be working properly. This could explain why breastfeeding does not provide the same stress-reducing and bonding benefits for mothers with depression.</p>
<p>“Our findings show that the hormone oxytocin is affected in mothers experiencing postnatal depression during breastfeeding,” Baron-Cohen told PsyPost. “Since oxytocin plays a key role in mother–infant bonding and is responsible for the let-down reflex that releases a mother’s breast milk during breastfeeding, new treatments that target oxytocin may be able to improve the support for mothers with postnatal depression who would like to breastfeed but are experiencing challenges. This could have treatment benefits for both new mothers and their babies.”</p>
<p>The study has several limitations. Although the sample size was based on power calculations and was consistent with similar research, it was still relatively small. Oxytocin levels in breast milk are lower than in other fluids, such as blood or saliva, which may have made it harder to detect small differences between groups. The researchers also measured oxytocin at only one point during each feeding session, which provides only a snapshot of hormonal changes.</p>
<p>“Our findings have not been replicated yet and should be treated as preliminary until they have,” Baron-Cohen said. Looking forward, “we will be exploring new treatments to improve support for mothers and infants affected by postnatal depression, and will be following up mothers and their children to explore how oxytocin may be involved in the transference of mental health difficulties across development.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2025.107374">Intranasal oxytocin increases breast milk oxytocin, but has a reduced effect in depressed mothers: A randomized controlled trial</a>,” was authored by Kate Lindley Baron-Cohen, Pasco Fearon, Ruth Feldman, Paul Hardiman, Orna Zagoory-Sharon, Elizabeth Meins, and Peter Fonagy.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/ketamines-antidepressant-effects-appear-unrelated-to-stress-hormones-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;">Ketamine’s antidepressant effects appear unrelated to stress hormones, study finds</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">May 15th 2025, 14:15</div>
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<p><p>A study of individuals with treatment-resistant depression found that hormones associated with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis do not influence the antidepressant effects of ketamine. However, individuals with longer-lasting depressive episodes tended to have lower levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). The research was published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.12.036"><em>Journal of Affective Disorders</em></a>.</p>
<p>The HPA axis is a complex neuroendocrine system that helps regulate the body’s response to stress. It coordinates interactions between the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands.</p>
<p>When a person experiences a stressor, the hypothalamus releases CRF, which prompts the pituitary gland to secrete ACTH. ACTH then travels through the bloodstream to the adrenal glands, triggering the release of cortisol. Cortisol is a key stress hormone that helps maintain balance in the body by regulating metabolism, immune function, and blood pressure. The adrenal glands also release other hormones, such as adrenaline and noradrenaline, to prepare the body for a “fight or flight” response.</p>
<p>When the HPA axis is chronically activated, it can become dysregulated. This dysregulation has been linked to various health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and metabolic disorders. Feedback mechanisms normally help prevent overactivation; high cortisol levels signal the hypothalamus and pituitary gland to reduce CRF and ACTH production. Dysfunction in this feedback system has been implicated in stress-related conditions such as posttraumatic stress disorder.</p>
<p>The research team, led by Polymnia Georgiou, aimed to investigate whether the antidepressant effects of ketamine might be influenced by HPA axis hormone levels. Ketamine, originally developed as an anesthetic, has gained attention in recent years as a fast-acting treatment for people with depression that has not responded to other therapies. The researchers hypothesized that ketamine might be more effective in individuals with higher baseline levels of HPA axis hormones.</p>
<p>The study included 42 participants diagnosed with treatment-resistant depression. Sixty percent of the participants were women, and the average age was 36.</p>
<p>Each participant received two intravenous infusions, spaced two weeks apart. One infusion consisted of 0.5 mg/kg of ketamine hydrochloride, while the other was a saline solution, which served as a placebo control. Half of the participants received the ketamine infusion first, while the other half began with the placebo. Each infusion lasted 40 minutes.</p>
<p>To measure changes in depression, participants completed the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale before the infusion and on nine occasions over the following 11 days. Blood samples were also collected 60 minutes before each infusion and at several time points afterward to measure hormone levels associated with the HPA axis.</p>
<p>The results showed that none of the measured hormones—CRF, ACTH, or cortisol—moderated the antidepressant effects of ketamine. The therapeutic benefits of ketamine were not influenced by hormone levels at any time point, and no sex differences were observed.</p>
<p>However, the researchers found that participants with longer durations of depressive episodes had lower levels of ACTH and CRF. This suggests that these hormones could potentially serve as biomarkers for the chronicity of depression. In addition, participants who developed depression at a younger age tended to report more severe symptoms.</p>
<p>“Although we did not find a moderation effect of the plasma HPA axis hormones on the antidepressant effects of ketamine, moderation effects of the brain HPA axis hormones cannot be precluded and warrants further investigation. Importantly, our results implicate HPA axis components as potential biomarkers for the duration of depressive episodes,” the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The findings add to the growing body of research on ketamine’s antidepressant effects and the biological factors that may be linked to depression severity and chronicity. But the study had limitations. Most notably, it involved a relatively small sample size, which may have limited the ability to detect smaller or more subtle effects.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2024.12.036">Associations between hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormone levels, major depression features and antidepressant effects of ketamine,</a>” was authored by Polymnia Georgiou, Cristan A. Farmer, Gustavo C. Medeiros, Peixiong Yuan, Jenessa Johnston, Bashkim Kadriu, Todd D. Gould, and Carlos A. Zarate Jr.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/surprisingly-strong-link-found-between-neighborhood-greenness-and-police-shootings/" 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;">Surprisingly strong link found between neighborhood greenness and police shootings</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">May 15th 2025, 12:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in <em><a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00139165251316106" target="_blank">Environment and Behavior</a></em> suggests that communities with more green vegetation may experience fewer fatal police shootings. Analyzing data from over 3,000 counties in the contiguous United States, the researchers found that counties with higher levels of greenness had lower rates of police killings. This relationship was even stronger in highly urbanized and socially deprived areas.</p>
<p>Green space, often referred to as “greenness,” includes vegetation such as trees, lawns, and parkland. While previous research has linked green environments to improved mental health, lower crime rates, and reduced stress, little was known about how greenness might relate to deadly encounters with police. With police shootings representing a major public health and social justice issue in the United States, the researchers sought to explore whether the physical environment—specifically the presence of green space—could play a role in shaping these outcomes.</p>
<p>The study was conducted by a team of researchers at the University of Hong Kong, led by Associate Professor <a href="https://uehh.hku.hk/bin-jiang/" target="_blank">Bin Jiang</a> and his PhD student <a href="https://uehh.hku.hk/team_jiali-li/" target="_blank">Jiali Li</a>. Their motivation stemmed from the persistent media coverage of fatal police shootings and a scientific interest in whether the natural environment could buffer against violence. Drawing on well-established evidence that green space reduces stress and promotes social cohesion, the team set out to test the link between vegetation levels and fatal police shootings on a national scale.</p>
<p>“The <a href="https://uehh.hku.hk/" target="_blank">Urban Environments and Human Health Lab</a> at the University of Hong Kong conducted this study with enormous support from Professor Sullivan and Professor Browning,” explained Jiang, founding director of the lab, program director of the Master of Landscape Architecture program, and co-author of the upcoming book <em><a href="http://theory%20and%20design%20approaches%20to%20promote%20health%20in%20urban%20communities" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/43vzs0s</a></em>.</p>
<p>“The major inspiration came from the repetitive reports of fatal police shooting cases by the media. As researchers and practitioners in the field of environmental health, we had an instinct that the provision of green spaces in different areas might play a role. This instinct was based on our knowledge of theories and scientific evidence reported by many previous studies on the relationship between green space exposure and psychological and behavioral health.”</p>
<figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-227416" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jiali-Li-01.jpg"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" src="https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jiali-Li-01-1024x806.jpg" alt="" width="1024" height="806" class="size-large wp-image-227416" srcset="https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jiali-Li-01-1024x806.jpg 1024w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jiali-Li-01-300x236.jpg 300w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jiali-Li-01-768x605.jpg 768w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jiali-Li-01-1536x1209.jpg 1536w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jiali-Li-01-750x591.jpg 750w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jiali-Li-01-1140x898.jpg 1140w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Jiali-Li-01.jpg 1703w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">Researchers Jiali Li and Bin Jiang.</figcaption></figure>
<p>To investigate this question, the researchers analyzed fatal police shootings that occurred between 2016 and 2020 across 3,108 counties in the contiguous United States. They focused only on shootings that resulted in death, drawing from three major open-source databases: Mapping Police Violence, Fatal Encounters, and The Washington Post’s <em>Fatal Force</em> database. These sources collectively captured over 5,000 fatal police shootings during the study period.</p>
<p>To measure greenness, the team used satellite data from Landsat 8, which allowed them to calculate a vegetation index known as NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index). This index reflects the amount of healthy vegetation in an area. They computed annual greenness levels for each county using satellite images from four different seasons.</p>
<p>The study also accounted for a wide range of other factors that might influence police shootings. These included demographic and economic characteristics, violent crime rates, gun laws, firearm ownership, mobility patterns, racial segregation, and levels of urban development. The researchers used a statistical model known as the Besag-York-Mollié (BYM) model to account for both spatial clustering and non-spatial differences across counties.</p>
<p>Their analysis revealed a consistent pattern: higher levels of greenness were associated with fewer fatal police shootings. Across all counties, a one-unit increase in the greenness index was linked to a 9% decrease in fatal police shootings. In urban counties with populations over 250,000, the association was even stronger—a one-unit increase in greenness was linked to a 15% reduction in police killings. Importantly, this negative association held true even after adjusting for crime rates, population density, and socioeconomic indicators.</p>
<figure aria-describedby="caption-attachment-227415" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><a href="https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Graphic-Abstract-scaled.png"><img decoding="async" src="https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Graphic-Abstract-1024x410.png" alt="" width="1024" height="410" class="size-large wp-image-227415" srcset="https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Graphic-Abstract-1024x410.png 1024w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Graphic-Abstract-300x120.png 300w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Graphic-Abstract-768x307.png 768w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Graphic-Abstract-1536x614.png 1536w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Graphic-Abstract-2048x819.png 2048w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Graphic-Abstract-750x300.png 750w, https://www.psypost.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Graphic-Abstract-1140x456.png 1140w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px"></a><figcaption class="wp-caption-text">[Author provided]</figcaption></figure>
<p>“To our best knowledge, this is the first study to report a significant relationship between fatal police shootings and the level of greenness,” Jiang told PsyPost. “The relationship remains robust after controlling for a large number of confounding factors, which suggests that the quantity and quality of the landscape matter for achieving safer neighborhoods and regions. Controlling for confounding factors is critical, as many citizens often think such an association is a coincidence. In this study, we found the relationship is independent of race, income, population density, the Gini index, gender, age, unemployment rate, and many other factors.”</p>
<p>The researchers also found that the association between greenness and police shootings varied by the level of social deprivation in a county. In areas with higher levels of deprivation—measured using a Social Deprivation Index—the protective effect of green space was stronger. Counties with the highest levels of deprivation experienced the most pronounced reduction in fatal police shootings associated with higher greenness levels.</p>
<p>“A special and critical contribution of this study is that we found the negative association between fatal police shootings and green landscapes became stronger as the level of social deprivation increased,” Jiang explained. “Past studies have not investigated this relationship from this perspective. Moreover, we found the negative association was stronger for metropolitan counties than for non-metropolitan counties, which suggests the effects of green landscapes may be greater in more urbanized regions.”</p>
<p>The authors offered several explanations for these findings. One possibility is that green spaces reduce stress, anxiety, and mental fatigue—both for residents and potentially for police officers—making aggressive interactions less likely. Green surroundings may also give the impression that a neighborhood is more cared for and less dangerous, which could influence how officers perceive risk during encounters. Additionally, green spaces often encourage social interaction and community cohesion, which may enhance informal social control and reduce tensions that lead to police involvement.</p>
<p>“It may be surprising for many people to see our findings,” Jiang said. “However, many previous studies in the fields of environmental psychology and environmental behavior suggest that greener neighborhoods and cities can facilitate positive emotions, mental relaxation, social trust, social support, and natural surveillance among residents.”</p>
<p>“In contrast, barren neighborhoods and cities can stimulate suspicion, anger, frustration, a sense of unsafety, violent behaviors, deviant behaviors, and many other negative mental states and actions. Our findings are strong and reasonable. However, this is a fresh message for society because the impacts of green landscapes on fatal police shootings have not been well investigated before.”</p>
<p>While the findings are striking, the authors caution that the results are correlational. The study does not prove that increasing green space directly reduces police shootings. Even though the researchers controlled for many variables, other unmeasured factors could still contribute to the association. In addition, the data relied on existing open-source records of police shootings, which may be incomplete or inconsistently reported across jurisdictions.</p>
<p>Despite these limitations, the researchers argue that their findings support a broader perspective on community safety. Rather than focusing solely on policing reforms or crime deterrence, policymakers might also consider how the physical environment shapes safety and well-being.</p>
<p>“Green space is only one of many factors that can contribute to reducing fatal police shootings,” Jiang told PsyPost. “People may criticize: ‘Why does your research focus on a less important factor? You should investigate more important issues like income and education!’ My response is that, as researchers in the field of environmental health, my team and I are using our expertise to inform society and government of the unique and significant benefits of green spaces. We are not neglecting other important factors. On the contrary, we hope all relevant disciplines will join in researching this critical issue and work together to address the problem from many different pathways.”</p>
<p>Investments in green infrastructure—such as planting trees, creating parks, or greening vacant lots—could be a relatively low-cost strategy to help reduce violence and improve public health, especially in underserved communities.</p>
<p>“Provide more green spaces and reduce barren spaces,” Jiang said. “The spaces should be green and functional. They can facilitate positive social interactions and recreational activities, which could further contribute to better social cohesion and trust among residents, authorities, and other stakeholders.”</p>
<p>“The green landscapes should be well designed and maintained by local governments and communities in a variety of ways so that more green spaces can be created and sustained in deprived areas at low cost. It is critical to avoid making green spaces only for affluent people and to provide equal access to green spaces for all population groups in order to avoid gentrification.”</p>
<p>“In socioeconomically disadvantaged communities, adding functional green spaces may be an effective way to reduce fatal police shootings and other forms of violence,” Jiang continued. “Green space can act as a catalyst to stimulate better psychological states and behaviors for everyone.”</p>
<p>Looking ahead, the researchers plan to examine the specific types of green space that matter most—such as parks versus street trees—and assess how people perceive and interact with these environments. Natural experiments or urban interventions could also help determine whether increasing greenness directly leads to meaningful reductions in police shootings and other forms of violence.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/00139165251316106" target="_blank">Greenness, Deprivation, and Fatal Police Shootings: A Five-Year Nationwide Study in the United States</a>,” was authored by Jiali Li, Matthew E. Browning, William C. Sullivan, Xueming Liu, and Bin Jiang.</p></p>
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<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
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