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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/wikipedias-news-sources-show-a-moderate-liberal-leaning/" 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;">Wikipedia’s news sources show a moderate liberal leaning</a>
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<p><p>A recent study suggests that the news media sources cited across the English version of Wikipedia have a moderate but consistent liberal bias. This pattern appears to persist even when the factual reliability of the sources is taken into account. The research was published in 2024 the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-02-2023-0084" target="_blank">Online Information Review</a></em>.</p>
<p>Wikipedia is a vast, collaboratively edited online encyclopedia that has become a primary source of information for millions of people worldwide. The platform operates on three core content policies: maintaining a neutral point of view, ensuring information is verifiable through reliable sources, and prohibiting original research. These principles are intended to make its articles balanced and accurate.</p>
<p>Because of these policies, the quality and neutrality of Wikipedia depend heavily on the external sources its volunteer editors cite. News media outlets are a significant source of these citations. The researchers behind this study sought to investigate whether the selection of these news sources introduced a political leaning into the encyclopedia, potentially affecting its commitment to a neutral point of view.</p>
<p>To conduct their analysis, the researchers began with a large public dataset called Wikipedia Citations, which contains over 29 million citations from more than 6 million articles in the English Wikipedia. They extracted the domain name, such as nytimes.com or foxnews.com, from each cited link. This process allowed them to identify the specific news outlets being referenced.</p>
<p>Next, the team enriched this data using two external rating systems. For political leaning, they used data from the Media Bias Monitor, a system that calculates a political polarization score for a news outlet based on the self-reported political leanings of its audience on Facebook. This score ranges from -2 (very liberal) to +2 (very conservative), with 0 representing a moderate or balanced audience.</p>
<p>For factual reliability, they turned to ratings from Media Bias Fact Check, an organization that assesses the accuracy of news sources. This service rates outlets on a scale from “VERY HIGH” for sources that are consistently factual to “VERY LOW” for those that rarely use credible information. By matching the domains from Wikipedia to these two databases, the researchers could assign both a political polarization score and a reliability rating to millions of individual citations.</p>
<p>The analysis of political polarization provided evidence of a consistent lean. The average score for all news sources cited in Wikipedia was -0.51, which falls on the liberal side of the spectrum. The distribution of scores showed that the majority of news citations came from outlets with polarization scores between -1 (liberal) and 0 (moderate).</p>
<p>This tendency was not confined to articles on political topics. The liberal-leaning pattern was observed across broad subject categories, including Culture, Geography, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). It also appeared in articles associated with various editor communities, known as WikiProjects, from Politics and India to Biography and Military History. This suggests the effect is widespread across the encyclopedia.</p>
<p>The researchers then explored if this political leaning was connected to the factual reliability of the sources. One might speculate that editors favor sources with a certain political leaning because they perceive them as more factually reliable. To examine this relationship, they used a statistical technique known as multiple linear regression, which can help determine how different factors, like reliability and article topic, are associated with an outcome, in this case, the political polarization score.</p>
<p>The model indicated a complex relationship rather than a simple one. For instance, sources rated as “High” in reliability tended to lean liberal, while those rated “Very High” tended to lean conservative. At the other end of the spectrum, sources with “Mixed” reliability were associated with a liberal leaning, while sources with “Low” and “Very Low” reliability were associated with a conservative leaning.</p>
<p>This outcome suggests there is no simple, direct line connecting higher reliability with one particular political viewpoint in Wikipedia’s sources. The finding that sources with a liberal bent are chosen seems independent of a straightforward preference for the most reliable outlets available. The moderate liberal bias in sourcing appears to be a distinct phenomenon.</p>
<p>The authors acknowledge several limitations to their work. The study’s conclusions depend on the specific methodologies of the external rating services used to measure political leanings and reliability. Additionally, the analysis focused on a one-dimensional political spectrum from liberal to conservative, which does not capture the full complexity of political viewpoints.</p>
<p>Another limitation is that the analysis was conducted at the domain level, meaning it assessed the general leaning of an entire news outlet, not the content of a specific article cited. A news article from a generally liberal-leaning outlet could itself be perfectly neutral. The study also focused exclusively on the English version of Wikipedia, and the patterns may differ in other languages.</p>
<p>Future research could expand on this study by analyzing other language versions of Wikipedia to see if similar patterns exist. A more granular analysis that examines the content of individual news articles and how they are used to support claims within Wikipedia would also offer deeper insights. Understanding the underlying reasons for this sourcing bias, whether it stems from the media landscape or the demographics of Wikipedia’s editors, remains an open area for investigation.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1108/OIR-02-2023-0084" target="_blank">Polarization and reliability of news sources in Wikipedia</a>,” was authored by Puyu Yang and Giovanni Colavizza.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/new-psychology-research-sheds-light-on-the-dark-side-of-intimate-touch/" 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 psychology research sheds light on the dark side of intimate touch</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Nov 4th 2025, 06:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study suggests that certain personality traits and past relationship patterns are linked to whether an individual avoids intimate touch or uses it to control their romantic partner. The research also indicates that the mechanisms behind these behaviors may differ between men and women. The findings were published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-025-08282-0" target="_blank">Current Psychology</a></em>.</p>
<p>The study, led by University of Virginia PhD student Emily R. Ives and Binghamton University Professor Richard Mattson, focused on a set of personality characteristics known as the Dark Triad: Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. Machiavellianism refers to a strategic and cynical approach to manipulating others for personal gain. Psychopathy is primarily marked by a lack of empathy, impulsivity, and shallow emotions, while narcissism involves a grandiose sense of entitlement and a persistent need for admiration.</p>
<p>The researchers also examined attachment theory, which proposes that our early life experiences with caregivers shape our expectations and behaviors in adult relationships. These experiences can lead to insecure attachment styles, such as an anxious style characterized by a fear of rejection, or an avoidant style marked by discomfort with closeness.</p>
<p>The researchers sought to understand if there was a connection between these concepts and the less-studied aspects of physical touch. While touch is often seen as a positive force in relationships, some people experience touch aversion, finding physical affection intrusive. Others may engage in coercive touch, using physical contact not for affection but to exert dominance or manipulate a partner. </p>
<p>“I was interested in touch as a tool for communication in relationships. While research in this area often describes touch as a means to communicate positive emotions and provide support, it can also be used to communicate ‘darker’ messages—those that convey power over one’s partner and facilitate self-serving motivations,” explained Ives.</p>
<p>“My research team and I were also interested in whether those who would use touch in a coercive fashion would also themselves demonstrate a discomfort with being touched affectionately. If so, one potential factor that could explain this overall negative orientation toward touch was a characterological discomfort comfort with interpersonal closeness and proximity, known as attachment style, which is further linked to psychopathic, narcissistic, and Machiavellian personality traits.”</p>
<p>“These dispositions are collectively referred to as the ‘Dark Triad’ and center on being manipulative and self-oriented. We reasoned that individuals would be the most likely to wield touch in untoward ways towards others, including romantic partners, to the extent they were in some way insecure in their interpersonal relationships and also demonstrated these Dark Triad traits.”</p>
<p>For their study, the researchers recruited 526 undergraduate students who were currently in a romantic relationship. Participants completed a series of questionnaires designed to measure their attachment style, assessing their levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance. They also completed a survey to measure their levels of the three Dark Triad personality traits. </p>
<p>Finally, they answered questions about their experiences with physical intimacy, specifically focusing on touch aversion and the use of coercive touch. Questions related to touch aversion assessed the extent to which participants found physical contact from their partner to be intrusive or uncomfortable, often leading them to actively avoid being touched. Coercive touch, on the other hand, was evaluated by asking if participants ever use physical contact as a tool to assert control, express dominance, or manipulate their partner into compliance.</p>
<p>The initial results provided evidence for their main hypothesis. The analysis showed that the shared element among the three Dark Triad traits, which can be described as an antagonistic interpersonal style, was associated with both greater touch aversion and a higher tendency to use coercive touch.</p>
<p>The findings also suggested a pathway from early relationship patterns to these touch behaviors. Individuals with higher levels of either anxious or avoidant attachment tended to report higher levels of Dark Triad traits. These personality traits then appeared to function as an intermediary, linking the insecure attachment styles to the negative touch outcomes.</p>
<p>“Touch is a powerful tool used to communicate many things in relationships, from love and support to control over one’s partner, and not all people are receptive to touch in either case,” Ives and Mattson told PsyPost. “The use of touch as a form of manipulation can vary over time within and across different relationships, but for some may represent a more stable interpersonal approach or trait.”</p>
<p>Interestingly, when the researchers examined the data separately for men and women, a more complex picture emerged. The proposed pathway appeared to hold true mainly for women. For female participants, insecure attachment styles were associated with higher scores on the Dark Triad traits, and these traits fully accounted for their increased likelihood of reporting touch aversion and using coercive touch.</p>
<p>The pattern for men was different. For them, attachment insecurity seemed to have a more direct impact on touch behaviors, with Dark Triad traits playing a less significant role. Men who reported a more avoidant attachment style also tended to report greater touch aversion directly, independent of their personality scores. Similarly, men with a more anxious attachment style were more likely to use coercive touch, a connection that did not appear to be explained by their Dark Triad traits.</p>
<p>This suggests that for women in the study, a tendency toward manipulative or antagonistic personality traits may be a key factor driving negative touch behaviors. For men, these same behaviors might be more directly tied to their underlying insecurities and fears about relationships, such as a fear of abandonment or a discomfort with emotional vulnerability. An additional analysis confirmed that coercive touch was distinct from outright physical aggression, suggesting it is a unique form of manipulation within relationships.</p>
<p>“We were interested in potential gender differences in one’s orientation towards touch, but this line of research is so new that we did not have much on which to build specific predictions,” the researchers explained. “In that sense, I think we could say that finding stark differences in the reasons why women and men used or oriented to touch in problematic ways was somewhat surprising!” </p>
<p>“Put simply, issues related to touch for men boiled down to relationship insecurity regardless of other traits whereas this emerged for relationally insecure women only when they were also elevated on Dark Triad personality characteristics. In hindsight, it is possible that women are more socialized in our society to use touch to communicate and therefore, women high in Dark Triad traits may feel more comfortable using this communication method to manipulate their partners.” </p>
<p>“This is not to say men do not have methods of manipulating their partners, but that potentially they do this in different ways. For instance, it is also possible that men higher on Dark Triad traits use methods other than touch to manipulate or ensure compliance, such as physical or psychological aggression.”</p>
<p>The study has some limitations to consider. The participants were primarily white, heterosexual undergraduate students from one university, so the findings may not apply to other populations. The study design was also correlational, meaning it identifies associations between variables but cannot prove that one causes another. </p>
<p>“Our sample was made up entirely of undergraduates whose psychiatric history is not known to us,” Ives and Mattson noted. “That is to say, we have no idea if any of these people would be diagnosable as psychopathic, for instance, or if there are other traits that run alongside the Dark Triad that can better explain our findings.” </p>
<p>“Correspondingly, it is also important to highlight that coercive touch and touch aversion were normally distributed, meaning that many individuals in the sample reported some use of coercive touch or times when they react negatively to touch. Our findings suggest that this is more prevalent as individuals are more insecure in relationships and/or carry certain personality characteristics. Simply because your partner used touch in a coercive way or withdrew from a hug does not therefore imply that they are a Machiavellian, psychopathic or narcissistic.” </p>
<p>“Finally, this is just one study on a relatively restricted group. It would be great if more research could be done on this relationship as well as the relationships between personality, attachment, and touch as a whole.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-025-08282-0" target="_blank">The dark side of touch: how attachment style impacts touch through dark triad personality traits</a>,” was authored by Emily R. Ives, Bridget N. Jules, Samantha L. Anduze, Samantha Wagner, and Richard E. Mattson.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/brains-epigenetic-blueprint-is-largely-set-before-birth-offering-clues-to-autism-and-schizophrenia/" 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;">Brain’s epigenetic blueprint is largely set before birth, offering clues to autism and schizophrenia</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Nov 3rd 2025, 16:00</div>
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<p><p>Researchers have created a detailed map of chemical modifications to DNA that occur in the human brain from the earliest stages of fetal development through old age. A new study published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xgen.2025.101010" target="_blank">Cell Genomics</a></em> reveals that the most significant of these changes happen before birth and are located near genes linked to conditions like autism and schizophrenia.</p>
<p>The human brain cortex, the wrinkled outer layer responsible for thought, memory, and behavior, undergoes a period of intense and complex construction before birth. This process relies on genes being switched on and off in a precise, time-sensitive sequence. </p>
<p>Epigenetic changes, which are chemical tags that attach to DNA and direct gene activity without altering the genetic code itself, are fundamental to this orchestration. A team of researchers at the University of Exeter sought to understand the dynamics of one key epigenetic mechanism, DNA methylation, across the entire human lifespan to build a clearer picture of how the cortex develops.</p>
<p>To create this comprehensive timeline, the scientists analyzed DNA methylation in the cortex tissue of nearly 1,000 donated human brains. The samples spanned a remarkable age range, from just six weeks after conception to 108 years of age. Using a technology that can measure methylation levels at hundreds of thousands of specific sites across the genome, they identified which sites changed with age. They first looked at the whole tissue, then developed a method to zoom in on specific cell populations to see if changes were uniform across the brain’s different cell types.</p>
<p>The team’s initial analysis revealed that the prenatal period is a time of extraordinary epigenetic activity. They identified more than 50,000 specific locations on the DNA where methylation levels changed dramatically during early and mid-gestation. Many of these changes were not linear, meaning they did not happen at a steady rate. Instead, they appeared to accelerate, slow down, or level off at distinct developmental time points, suggesting they mark important biological transitions in the construction of the cortex.</p>
<p>When the researchers compared these early-life changes to those happening after birth, they found a striking difference. The vast majority of the methylation patterns established before birth remained relatively stable throughout the rest of life. Only a very small percentage of these sites continued to change significantly with age postnatally. This finding indicates that the prenatal window is a unique period of extensive epigenetic remodeling that largely sets the stage for future brain function.</p>
<p>The scientists noticed that these dynamically changing DNA sites were not spread randomly. They were depleted in some genomic regions but concentrated in others, particularly in areas known to regulate gene activity. These sites were also enriched in parts of the genome that are accessible and active during the development of specific brain cells, especially excitatory neurons, which are the brain’s primary signaling cells. This suggests that the methylation changes are tied to the activation of genetic programs needed to build a functional cortex.</p>
<p>Recognizing that the brain is composed of many different cell types, the team wanted to know if these epigenetic changes were happening in all cells or were specific to certain ones, like neurons. Analyzing the cortex as a whole tissue can mask cell-type-specific patterns. The standard protein marker used to identify mature neurons, called NeuN, did not work reliably on the very immature neurons found in the early fetal brain. The researchers established a new protocol using a different marker, a protein called SATB2, which is active in developing excitatory neurons.</p>
<p>Using a method that sorts cell nuclei based on fluorescent labels, they separated the brain tissue into two populations: one enriched with developing neurons and another containing other brain cell types. They then analyzed the DNA methylation in each group separately. This approach showed that neurons begin to establish their unique epigenetic signature very early in development. The majority of the developmental changes seen in the whole cortex tissue were, in fact, being driven by shifts occurring within this developing neuron population.</p>
<p>The analysis also revealed distinct developmental trajectories between the cell types. Some methylation sites changed only in the neuron-enriched group, while others were specific to the non-neuronal cells. For example, the sites changing dynamically only in the developing neurons were located in active genomic regions specific to excitatory neurons. Sites changing only in the other cell populations were, by contrast, enriched in active regions associated with astrocytes, a type of supportive brain cell.</p>
<p>Finally, the researchers investigated whether these dynamic epigenetic regions were relevant to neurodevelopmental conditions. They examined lists of genes that have been strongly associated with autism and schizophrenia through genetic studies. They found that these genes were significantly more likely than other genes to be located near the DNA sites that undergo methylation changes during fetal development. </p>
<p>This association was even stronger when they looked specifically at the changes happening within the developing neurons. The findings support the long-standing hypothesis that the origins of these conditions may lie in disruptions to early brain development.</p>
<p>The study does have some limitations. Access to brain tissue from later stages of pregnancy was restricted, though the data suggest that the most dramatic changes had already occurred by mid-gestation. The technology used, while extensive, only covers a fraction of all possible methylation sites in the genome. </p>
<p>Future research using whole-genome sequencing could provide an even more complete view. The method was also unable to distinguish between DNA methylation and a related modification, DNA hydroxymethylation, which is also common in the brain. Despite these constraints, the study provides a foundational resource for understanding the epigenetic processes that shape the human brain.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.xgen.2025.101010" target="_blank">Cell-type-specific DNA methylation dynamics in the prenatal and postnatal human cortex</a>,” was authored by Alice Franklin, Jonathan P. Davies, Nicholas E. Clifton, Georgina E.T. Blake, Rosemary Bamford, Emma M. Walker, Barry Chioza, Martyn Frith, APEX Consortium, Youth-GEMs Consortium, Joe Burrage, Nick Owens, Shyam Prabhakar, Emma Dempster, Eilis Hannon, and Jonathan Mill.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/extra-virgin-olive-oil-supplementation-reduces-neuroinflammation-in-obese-rats/" 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;">Extra virgin olive oil supplementation reduces neuroinflammation in obese rats</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Nov 3rd 2025, 14:00</div>
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<p><p>A study of obese rats in Brazil found that adding extra virgin olive oil to their diets reduced inflammation in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus, prevented them from gaining excessive weight, and improved a number of metabolic parameters. The research was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/1028415X.2025.2544609"><em>Nutritional Neuroscience</em></a>.</p>
<p>Extra virgin olive oil is the highest-quality form of olive oil, obtained directly from olives using only mechanical methods without any chemical refining. It must meet strict standards for acidity (less than 0.8%) and pass sensory tests for taste and aroma. Extra virgin olive oil retains the natural flavors and antioxidants of the olive fruit because it is cold-pressed and minimally processed.</p>
<p>Regular olive oil, in contrast, is usually a blend of refined olive oils and some virgin oil to improve flavor. Refining removes impurities but also strips away many beneficial compounds, making it milder in taste and lower in nutrients.</p>
<p>Extra virgin olive oil has a distinct fruity, peppery, or slightly bitter taste depending on the olive variety and ripeness. It is rich in heart-healthy monounsaturated fats, and its minimal processing preserves high levels of polyphenols and vitamin E, which have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Regular olive oil is lighter in flavor, more stable at high temperatures, and often used for frying or cooking in bulk. Extra virgin olive oil, however, is a better choice for salads, drizzling, and dishes where its aroma can be appreciated.</p>
<p>Study author Ariadni Peres and her colleagues wanted to explore whether extra virgin olive oil can be used to treat obesity. More specifically, they wanted to explore the effects of EVOO supplementation on various metabolic parameters, satiety, and hypothalamic inflammation—all hallmarks of diet-induced obesity.</p>
<p>These authors conducted a study on 21-day-old Wistar rats. Wistar rats are a common albino laboratory rat strain widely used in biomedical research because of their calm temperament and well-documented physiology. They were kept in cages with up to 4 same-sex animals per cage.</p>
<p>The rats were divided into 4 groups. The first group received regular rat food (standard chow). The second group received the same type of regular food, but also EVOO supplementation. The third group was on a high-fat diet (HFD), eating food with an increased content of fats. Finally, the fourth group received the high-fat diet and extra virgin olive oil supplementation. Olive oil supplementation was administered daily by gavage. </p>
<p>The standard chow was composed of 11.9% fat, 58.8% carbohydrate, and 29.2% protein, with an energy density of 3.86 Kcal/g. In contrast, the high-fat diet contained 64% of its calories from fat. Extra virgin olive oil supplementation was 1.3 mL/Kg body weight.</p>
<p>The rats were kept on this diet throughout the study. On day 61 of their lives, study authors took the rats’ blood samples to determine their fasting glucose levels. On days 63-65 the rats completed a number of behavioral satiety tests. On day 70, the rats were euthanized, allowing researchers to analyze their tissues and conduct various biochemical analyses.</p>
<p>Results showed that, as expected, rats fed the high-fat diet became obese. However, extra virgin olive oil supplementation prevented the excessive weight-gain caused by the high-fat diet. It also reduced the level of inflammation in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and improved a number of other metabolic parameters in rats fed a high-fat diet.</p>
<p>“Our results demonstrate that extra virgin olive oil supplementation seemed promising, improving hypothalamic inflammation in obese animals, [and] therefore might lead to the restoration of adverse metabolic consequences,” the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study sheds light on the effects of extra virgin olive oil supplementation on rats fed a high-fat diet. However, it should be noted that this study was conducted on rats, not on humans. While rats and humans share many physiological similarities, they are still very different species. Effects on humans might differ.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/1028415X.2025.2544609">Extra virgin olive oil supplementation reduces inflammation in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus and improves metabolic parameters in obese rats,</a>” was authored by Ariadni Peres, Ricardo Dantas, Aline Ferreira, Ana Caroline Silveira, Giovana Raphaelli, Laís Felipe, Letícia Souza, Mariana Costa, Alessandra Machado, Diorlon Machado, Rodrigo Herrmann, Jade de Oliveira, Carlos Alexandre Netto, Angela Wyse, Carla Dalmaz, and Rachel Bast.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/how-walking-fine-tunes-your-hearing/" 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;">How walking fine-tunes your hearing</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Nov 3rd 2025, 12:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study reveals that walking enhances the brain’s response to sound, and this effect changes dynamically depending on the direction of movement. These findings, published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0489-25.2025" target="_blank">The Journal of Neuroscience</a></em>, suggest that our brains actively adjust auditory processing to optimize navigation through our environment.</p>
<p>The investigation was conducted by an international team of researchers, led by Liyu Cao from Zhejiang University and Barbara Händel from the University of Würzburg. Scientists have long understood that movement and cognition are deeply connected. Prior work has shown that locomotion affects visual processing, but its influence on our sense of hearing has been less clear. The researchers sought to understand if the simple act of walking alters how the brain processes auditory information, particularly in a way that could support safe and efficient navigation.</p>
<p>To explore this relationship, the team designed two experiments. In the first, thirty volunteers wore a mobile electroencephalogram (EEG) system, a device that measures brain activity through sensors on the scalp. The participants walked along a path shaped like a figure eight while listening to a continuous stream of tones through earphones. </p>
<p>A specific, steady frequency was played in the left ear (39 Hz) and a different one in the right ear (41 Hz). This technique is designed to elicit what is known as an auditory steady-state response, a brain signal that reflects how well neural populations are synchronizing with, or “entraining” to, the sounds.</p>
<p>The researchers compared brain activity during three conditions: walking the path, standing still, and simply stepping in place. The results showed that the brain’s entrainment to the sounds was significantly stronger while participants were walking along the path compared to when they were standing or stepping on the spot. This suggests that purposeful movement through space, rather than just the motor act of moving one’s legs, amplifies the brain’s processing of auditory information. </p>
<p>The team also observed a well-known effect: a reduction in alpha brain waves, which are typically associated with neural inhibition, during walking. The data showed a connection between these two phenomena, as individuals with a larger decrease in alpha waves also tended to have a greater increase in their auditory response.</p>
<p>The most notable finding emerged from analyzing the brain’s activity during the turns of the figure-eight path. The team calculated a measure to determine if the brain was processing the sound from the left ear more strongly than the right, or vice versa. They discovered a dynamic pattern linked to the direction of the turn. For example, as a participant began a right turn, the brain enhanced its response to the sound in the right ear. </p>
<p>After passing the midpoint of the turn, the response flipped, and the brain began to more strongly process the sound from the left ear. This systematic shift suggests that the brain does not just passively receive sound but actively modulates its auditory attention in a predictive way to survey the environment during movement.</p>
<p>In a second experiment, the researchers introduced an element of surprise. While participants walked or stood still, the continuous tones were randomly interrupted by short bursts of white noise. These disruptive bursts could occur in the left ear, the right ear, or in both ears simultaneously. The team measured how this “perturbation” affected the brain’s ongoing entrainment to the background tones.</p>
<p>The analysis revealed that walking specifically heightened the brain’s reaction to noise bursts presented to only one ear. When the sound was perceived as coming from the periphery (the left or right side), the disruption to the steady-state response was greater during walking compared to standing. </p>
<p>When the burst was presented to both ears and perceived as coming from the center, walking did not produce a similar enhancement. This finding indicates that our auditory system may become selectively more sensitive to unexpected sounds originating from our sides when we are in motion, a mechanism that could help us react more quickly to unseen events while navigating.</p>
<p>The study provides a detailed snapshot of how the brain handles sound during movement, but it was conducted in a controlled laboratory setting. Future research could investigate if these same patterns of neural modulation occur in more complex, real-world environments with a variety of natural sounds. </p>
<p>Additional work could also explore how these auditory adjustments interact with other senses, like vision and touch, to create a complete sensory map for navigation. The findings open new avenues for understanding spatial awareness and could potentially inform the design of improved navigational aids.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1523/JNEUROSCI.0489-25.2025" target="_blank">Walking modulates active auditory sensing</a>,” was authored by Xinyu Chen, Liyu Cao, Roy Eric Wieske, Juan Prada, Klaus Gramann, and Barbara F. Haendel.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/a-womans-choice-of-words-for-her-genitals-is-tied-to-her-sexual-well-being-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;">A woman’s choice of words for her genitals is tied to her sexual well-being, study finds</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Nov 3rd 2025, 10:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study suggests that the names women use for their genitals are associated with their body image, sexual pleasure, and certain health behaviors. The research indicates that using playful or childish terms for genitals in everyday life is linked to more negative outcomes, while using vulgar terms during sex is connected to more positive sexual experiences. The findings were published in the journal <em><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11199-025-01619-w" target="_blank">Sex Roles</a></em>.</p>
<p>While many scholars and educators believe language shapes our body image, this idea has rarely been put to the test. A team of researchers led by Tanja Oschatz of Johannes-Gutenberg-University and Rotem Kahalon of Bar-Ilan University aimed to provide the missing scientific evidence, particularly regarding the terms women use for their genitals.</p>
<p>“For years, both feminist scholars and sex educators have emphasized that language matters—that the words we use to talk about our bodies can shape how we feel about them. Yet, despite this widely accepted idea, there was surprisingly little empirical evidence showing how this plays out with regards to women’s genitals,” Oschatz told PsyPost.</p>
<p>“Although there were studies from 20 year ago that catalogued the many terms women use to describe their genitals, no one had examined whether using different terms is actually linked to women’s feelings, attitudes, or behaviors. Our first goal was to close this gap.”</p>
<p>“Secondly, we wanted to update previous findings on women’s genital naming. Language is constantly evolving—especially around gender, sexuality, and the body. What women call their genitals today may carry different meanings and social implications than it did two decades ago, and we wanted to capture this contemporary picture.”</p>
<p>To conduct their study, the researchers surveyed 457 women from the United States with diverse ages. Participants were asked what terms they most commonly use to refer to their genitals in two different scenarios: a general, non-sexual context and a partnered, sexual context. </p>
<p>The women also completed a series of questionnaires designed to measure their feelings and attitudes. These included scales assessing their genital self-image, their overall sexual pleasure, orgasm frequency, attitudes toward oral sex, and certain health-related behaviors, such as the use of vaginal cleaning products and their openness to labiaplasty, a type of cosmetic genital surgery.</p>
<p>After collecting the terms, the researchers performed a content analysis and grouped the words into nine distinct categories. These categories included anatomical (e.g., “vagina,” “vulva”), vulgar (e.g., “pussy”), playful/childish (e.g., “hoo-ha,” “vajayjay”), and euphemisms (e.g., “down there,” “private parts”), among others. The team then used statistical analyses to see if using terms from a particular category was associated with the participants’ self-reported attitudes and behaviors.</p>
<p>In general, non-sexual contexts, the study found that a majority of women, about 75%, reported using at least one anatomical term, with “vagina” being the most frequent. However, playful/childish terms and euphemisms were also common, each used by roughly 15% of the participants. </p>
<p>“We found that genital naming among women is very diverse—and that it depends strongly on the context,” Oschatz explained. “For example, when women were asked, ‘What term do you generally use?’, the majority mentioned at least one anatomical term such as ‘vagina’ or ‘vulva.’ In contrast, when asked what term they use in a sexual context, most women reported using more informal or vulgar terms like ‘pussy.’ Compared to data from twenty years ago, we also found that the term ‘vulva’ (referring to the outer parts of women’s genitals) and words referring to the clitoris have become more common, suggesting a more differentiated and anatomically informed vocabulary today.”</p>
<p>The researchers found that women who used playful/childish terms tended to report a more negative genital self-image. This connection appeared to extend to other areas as well. The use of these terms was also linked to a lower perception of a partner’s enjoyment of giving oral sex, a greater likelihood of using vaginal cleaning products, and a higher interest in getting labiaplasty.</p>
<p>The researchers found that a more negative genital self-image helped explain the connection between using playful terms and the greater openness to labiaplasty, as well as the lower perceived partner enjoyment of oral sex. This suggests that the negative feelings women have about their genitals may be a key factor driving these other outcomes.</p>
<p>“Our findings show that the words women use are indeed related to their attitudes and experiences,” Oschatz told PsyPost. “Women who used childish terms such as ‘hoo-ha’ or ‘vajayjay’ tended to report more negative feelings about their genitals. These terms were also linked to sexual and health behaviors and attitudes—such as a more negative perception of partner’s oral sex enjoyment, greater use of vaginal cleaning products, and higher openness to labiaplasty.”</p>
<p>When the researchers analyzed the terms women used in a sexual context with a partner, the linguistic landscape changed significantly. In this setting, the most common category was vulgar terms, with nearly 45% of women reporting their use. The most frequent word in this category was “pussy.” Anatomical terms were the second most common. </p>
<p>The analysis showed that using vulgar terms during sex was associated with positive sexual outcomes. Women who used these terms reported experiencing greater general sexual pleasure, more frequent orgasms, and a stronger desire to receive oral sex.</p>
<p>“Context really matters,” Oschatz emphasized. “The associations between language and attitudes differed depending on when the terms were used. For instance, childish terms were linked to more negative feelings only when used in non-sexual contexts, but not during sexual ones. Interestingly, using the word ‘pussy’ in sexual contexts was associated with greater sexual pleasure and more frequent orgasms. This suggests that a word once considered derogatory may now be reclaimed by many women and carry an element of empowerment.”</p>
<p>Contrary to what researchers expected, the use of euphemisms was not associated with a negative genital self-image or any other adverse outcomes in the study.</p>
<p>“We were surprised to find that using euphemisms—vague and indirect terms like ‘own there’ or ‘private area’—was not associated with more negative attitudes toward women’s own genitals,” Oschatz said. “We had expected that these terms might carry an element of shame or discomfort, which could be linked to a more negative genital self-image. However, our findings suggest otherwise. Instead, it was really the use of childish language that was related to negative feelings and attitudes.”</p>
<p>As with all research, the study has some limitations. The participants were predominantly white and highly educated, so the findings may not apply to women from other racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic backgrounds where language and cultural norms may differ. The research was also focused exclusively on cisgender women. </p>
<p>Additionally, because the study shows a correlation, it cannot determine causation. It is unclear if using certain words influences a woman’s feelings and behaviors, or if her existing feelings and behaviors influence her choice of words. It is also possible that the relationship works in both directions.</p>
<p>Future research could explore these dynamics in more diverse populations and use methods that help establish the direction of the relationship over time. Researchers also suggest a deeper exploration into the complex nature of reclaimed terms to better understand how and when they contribute to a sense of genuine empowerment. </p>
<p>The study’s authors note that the findings have practical implications, particularly for health and education. Discouraging infantilizing language and promoting the use of accurate anatomical terms in medical, educational, and family settings could help reduce shame and improve body literacy and well-being among women.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-025-01619-w" target="_blank">Vagina, Pussy, Vulva, Vag – Women’s Names for Their Genitals are Differentially Associated with Sexual and Health Outcomes</a>,” was authored by Tanja Oschatz, Verena Klein, Veronica Kovalcik, and Rotem Kahalon.</p></p>
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<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
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