<table style="border:1px solid #adadad; background-color: #F3F1EC; color: #666666; padding:8px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; line-height:16px; margin-bottom:6px;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><span style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:20px;font-weight:bold;">PsyPost – Psychology News</span></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td> </td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/covid-19-infection-may-alter-brain-microstructure-even-in-people-who-fully-recover/" 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;">COVID-19 infection may alter brain microstructure even in people who fully recover</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 15th 2026, 08:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>New research utilizing advanced brain imaging techniques reveals that SARS-CoV-2 infection may induce lasting changes in the brain, even in individuals who feel fully recovered. The study identified specific alterations in tissue microstructure and chemical levels that distinguish people with Long COVID from those who recovered without lingering symptoms, as well as from those never infected. These findings were published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101142" target="_blank">Brain, Behavior, & Immunity – Health</a></em>.</p>
<p>The global spread of COVID-19 resulted in a significant number of people experiencing persistent health issues known as Long COVID. Common symptoms include severe fatigue, cognitive dysfunction often called brain fog, and sleep disturbances. </p>
<p>The research team at Griffith University’s <a href="https://www.griffith.edu.au/research/health/national-centre-neuroimmunology-emerging-diseases" target="_blank">National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases</a> had previously studied Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). They noted that Long COVID symptoms frequently overlap with those observed in ME/CFS. This observation prompted the team to investigate whether similar brain mechanisms might be at play.</p>
<p>Medical professionals have also noted that even individuals who recover from the acute phase of COVID-19 sometimes demonstrate subtle cognitive slowing. Previous imaging studies have attempted to map these changes but have produced inconsistent results. </p>
<p>Many prior studies did not directly compare three distinct groups: those with Long COVID, those who recovered fully, and those who never contracted the virus. The researchers aimed to fill this knowledge gap by employing a multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) approach. This allowed them to simultaneously assess myelin content, tissue integrity, and neurochemical levels.</p>
<p>“When the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, many people began experiencing symptoms similar to those seen in ME/CFS. This observation motivated us to investigate long COVID and determine whether it involves brain changes similar to those found in ME/CFS,” said study author Kiran Thapaliya, a research fellow at the National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases.</p>
<p>“Even after full recovery from COVID-19, some individuals continued to report persistent symptoms such as brain fog. This further inspired us to compare brain alterations across three groups: people with long COVID, individuals who have fully recovered from COVID-19, and those who have never had COVID-19.”</p>
<p>The study included 47 participants from the Gold Coast area in Queensland, Australia. The sample included 19 individuals diagnosed with Long COVID according to World Health Organization guidelines. It also included 12 individuals who had recovered from COVID-19 and reported no lasting symptoms. A third group consisted of 16 healthy controls with no history of SARS-CoV-2 infection. All participants were between the ages of 18 and 65.</p>
<p>The researchers excluded individuals with other significant medical conditions to ensure the results were specific to COVID-19. Participants completed detailed questionnaires regarding their symptoms. These assessments measured pain levels, physical function, fatigue severity, and cognitive impairment. The Long COVID group reported significantly higher levels of pain and fatigue compared to the other groups. They also recorded lower scores for physical and cognitive function.</p>
<p>The participants underwent scanning using a 3 Tesla MRI scanner. The researchers acquired three specific types of data during the scans. First, they used T1-weighted and T2-weighted images to create ratio maps. This technique provides an estimate of myelin content in the brain. Myelin is the protective sheath around nerve fibers that facilitates rapid communication between neurons.</p>
<p>Second, the team utilized diffusion-weighted imaging. This method tracks the movement of water molecules within brain tissue. It helps reveal the microscopic architecture of the brain and the integrity of white matter tracts. Finally, they employed magnetic resonance spectroscopy. This technique acts like a virtual biopsy, allowing scientists to measure the levels of specific chemicals in a targeted brain region. The researchers focused this chemical analysis on the posterior cingulate cortex, a hub involved in memory and emotion.</p>
<p>The study revealed widespread differences in the T1w/T2w ratio maps, which serve as a proxy for myelin signal intensity. When comparing Long COVID patients to healthy controls, the researchers found higher signal intensity in the precentral gyrus and the middle temporal gyrus. The precentral gyrus is essential for motor control, while the middle temporal gyrus plays a key role in memory. This increase suggests potential remyelination or inflammatory processes occurring in these regions.</p>
<p>Comparison between the recovered group and the Long COVID group showed even more distinct differences. The recovered individuals displayed significantly higher signal intensities in the brainstem and cerebellum compared to the Long COVID patients. The brainstem controls vital functions such as the sleep-wake cycle and pain processing. The cerebellum coordinates voluntary movement and balance. Lower signal intensity in these areas for Long COVID patients may relate to their persistent fatigue and physical limitations.</p>
<p>The researchers also identified changes in individuals who had reportedly recovered fully. Compared to the never-infected controls, the recovered group showed higher signal intensity in the precentral gyrus and posterior cingulate cortex. This indicates that the virus may leave a footprint on the brain even in the absence of overt symptoms. It suggests that the brain might undergo compensatory changes after infection.</p>
<p>Diffusion-weighted imaging provided additional evidence of structural alteration. Long COVID patients exhibited lower mean diffusivity in the dentate regions of the cerebellum compared to healthy controls. This metric relates to the density and organization of tissue. Lower diffusivity can indicate a restriction of water movement, potentially due to swelling or tissue remodeling. The recovered group also showed lower diffusivity in the caudate nucleus compared to healthy controls. The caudate nucleus is a structure involved in motor processes and learning.</p>
<p>The chemical analysis via magnetic resonance spectroscopy highlighted significant metabolic imbalances. The researchers observed these differences primarily between the Long COVID group and the recovered group. Long COVID patients exhibited significantly lower levels of glutamine. Glutamine is an amino acid that supports the immune system and energy production. Its depletion suggests the body may be exhausting its reserves to fight ongoing inflammation or immune dysregulation.</p>
<p>On the other hand, Long COVID patients showed higher levels of N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA) compared to the recovered group. NAA is a marker of neuronal health and metabolism. Typically, lower levels indicate damage. However, the researchers propose that elevated NAA in this context might represent a compensatory response. The brain may be working harder to maintain function in the face of metabolic stress. It could also result from osmotic stress related to the symptoms of the condition.</p>
<p>The researchers analyzed how these biological markers related to the participants’ symptoms. In the Long COVID group, they found a significant correlation between myelin signal intensity and physical function. Lower signal intensity in the middle temporal gyrus was associated with worse physical function. This aligns with the idea that reduced myelin compromises the efficiency of brain-body communication.</p>
<p>A similar pattern emerged regarding cognition. There was a negative correlation between signal intensity in the midbrain and cognitive scores. This suggests that alterations in the brainstem region are linked to the severity of cognitive impairment. These associations provide a biological basis for the subjective symptoms reported by patients.</p>
<p>“This study clearly shows that even individuals who do not experience any symptoms after recovering from COVID-19 may still have long-term effects of the virus on the brain,” Thapaliya told PsyPost.</p>
<p>But the study, like all research, includes some caveats. The design was cross-sectional, meaning it captured a snapshot in time rather than tracking changes over a long period. It is impossible to determine from this data alone whether the observed brain changes are permanent or if they evolve over time. The sample size was relatively small, with fewer than 50 total participants. Small sample sizes can sometimes lead to results that are not replicable in larger populations.</p>
<p>The researchers also noted that the statistical methods used to identify brain clusters involve thresholds that can introduce errors. They attempted to correct for this using standard statistical adjustments. Additionally, the study is exploratory in nature. It aimed to generate hypotheses for future investigation rather than provide definitive clinical diagnostic tools.</p>
<p>Future research is needed to validate these findings in larger, more diverse cohorts. Longitudinal studies would be particularly beneficial. Such studies could track individuals from the point of infection through recovery or the development of Long COVID. This would allow scientists to see if the brain alterations resolve as symptoms improve. It would also help clarify the timeline of remyelination and metabolic changes.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbih.2025.101142" target="_blank">Altered brain tissue microstructure and neurochemical profiles in long COVID and recovered COVID-19 individuals: A multimodal MRI study</a>,” was authored by Kiran Thapaliya, Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, Maira Inderyas, and Leighton Barnden.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/excessive-smartphone-users-show-heightened-brain-reactivity-to-social-exclusion/" 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;">Excessive smartphone users show heightened brain reactivity to social exclusion</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 15th 2026, 06:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>A recent study published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2025.108852" target="_blank">Computers in Human Behavior</a></em> suggests that individuals who excessively use their smartphones display heightened brain activity in regions associated with social pain when they experience social exclusion. The findings provide evidence that hypersensitivity to social rejection may be a key psychological factor driving compulsive digital connectivity. These neural differences highlight the importance of considering social and emotional vulnerabilities when trying to understand why some people struggle to control their smartphone usage.</p>
<p>Excessive smartphone use is increasingly viewed as a pattern of behavior that closely resembles other forms of addiction. Scientific inquiry into this condition has historically focused on cognitive control or the brain’s reward systems. This approach often treats the device as a source of dopamine, similar to how one might study gaming or substance use. However, this perspective often overlooks the inherently social nature of mobile technology.</p>
<p>Smartphones are primary tools for maintaining a sense of belonging and connecting with others. The drive to stay connected may stem from a need to avoid the negative feelings associated with isolation. Consequently, the researchers aimed to investigate the socio-cognitive aspects of this condition. They sought to understand if heavy users process social rejection differently than those with more moderate usage habits.</p>
<p>“This study was motivated by the observation that research on excessive smartphone use has focused predominantly on reward processing and cognitive control, while social cognitive mechanisms, remain underexplored,” said study author <a href="https://www.klinikum.uni-heidelberg.de/department-fuer-psychosoziale-medizin-praevention-und-familiengesundheit/klinik-fuer-psychiatrie-und-psychotherapie/ueber-uns/sektionen/kognitive-neuropsychiatrie" target="_blank">Robert Christian Wolf</a>, deputy director at the Department of General Psychiatry and Psychotherapy at Heidelberg University Hospital.</p>
<p>“Given that many smartphone behaviors are inherently social, we aimed to address this gap by examining how individuals with excessive smartphone use process socially aversive experiences at the neural level. We also sought to clarify how concepts such as social exclusion, social pain, and fear of missing out (FOMO) might relate to excessive smartphone use within an established framework for behavioral addictions.”</p>
<p>To investigate these questions, the research team recruited 41 participants between the ages of 18 and 30. All participants were right-handed and had no history of neurological or mental illness. The researchers used the short form of the Smartphone Addiction Scale to separate the participants into two distinct groups.</p>
<p>The first group consisted of 23 individuals identified as having excessive smartphone use. This classification was based on their self-reported lack of control over phone usage and the resulting interference with their daily lives. The second group consisted of 18 participants who served as a control group with typical smartphone habits.</p>
<p>The researchers employed functional magnetic resonance imaging to measure brain activity. This technology tracks changes in blood flow to different areas of the brain, serving as a proxy for neural activation. While inside the scanner, each participant completed a task known as the Cyberball paradigm.</p>
<p>Cyberball is a virtual ball-tossing game designed to simulate social interaction and subsequent rejection. Participants were told they were playing online with two other real people. To increase the realism of the scenario, the game displayed AI-generated photographs of the supposed other players.</p>
<p>The experiment was divided into blocks of inclusion and exclusion. During the inclusion phases, the virtual players threw the ball to the participant with equal frequency. In the exclusion phases, the virtual players stopped throwing the ball to the participant entirely. This manipulation effectively created a sensation of being ignored or ostracized.</p>
<p>The imaging data revealed distinct differences in how the two groups processed this social rejection. When compared to the inclusion phase, the excessive smartphone use group showed significantly increased activity in the right middle cingulate cortex during exclusion. This heightened activity extended into the right superior frontal cortex.</p>
<p>The middle cingulate cortex is a region of the brain frequently associated with the processing of negative emotions. It is part of the neural network that processes the “affective” or unpleasant component of pain. Increased activation here suggests that the excessive users may have experienced the social exclusion as more emotionally distressing or painful.</p>
<p>In contrast, the control group exhibited a different pattern of brain activity. During the exclusion phase, these individuals showed increased activation in the left superior parietal cortex. This region is typically involved in sensory processing and attention management rather than emotional pain processing.</p>
<p>The researchers also analyzed the relationship between brain activity and specific neurotransmitter systems. They compared the functional imaging data with standardized maps of chemical receptors in the brain. This analysis indicated that dopaminergic and serotonergic systems were significantly involved in the neural response to exclusion for all participants.</p>
<p>In addition to the biological measures, the study collected psychometric data. Participants completed the Fear of Missing Out Scale and the Smartphone Addiction Inventory. The results confirmed that the excessive use group scored significantly higher on measures of “fear of missing out,” or FOMO.</p>
<p>The researchers also found a correlation between brain activity and specific addiction symptoms. Activity in the left superior parietal cortex was positively associated with functional impairment scores in the excessive use group. This implies a link between how the brain processes social information and the degree to which phone use disrupts daily functioning.</p>
<p>The researchers propose that the hyperactivity in the middle cingulate cortex indicates a specific vulnerability. If individuals with excessive smartphone use experience social rejection as more painful, they may be more motivated to avoid it. The smartphone then becomes a safety mechanism to ensure constant social inclusion and prevent this distress.</p>
<p>“Our findings suggest that people who use smartphones excessively may experience social exclusion as more emotionally painful at a neural level,” Wolf told PsyPost. “This heightened sensitivity may promote increased reliance on smartphones as a primary strategy to preserve social connectedness or to avert feelings of exclusion. In everyday terms, excessive smartphone use may be driven less by enjoyment and more by efforts to regulate distress associated with perceived or anticipated social disconnection.”</p>
<p>This interpretation aligns with the concept that fear of missing out acts as a driving force for connectivity. FOMO represents the apprehension that others are having rewarding experiences from which one is absent. While FOMO scores were higher in the excessive use group, they did not directly correlate with the brain activity changes observed during the specific moment of exclusion.</p>
<p>“The observed effects are modest but meaningful, as they emerge consistently in brain regions known to process social pain and cognitive control,” Wolf said. “Rather than reflecting neural dysfunction in a pathological sense, the results indicate subtle differences in how social experiences are processed. These neural biases may accumulate over time and contribute to the persistence of excessive smartphone use.”</p>
<p>But as with all research, there are some limitations. The sample size was relatively small, which can limit the ability to generalize the findings to the broader population. Additionally, the study relied on a cross-sectional design. This means it captured a snapshot of time and cannot determine cause and effect.</p>
<p>“A key caveat is that our findings do not imply that smartphones themselves cause heightened social pain or that excessive smartphone use constitutes a clinical condition (i.e. a manifest behavioral addiction) in all circumstances,” Wolf noted. “The cross-sectional design also precludes causal conclusions about whether sensitivity to social exclusion leads to excessive smartphone use or vice versa. Moreover, the Cyberball task employed in our study represents social exclusion in a relatively simplified and artificial manner, which may not fully capture the complexity of real-world social interactions.”</p>
<p>“Future research should adopt longitudinal and experimental designs to clarify causal pathways between social exclusion sensitivity, FOMO, and excessive smartphone use. We are particularly interested in designs that capture anticipatory social processes and in smartphone-use modulation studies, such as restriction phases. Integrating ecological and real-world social interaction measures will be essential for improving external validity.”</p>
<p>“This study underscores the importance of conceptualizing excessive smartphone use within a social-cognitive and affective framework, in which reward-driven behavior is embedded in the pursuit and maintenance of social reward,” Wolf explained. “By integrating neural, psychometric, and neurochemical analyses, we aim to contribute to a more comprehensive model of excessive smartphone use, highlighting social vulnerability as a potential target for more effective prevention and intervention strategies, especially for individuals at elevated risk of addictive behavior.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2025.108852" target="_blank">Neural correlates of social exclusion in individuals with excessive smartphone use</a>,” was authored by Gudrun M. Henemann, Mike M. Schmitgen, Sophie H. Haage, Jakob P. Rosero, Patrick Bach, Nadine D. Wolf, Julian Koenig, and Robert C. Wolf.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/study-identifies-two-distinct-types-of-populist-voters-driving-support-for-strongman-leaders/" 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;">Study identifies two distinct types of populist voters driving support for strongman leaders</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 14th 2026, 18:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>A survey of people from 9 countries found that in Italy, Hungary, Poland, Spain, Brazil, and Argentina, support for populist leaders is driven by authoritarian populist attitudes. In contrast, anti-establishment populism was the dominant factor in France and Canada, while neither of these dimensions was important in the U.S. The research was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2025.1605460"><em>Frontiers in Political Science</em></a>.</p>
<p>Populist leaders are political figures who claim to represent “the people” against a perceived corrupt, self-serving, or detached elite. They frame politics as a moral struggle between a virtuous majority and a small group of powerful insiders who are said to undermine the public interest.</p>
<p>Populism is not tied to a single ideology and can appear on both the left and the right of the political spectrum. Left-wing populist leaders typically focus on economic inequality, corporate power, and redistribution, portraying financial elites and large corporations as the main enemies of the people. Right-wing populist leaders more often emphasize national identity, cultural cohesion, immigration, and sovereignty, portraying outsiders or minorities as threats to the people’s way of life. Both forms rely heavily on emotional appeals, simple narratives, and direct communication styles.</p>
<p>Populist leaders tend to distrust or openly challenge established institutions such as courts, the media, or independent experts. They tend to personalize power, presenting themselves as the authentic voice of the people rather than as representatives within a system. While populism can mobilize disengaged voters and highlight real grievances, it can also weaken democratic norms by undermining pluralism and checks and balances. In essence, populist leaders differ in ideology but share a common style that simplifies politics into a conflict between “us” and “them.”</p>
<p>Study authors Anna Brigevich and Andrea Wagner wanted to explore the reasons people support populist politicians across the world. They propose that there are two distinct types of “populist citizens that come to support a populist strongman.” The first type are anti-establishment populists, individuals who are genuinely invested in enhancing democratic representation and restoring a voice to the “silent majority.” The second type are authoritarian populists, people who support populist leaders because these figures advocate for an exclusionary form of majority rule with the aim of marginalizing and punishing out-groups for their perceived lack of conformity to the values and views of the majority.</p>
<p>The study authors invited 1,000 respondents per country from 9 countries to complete a survey. They were recruited from a set of panels based on the Lucid exchange platform. The authors used Census information to weight data by age and gender. Each group was formed in a way that makes it geographically representative (i.e., based on where participants are from within each country) of each of the countries.</p>
<p>The authors chose three groups of participating countries. France, Italy, the U.S., and Canada were selected because they have recently seen right-wing populism enter the mainstream. They note that, in the U.S., populism traces back to the 1890s, but this used to be predominantly left-wing populism. At the moment, the authors continue, right-wing populism is dominant, but left-wing populist figures like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez are still notable.</p>
<p>The second group of countries were Spain, Brazil, and Argentina. In these countries, left-wing populism was traditionally more dominant and regarded as more inclusionary than their right-wing populism. These populists posit themselves as a voice for marginalized groups. The third group was post-communist Central European countries represented by Hungary and Poland, where populism is defined by right-wing nationalism and illiberalism.</p>
<p>However, the populist leaders considered in the study were all right-wing. They were Marine Le Pen (France), Giorgia Meloni (Italy), Donald Trump (U.S.), Pierre Poilievre (Canada), Santiago Abascal (Spain), Jair Bolsonaro (Brazil), Javier Milei (Argentina), Viktor Orbán (Hungary), and Andrzej Duda (Poland).</p>
<p>The study authors tested participants’ endorsement of 6 different aspects of populist attitudes – anti-elitism (a belief that politics is dominated by politicians who protect the interests of the elites), people-centrism (people should have the final say in major political matters), majoritarianism (the will of the majority should always prevail), strongman (a belief that a strong leader in government is good for the country), elitism (politicians possess the knowledge to solve the current issues of the country), and nationalism (identification with and support of interests of one’s own nation, especially to the detriment of other nations).</p>
<p>Results showed that anti-elitism and people-centrism tended to be associated, forming a wider attitude the study authors called anti-establishment attitudes. Strongman, elitism, and nationalism constituted a wider attitude called authoritarian attitudes. Majoritarianism was a part of authoritarian beliefs in most countries, but in Argentina and Poland, it was predominantly part of anti-establishment attitudes.</p>
<p>The study authors then looked into which of these attitudes predicted the support for populist leaders of participating countries. Results showed that the appeal of populist leaders in Italy, Hungary, Poland, Spain, Brazil, and Argentina was primarily driven by authoritarian attitudes. On the other hand, anti-establishment beliefs were the primary driver of support for the examined leaders in France and Canada. Neither of these groups of beliefs was associated with support for Donald Trump.</p>
<p>The study contributes to the scientific understanding of political attitudes. However, it should be noted that it solely focused on leaders generally seen as right-wing. Drivers of support for left-wing populist leaders might differ.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpos.2025.1605460">Anti-establishment versus authoritarian populists and support for the strong(wo)man,</a>” was authored by Anna Brigevich and Andrea Wagner.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/study-suggests-caffeine-mitigates-psychiatric-side-effects-of-cyclosporine/" 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;">Study suggests caffeine mitigates psychiatric side effects of cyclosporine</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 14th 2026, 16:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>Life-saving medical treatments often come with heavy physiological costs that extend beyond the targeted organ or disease. New research suggests that caffeine might serve as an unexpected remedy for the severe mood changes associated with a common drug used to prevent organ rejection. </p>
<p>The study provides evidence that caffeine can reverse anxiety and depression symptoms in mice treated with cyclosporine, potentially by altering nitric oxide signaling in the brain. The findings were published recently in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115142" target="_blank">Physiology & Behavior</a></em>.</p>
<p>Cyclosporine is a powerful immunosuppressive medication utilized globally. Doctors prescribe it frequently to patients undergoing organ transplantation to ensure the body does not attack the new tissue. It is also used to treat certain autoimmune disorders. </p>
<p>While effective for the immune system, the drug is known to cause neurotoxicity. This toxicity often manifests as psychological side effects, including elevated anxiety and depressive states. These neuropsychiatric issues can severely impact the quality of life for transplant recipients.</p>
<p>The biological roots of these side effects are tied to how cyclosporine works. The drug inhibits a protein called calcineurin. This inhibition stops the activation of specific T-cells in the immune system. However, calcineurin is also present in the brain. When its activity is blocked there, it disrupts the release of neurotransmitters. Previous research indicates that this disruption leads to lower levels of serotonin and dopamine. These chemicals are essential for regulating mood and emotion.</p>
<p>Researchers are now looking for accessible ways to mitigate these adverse effects without stopping the life-saving treatment. Caffeine is a primary candidate due to its ability to modulate brain chemistry. It is structurally similar to adenosine, a brain chemical that promotes sleep and relaxation. By blocking adenosine receptors, caffeine increases alertness. It also interacts with dopamine and other neurotransmitter systems.</p>
<p>The investigation also focused on the role of nitric oxide. This is a gaseous signaling molecule involved in various physiological processes. It plays a role in immune function and the regulation of blood vessel width. In the brain, nitric oxide acts as a neurotransmitter. Abnormal levels of nitric oxide signaling are linked to both anxiety and depression. Since both cyclosporine and caffeine are known to influence nitric oxide pathways, the researchers hypothesized that this gas might be the missing link.</p>
<p>The study was led by Mohaddeseh Ebrahimi-Ghiri and Sakineh Alijanpour. They collaborated with researchers from the University of Zanjan, Gonbad Kavous University, and Tehran University of Medical Sciences in Iran. They sought to determine if acute caffeine consumption could counterbalance the psychiatric side effects of cyclosporine. They also aimed to identify if nitric oxide mechanisms were responsible for any observed protective effects.</p>
<p>To test their hypothesis, the team utilized adult male mice. The animals were housed in controlled conditions to ensure standard responses. The researchers employed two standard behavioral tests to measure mood in the rodents. The first was the Elevated Plus Maze. This apparatus consists of two open arms and two enclosed arms raised above the ground. Mice naturally prefer enclosed spaces due to safety but are also inquisitive. Anxious mice will spend most of their time in the dark, enclosed arms. Less anxious mice will venture out onto the open platforms.</p>
<p>The second assessment was the Forced Swim Test. This is a standard method for evaluating depressive-like behavior in rodents. Mice are placed in a cylinder of water. Initially, they struggle to escape. Eventually, they may stop struggling and float. This immobility is interpreted as a measure of behavioral despair or depression. Antidepressants typically reduce the amount of time the mice spend floating motionless.</p>
<p>The researchers first established the baseline effects of the immunosuppressant. They administered cyclosporine to the mice and tested them 24 hours later. The results confirmed that the drug induces negative mood states. Mice treated with a 60 mg/kg dose of cyclosporine spent about 63 percent less time in the open arms of the maze compared to the control group. This indicates a heightened state of anxiety. In the swim test, these mice spent roughly 43 percent more time immobile. This suggests a significant increase in depressive-like behavior.</p>
<p>In the next phase, the team investigated the impact of caffeine. They found that caffeine by itself did not alter the behavior of healthy mice at the doses used. However, the results changed when caffeine was given to mice treated with cyclosporine. The researchers administered caffeine 40 minutes before the behavioral tests.</p>
<p>Lower doses of caffeine proved effective against anxiety. Pre-treatment with 0.1 and 0.5 mg/kg of caffeine prevented the anxiety-like behaviors usually caused by cyclosporine. The mice returned to exploring the open arms of the maze. However, the highest dose of caffeine tested did not produce this anti-anxiety effect. This aligns with known properties of caffeine, where low doses can calm but high doses may induce jitters or anxiety.</p>
<p>Different doses were required to address the depressive symptoms. The lowest dose of caffeine had no effect on the immobility time in the swim test. Conversely, the moderate and high doses effectively reversed the depressive-like behaviors. The mice treated with these amounts of caffeine spent more time swimming and struggling, similar to the healthy control group.</p>
<p>The final set of experiments explored the chemical mechanism behind these changes. The researchers wanted to know if nitric oxide was the driver. They used two chemical agents to manipulate nitric oxide levels. The first was L-arginine, a precursor that the body uses to create more nitric oxide. The second was L-NAME, a compound that inhibits the enzyme responsible for making nitric oxide.</p>
<p>The addition of L-arginine changed the outcome of the swim test. When researchers increased nitric oxide potential using L-arginine, caffeine lost its ability to reduce depression in the cyclosporine-treated mice. This suggests that the antidepressant effect of caffeine might depend on keeping nitric oxide levels in check. Excess nitric oxide appeared to counteract the benefit.</p>
<p>The inhibitor L-NAME had a different interaction, specifically in the anxiety test. When the researchers blocked nitric oxide production, it enhanced the protective effect of caffeine. Even at doses where caffeine alone might not have been fully effective, the addition of the inhibitor helped reduce anxiety. This reinforces the idea that modulating this gas is a key part of how caffeine influences mood in this context.</p>
<p>The authors noted that cyclosporine is known to increase nitric oxide activity in certain tissues. This increase may contribute to the negative mood symptoms. Caffeine appears to counteract this. It likely does so by blocking adenosine receptors, which in turn can lower nitric oxide production in specific brain areas.</p>
<p>There are limitations to this study that require consideration. The research was conducted on mice. Animal models provide essential insights but do not always perfectly predict human biological responses. The brain chemistry of humans is more elaborate. The psychological experience of depression and anxiety in humans involves complex cognitive processes that a swim test cannot fully capture.</p>
<p>Dosing is another variable. The study highlighted a biphasic effect of caffeine. This means the drug produces different effects at different quantities. Translating these specific milligram-per-kilogram doses from mice to humans requires careful calculation. What works as a therapeutic dose for a mouse could be ineffective or overstimulating for a person.</p>
<p>The role of nitric oxide is also intricate. It acts differently in various parts of the brain. In some regions, it might aid mood, while in others, it might worsen it. This study looked at systemic administration of drugs rather than targeting specific brain regions. Future research would need to pinpoint exactly where in the brain these interactions are happening.</p>
<p>The researchers suggest that understanding these mechanisms is vital for patient care. If these findings hold true in clinical settings, it could offer a simple strategy for managing side effects. Patients undergoing immunosuppressive therapy often have few options for managing mental health side effects. A regulated intake of caffeine could potentially offer a non-pharmaceutical adjunct to improve their well-being.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2025.115142" target="_blank">Caffeine attenuates anxiety- and depressive-like behavior following cyclosporine administration in mice, possibly via an NO pathway</a>,” was authored by Mohaddeseh Ebrahimi-Ghiri, Fatemeh Khakpai, Sakineh Alijanpour, Seyed Parsa Golshani, Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast, and Mohammad-Reza Jafari.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/research-reveals-a-surprising-physiological-reaction-to-viewing-social-bonding/" 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;">Research reveals a surprising physiological reaction to viewing social bonding</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 14th 2026, 14:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>A new study suggests that passively observing strangers engage in affectionate social interactions triggers a physiological response often associated with stress or alertness rather than relaxation. Researchers found that viewing images of social bonding caused a reduction in a specific heart rate metric linked to the body’s “rest and digest” system. These findings challenge the assumption that witnessing positive connections between other people automatically induces a sense of safety or physiological calm in the observer. The study was published in the journal <em><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40806-025-00429-3" target="_blank">Evolutionary Psychological Science</a></em>.</p>
<p>Human beings have evolved to live in groups. Throughout history, social isolation often reduced the chances of survival in harsh environments. Consequently, the human brain developed mechanisms to encourage the formation of secure relationships. One way scientists measure the body’s physiological state during social engagement is through heart rate variability.</p>
<p>The heart does not beat like a perfect metronome. The time interval between individual heartbeats fluctuates slightly in a healthy person. This variation is largely controlled by the autonomic nervous system. This system manages involuntary body functions and has two primary branches.</p>
<p>The sympathetic branch prepares the body for action, often described as the “fight or flight” response. The parasympathetic branch supports a state of calm, often called “rest and digest.” The vagus nerve is a primary component of this calming parasympathetic system. When the vagus nerve is active, it acts as a brake on the heart, increasing the variability between beats.</p>
<p>This specific type of fluctuation is known as vagally mediated heart rate variability (vmHRV). High levels of vmHRV generally indicate that the body is in a state of safety and social engagement. Conversely, low levels typically signal that the “brake” has been lifted. This withdrawal often occurs when the body perceives a threat or needs to mobilize resources.</p>
<p>Researchers have established that receiving active social support can boost this variability. However, less is known about the physiological effects of simply watching others bond. A research team led by Gabriela Guerra Leal Souza from the Federal University of Ouro Preto in Brazil sought to investigate this specific question. The team included first author Cássia Regina Vieira Araújo and several colleagues from Brazilian institutions.</p>
<p>The researchers aimed to determine if the passive perception of pleasant bonding cues would elicit changes in the autonomic nervous system. They hypothesized that seeing images of people interacting affectionately would signal safety. They predicted this would increase the viewers’ heart rate variability.</p>
<p>To test this hypothesis, the team recruited 72 undergraduate students. The group included both men and women, with an average age of approximately 23 years. The researchers implemented strict inclusion criteria to ensure the participants’ cardiac data would be reliable. They excluded individuals with mental or physical health diagnoses and those taking certain medications.</p>
<p>The study utilized a “within-subject” design. This means every participant viewed all categories of images, allowing the researchers to compare an individual’s reactions against their own baseline. This approach reduces the impact of natural physiological differences between different people.</p>
<p>The participants sat in a controlled environment and viewed a series of images on a computer screen. The primary stimuli consisted of “bonding” pictures. These images depicted two individuals engaging in activities together. These scenes included cues of social connection, such as gazing at one another or gentle touching.</p>
<p>As a comparison, the participants also viewed a set of “control” pictures. These images featured the same pairs of individuals found in the bonding set. However, in the control images, the people performed activities separately. They did not touch or look at each other.</p>
<p>The researchers took steps to ensure that the only difference between the sets was the social interaction. They matched the two sets of images for “valence” and “arousal.” This matching process ensured that participants rated both sets as equally pleasant and equally stimulating. The backgrounds and the number of people in the photos remained consistent across both conditions.</p>
<p>While the participants viewed these images, the researchers recorded their electrocardiographic signals. They measured the heart rate variability during a resting baseline period before the images appeared. They continued to measure it while the participants viewed the images. Finally, they measured it during a recovery period after the images were removed from the screen.</p>
<p>The results contradicted the team’s initial predictions. The data showed a distinct decrease in vagally mediated heart rate variability when participants viewed the bonding images. This physiological shift did not occur when they viewed the control images.</p>
<p>The reduction in variability during the bonding condition indicates a phenomenon known as “vagal withdrawal.” The parasympathetic system reduced its activity, similar to how the body reacts to stress or a demand for attention. This reaction suggests the body was mobilizing rather than relaxing.</p>
<p>The study also revealed that this physiological change persisted after the task ended. The participants’ heart rate variability did not return to baseline levels immediately after they stopped looking at the bonding pictures. This lingering effect suggests a sustained physiological adjustment.</p>
<p>In contrast, the control images produced no such change. Viewing the same people without the bonding cues did not alter the participants’ heart rate variability compared to their baseline. This specificity implies that the social interaction itself, rather than the mere presence of people, triggered the vagal withdrawal.</p>
<p>The researchers offered an evolutionary explanation for these unexpected results. Humans have evolved psychological adaptations to distinguish between “us” and “them.” We are driven to identify with our own social groups. Interactions within one’s own group often provide a sense of safety and belonging.</p>
<p>However, the people in the photographs were strangers to the participants. The researchers suggest that observing unknown individuals bonding may not trigger the same sense of safety as bonding with friends or family. In an ancestral environment, stumbling upon a group of strangers interacting might have required alertness rather than relaxation.</p>
<p>The authors propose that to activate the parasympathetic system effectively, an individual may need to feel a sense of belonging. The visual stimuli used in the experiment likely did not induce this social identification. The participants were viewing an “out-group” rather than an “in-group.”</p>
<p>The study indicates that pleasant social stimuli alone are not sufficient to activate the vagal brake. The context of the relationship appears to matter. Without a personal connection or a sense of inclusion, the brain may not interpret the scene as a safety signal.</p>
<p>There are limitations to this study that affect how broadly the results can be interpreted. The sample consisted entirely of undergraduate students. This demographic is generally young and educated, which may not represent the general population. Factors such as socioeconomic status or age could influence how people process social cues.</p>
<p>Additionally, the study used static images rather than videos or real-life interactions. Real-world social bonding is dynamic and involves sound and movement. It is possible that video stimuli might elicit a different physiological response. The researchers also noted they did not collect data on the participants’ ethnicity.</p>
<p>The researchers also pointed out that they did not assess the participants’ conscious feelings of belonging. Future research could include self-report questionnaires to better understand the psychological state of the viewer. It would be useful to know if participants felt explicitly excluded by the images of strangers.</p>
<p>The team suggests that future studies should investigate different demographics. Research involving older adults or people from different cultural backgrounds could reveal if this response is universal. It would also be informative to compare reactions to strangers versus reactions to images of the participant’s own friends and family.</p>
<p>This research provides the first evidence of its kind regarding passive viewing of social bonding. It highlights the complexity of the human social monitoring system. While social support is generally healthy, the mere observation of others’ intimacy does not guarantee a physiological benefit for the observer.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40806-025-00429-3" target="_blank">Passively Viewing Social Bonding Cues Decreases Vagally Mediated Heart Rate Variability</a>,” was authored by Cássia Regina Vieira Araújo, Fabiana Cristina de Oliveira Souza, Kíssyla Christine Duarte Lacerda, Nacha Samadi Andrade Rosário, Perciliany Martins de Souza, Tiago Arruda Sanchez, Izabela Mocaiber, and Gabriela Guerra Leal Souza.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/music-training-may-buffer-children-against-the-academic-toll-of-poverty/" 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;">Music training may buffer children against the academic toll of poverty</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 14th 2026, 12:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>A recent analysis of a major developmental dataset reveals that children who play musical instruments over several years exhibit stronger vocabulary skills than their non-musical peers. The findings indicate that music training might serve as a buffer against the academic disadvantages often associated with living in lower-income neighborhoods. This research appeared in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.70086" target="_blank">Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences</a></em>.</p>
<p>Educators and neuroscientists have debated the extent to which artistic training impacts the brain for decades. Playing an instrument is a demanding activity that requires a student to integrate auditory perception with fine motor control. It forces the brain to monitor pitch and rhythm while maintaining focus for extended periods. </p>
<p>Researchers suspect that these rigorous mental demands strengthen general cognitive abilities. The theory posits that the discipline required for music transfers to other domains, such as language processing and attention regulation.</p>
<p>Assal Habibi, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Southern California, led the investigation. Habibi and her colleagues at the Brain and Creativity Institute sought to determine if these cognitive benefits are consistent over time. They also wanted to understand if music training affects children differently depending on their socioeconomic environment. The team focused specifically on whether music could act as an equalizer for children facing economic adversity.</p>
<p>To answer these questions, the researchers utilized data from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study. This is the largest long-term study of brain development and child health in the United States. The massive dataset tracks thousands of children as they transition from childhood into adolescence. The scale of the ABCD Study allows scientists to account for variables that smaller studies often miss.</p>
<p>The research team analyzed a cohort of over 5,000 children who were between the ages of 9 and 10 at the start of the study. They categorized the participants based on their extracurricular activities. The primary comparison was between “musicians,” defined as children who participated in music training continuously for two years, and “non-musicians.” To ensure they were isolating the effects of music rather than just general extracurricular participation, they also compared the musicians to children who played soccer.</p>
<p>The researchers assessed the children using a comprehensive battery of tests designed to measure executive function and language skills. These included tasks that evaluated working memory, inhibitory control, and vocabulary. For example, the Picture Vocabulary Test asked children to match spoken words to corresponding images. Another assessment, the Stop-Signal Task, measured impulsivity by asking children to withhold a response when a specific signal appeared.</p>
<p>Initial analysis showed that the musicians performed better than non-musicians on nearly every cognitive measure at the start of the study. They had higher scores in reading recognition, memory, and processing speed. This baseline difference is common in such research. It often leads to the question of whether music makes children smarter or if smarter children simply choose to play music.</p>
<p>To address this, the team looked at how the children changed over the two-year period. They found that while all children naturally improved as they aged, the musicians showed accelerated growth in specific areas. The most distinct improvement appeared in the picture vocabulary task. The data indicated that the gap in language skills between musicians and non-musicians widened over the two years of the study.</p>
<p>The study then examined the influence of neighborhood quality using the Area Deprivation Index. This metric evaluates the socioeconomic status of a neighborhood based on factors like income, education, and housing quality. In general, children from high-deprivation neighborhoods tend to score lower on cognitive tests than those from wealthier areas.</p>
<p>The results showed a distinct interaction between music training and neighborhood deprivation. Among children who did not play music, those from disadvantaged neighborhoods showed smaller improvements in vocabulary over the two years compared to their wealthier peers. This reflects the typical “achievement gap” often observed in educational research.</p>
<p>However, the pattern was different for the musicians. Children who played music demonstrated the same rate of vocabulary improvement regardless of whether they lived in a high-deprivation or low-deprivation neighborhood. The music training appeared to protect the students in disadvantaged areas from the stalling progress seen in their non-musical neighbors. This finding suggests that music programs could be a powerful tool for narrowing the socioeconomic gap in academic achievement.</p>
<p>In addition to traditional statistical methods, the researchers employed machine learning techniques to validate their results. They used a support vector machine, which is a type of algorithm that classifies data by finding optimal boundaries between groups. The goal was to see if the computer could correctly identify a child as a musician or a non-musician based solely on their cognitive test scores.</p>
<p>The machine learning models successfully distinguished musicians from children who did not participate in any organized activities. The model relied heavily on language scores to make these distinctions. This reinforces the strong link between musical engagement and verbal abilities.</p>
<p>The algorithm also attempted to differentiate musicians from soccer players. This was a more difficult task, as both groups tend to come from families with more resources and support than children with no activities. However, the model was still able to identify the musicians. It did so by prioritizing performance on reading and vocabulary tasks. This implies that while sports and music both correlate with healthy development, music has a specific relationship with language that sports do not replicate.</p>
<p>The researchers noted that music and language share fundamental processing mechanisms. Both rely on the brain’s ability to interpret complex sequences of sound. The “OPERA hypothesis” suggests that the neural precision required for music enhances the brain’s ability to process speech. This shared biological foundation explains why the transfer effects are most visible in vocabulary and reading tasks.</p>
<p>Despite the large sample size, there are limitations to the study that require consideration. The data regarding music participation was reported by parents. This introduces potential inaccuracies regarding how often the children practiced or the quality of the instruction they received. The study did not differentiate between private lessons, school bands, or different types of instruments.</p>
<p>Additionally, the study is observational rather than experimental. While the researchers controlled for factors like household income and parental education, they could not fully rule out self-selection. It remains possible that children with an innate aptitude for language are more likely to stick with music lessons for two years. This would make the music training a marker of pre-existing ability rather than the sole cause of the improvement.</p>
<p>The authors also pointed out that the classification models were less accurate when comparing musicians to soccer players than to passive controls. This suggests that some of the cognitive benefits observed are likely due to engagement in structured activities generally. Discipline, social interaction, and following instructions are common to both sports and arts.</p>
<p>Future research will need to address the specifics of the training. Scientists need to determine if playing the violin has a different impact than playing the drums or singing in a choir. They also need to investigate how the intensity of practice correlates with the magnitude of the cognitive benefits.</p>
<p>This study provides strong evidence for the value of music education. It highlights the potential for music to serve as a cognitive enrichment tool. The findings are particularly relevant for policymakers and educators working in under-resourced communities. If music training can indeed shield children from the cognitive drag of socioeconomic deprivation, it represents a scalable and culturally rich intervention.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/nyas.70086" target="_blank">Longitudinal Effects of Continuous Music Training on Cognitive Development: Evidence From the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study</a>,” was authored by Assal Habibi, Eustace Hsu, Jed Villanueva, and Shan Luo.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<table style="font:13px Helvetica, sans-serif; border-radius:4px; -moz-border-radius:4px; -webkit-border-radius:4px; background-color:#fff; padding:8px; margin-bottom:6px; border:1px solid #adadad;" width="100%">
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/swapping-screen-time-for-books-boosts-language-skills-in-preschoolers/" 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;">Swapping screen time for books boosts language skills in preschoolers</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 14th 2026, 10:00</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; color:#494949;text-align:justify;font-size:13px;">
<p><p>A new analysis suggests that replacing time spent on digital devices with shared reading offers measurable developmental benefits for young children. Published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2025.108847" target="_blank">Computers in Human Behavior</a></em>, the research indicates that swapping screen time for books correlates with improved language and emotional skills. These benefits appear to persist regardless of whether the screen content is educational or recreational.</p>
<p>Families today navigate a daily environment filled with televisions, tablets, and smartphones. This digital ubiquity forces parents to make constant choices about how children spend their waking hours. Because a day contains only twenty-four hours, time spent on one activity inevitably subtracts from time available for another. This concept suggests that the impact of screen time is not just about the exposure itself, but also about what activities are being displaced.</p>
<p>Shifeng Li from Northwest Normal University in China led a team to investigate these time trade-offs. The researchers sought to understand how reallocating specific blocks of time affects child development. They focused on the “opportunity cost” of media consumption. Their work moves beyond simple correlations to model what happens when a child swaps one activity for another.</p>
<p>The team recruited 202 kindergarten students aged three to six years from Lanzhou, China. They also enlisted the children’s parents to track daily routines. The researchers collected data on household demographics, including parental education and income. Parents provided detailed reports on how many minutes their children spent playing with them, reading together, or using screens.</p>
<p>The researchers categorized screen time into distinct types to allow for a nuanced analysis. They differentiated between educational content and recreational viewing. They also tracked whether the child used the device alone or co-viewed content with a parent. This distinction aimed to see if parental involvement mitigated the potential downsides of screen time.</p>
<p>To assess the children’s development, the team administered a battery of standardized tests. They measured language skills through tasks involving phonological awareness, such as manipulating sounds in words. Another test evaluated orthographic awareness, which involves understanding the visual patterns of written characters. Rapid naming tasks assessed how quickly children could identify familiar objects.</p>
<p>Socio-emotional skills were measured using a series of interactive tasks. Children viewed pictures of faces and named the emotions depicted, such as happiness or anger. They also listened to short stories and identified how a protagonist would feel in various situations. One specific assessment, the “Disappointing Gift” task, tested the children’s understanding of social display rules by asking how a character might hide their true feelings to be polite.</p>
<p>The researchers employed a statistical technique known as the isotemporal substitution model. This method mathematically estimates the effect of replacing a specific amount of time from one activity with another while keeping the total time constant. Instead of simply asking if screen time is bad, the model asks: What happens if a child reads for fifteen minutes instead of using a tablet for fifteen minutes?</p>
<p>The results indicated that parent-child reading was the most beneficial activity for the measured skills. Children who spent more time reading with their parents displayed better phonological and orthographic awareness. They also performed better on assessments of socio-emotional competence. Conversely, higher amounts of total screen time correlated with lower scores in these areas.</p>
<p>When the researchers applied the substitution model, the trade-offs became clear. Swapping screen time for an equivalent amount of parent-child reading was associated with observable gains in language and emotional skills. The reverse was also true. Substituting reading time with screen time predicted measurable declines in those same skills.</p>
<p>A finding of particular note involved the category of educational screen time. Many parents assume that “learning” apps or educational programs provide a safe harbor for development. However, the data showed that replacing parent-child reading with educational screen use still resulted in negative outcomes for language and emotional skills. The device itself, regardless of content, did not replicate the benefits of shared reading.</p>
<p>The study suggests that the interactive nature of reading offers something screens cannot easily match. The authors posit that books provide richer exposure to written text and phonological patterns. Furthermore, the act of reading together fosters emotional bonds and provides opportunities for parents to explain complex feelings.</p>
<p>Co-viewing, where parents watch screens with their children, also failed to outperform reading. While previous research suggests co-viewing is better than solo viewing, this study found that swapping reading for co-viewing still led to lower developmental scores. The shared focus on a screen does not appear to generate the same quality of interaction as the shared focus on a book.</p>
<p>The researchers also analyzed the impact of parent-child play. Unexpectedly, the study did not find a positive link between parent-child play and language skills in this specific group. In fact, replacing reading with play was associated with lower orthographic awareness. The authors suggest this may be due to the age of the participants.</p>
<p>By age three to six, children often shift toward peer play at school rather than relying solely on parents. Additionally, the authors noted that parents might play more frequently with children who are already showing signs of developmental delay. This could create a statistical artifact where higher play time correlates with lower skills.</p>
<p>The negative association between screen time and socio-emotional skills was consistent across different types of media. Whether the content was recreational or educational, substituting it for reading or play time was linked to poorer emotional understanding. The passive nature of watching a screen may reduce the opportunities for social input that are vital for learning to read emotions.</p>
<p>The authors emphasized the importance of “proximal processes” in development. This term refers to the enduring, reciprocal interactions between a child and their immediate environment. Parent-child reading serves as a prime example of a high-quality proximal process. It invites questions, responses, and joint attention in a way that digital media often fails to do.</p>
<p>Digital devices frequently utilize built-in feedback mechanisms. An app might cheer when a child gets an answer right, or buzz when they get it wrong. The authors suggest this feature might encourage parents to disengage, leaving the device to do the teaching. This reduces the rich verbal and emotional exchanges that occur during human-led activities.</p>
<p>There are limitations to this research that require consideration. The study utilized a cross-sectional design, meaning it captured a snapshot in time rather than following children over years. This makes it difficult to definitively prove that screen time caused the lower scores, only that they are related.</p>
<p>Additionally, the data relied on parents reporting their own habits and their children’s activities. Self-reported data can be subject to memory errors or the desire to present oneself in a positive light. Parents might underestimate screen time or overestimate reading time.</p>
<p>The study also focused on the quantity of time spent on activities, not the quality. It did not measure how engaging the parents were when reading or how interactive the play sessions were. Future research would benefit from observational data to assess the nuances of these parent-child interactions.</p>
<p>Despite these caveats, the implications for families are practical and clear. The findings suggest that when parents have a choice between handing a child a tablet or picking up a book, the book is the superior option for skill building. Even educational apps do not appear to be an adequate substitute for the linguistic and emotional richness of reading together.</p>
<p>The study reinforces the idea that family practices matter deeply in a screen-saturated world. While complete avoidance of screens may be unrealistic, prioritizing interactive, literacy-rich engagement offers a protective buffer. Simple shifts in daily schedules to favor analog interactions can yield developmental dividends.</p>
<p>Future investigations should explore these dynamics in older children and across different cultural contexts. Longitudinal studies could help clarify the long-term effects of these early time-use decisions. For now, the evidence points toward the enduring power of the printed page shared between parent and child.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2025.108847" target="_blank">Screens or books? Isotemporal substitution of different home activities on language and socio-emotional skills in preschool children</a>,” was authored by Shifeng Li, Lin Chai, Lihong Ma, Shuyue Gu, Tao Wang, Li Wang, and Jianhua Zhou.</p></p>
</div>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size:13px; text-align: center; color: #666666; padding:4px; margin-bottom:2px;"></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
<p><strong>This information is taken from free public RSS feeds published by each organization for the purpose of public distribution. Readers are linked back to the article content on each organization's website. This email is an unaffiliated unofficial redistribution of this freely provided content from the publishers. </strong></p>
<p> </p>
<p><s><small><a href="#" style="color:#ffffff;"><a href='https://blogtrottr.com/unsubscribe/565/DY9DKf'>unsubscribe from this feed</a></a></small></s></p>