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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/heroin-addiction-linked-to-a-locally-hyperactive-but-globally-disconnected-brain-state-during-creative-tasks/" 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;">Heroin addiction linked to a “locally hyperactive but globally disconnected” brain state during creative tasks</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 17th 2026, 08:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03783-9" target="_blank">Translational Psychiatry</a></em> provides evidence that chronic heroin addiction impairs the neural networks responsible for creative thinking. The findings indicate that the brains of individuals with opioid dependence struggle to coordinate the generation and evaluation of new ideas. This research suggests that the addicted brain attempts to compensate for these disconnected networks by overworking specific local regions, resulting in inefficient cognitive processing.</p>
<p>The opioid crisis continues to be a major global health challenge, with high rates of relapse and overdose. Recovery from addiction requires more than just physical detoxification. It demands cognitive flexibility to cope with life stressors, manage cravings, and solve interpersonal problems without returning to drug use. Divergent thinking is a mental ability that allows people to generate multiple solutions to open-ended problems. This type of thinking is a primary component of creativity and helps individuals adapt to changing environments.</p>
<p>Previous science has mapped the ways heroin damages basic brain functions like memory and impulse control. However, less is understood about how the drug affects higher-level thinking processes that are essential for long-term rehabilitation. A lack of understanding in this area limits the development of treatments that could help patients rebuild their lives. The current study aimed to fill this gap by mapping the brain activity associated with creative thought in people with a history of heroin use.</p>
<p>“There has long been a cultural myth that psychoactive substances can enhance creativity, but scientific evidence has mostly focused on short-term effects and yielded inconsistent results. Our study aimed to address this gap by examining how chronic opioid addiction affects higher-order creative cognition from a neurophysiological perspective. We wanted to move beyond cultural narratives and provide objective neural evidence for how addiction may impair creativity,” said study author Haijun Duan, a professor at Shaanxi Normal University.</p>
<p>The research team recruited a total of 73 participants for the experiment. This sample included 38 individuals diagnosed with chronic heroin use disorder and 35 healthy control subjects. The researchers ensured the two groups were matched in terms of age, gender, and education level to rule out other influences on the results. All participants in the addiction group were recruited from rehabilitation centers and were currently in a state of abstinence.</p>
<p>To measure creative potential, the scientists utilized a standard psychological assessment known as the Alternative Uses Test. Participants were presented with common everyday objects, such as a brick or a ruler. They were then asked to generate as many novel and original uses for these objects as possible within a set time limit. This task specifically targets divergent thinking by forcing the brain to break away from standard associations.</p>
<p>While the participants performed this cognitive challenge, the researchers recorded their electrical brain activity. They used a high-density electroencephalogram (EEG) system with 64 sensors placed on the scalp. This technology allowed the team to track brain signals with millisecond precision. The researchers looked specifically at the power of brain waves in different regions and how well these regions communicated with one another.</p>
<p>The behavioral results indicated a deficit in the group with heroin use disorder. These individuals produced ideas that were objectively less original compared to the healthy control group. Despite their lower performance scores, the participants with addiction issues rated their own ideas as highly creative. This suggests a disconnection between their actual cognitive performance and their self-evaluation capabilities.</p>
<p>The brain imaging data provided a biological explanation for these behavioral differences. The researchers used advanced computer modeling to trace the scalp signals back to their sources in the brain. They found that the addiction group exhibited significantly higher electrical activity in the parietal lobe. This area of the brain is involved in processing sensory information and managing attention.</p>
<p>Specifically, the addiction group showed increased power in the alpha and beta frequency bands in the precuneus and superior parietal lobule. In a healthy brain, alpha waves often help suppress irrelevant information. The excessive activity in these regions suggests that the brains of individuals with heroin addiction were working harder to filter out distractions. This hyperactivity appears to be a compensatory mechanism to make up for deficits elsewhere.</p>
<p>While local brain activity was abnormally high, the connections between different brain networks were strikingly weak. The study focused on the interaction between the default mode network and the frontoparietal control network. The default mode network is typically active during imagination and idea generation. The frontoparietal network is responsible for evaluating those ideas and keeping the mind focused on the goal.</p>
<p>In healthy individuals, these two networks rapidly exchange information to produce creative thoughts. The EEG data showed that this cross-network coupling was significantly reduced in the heroin group. The communication breakdown was particularly evident between the right superior frontal gyrus and the left precuneus. The strength of the connection between these two specific nodes was a strong predictor of how well a person performed on the creativity test.</p>
<p>“One of the most unexpected findings was that, despite showing clear deficits in divergent thinking, individuals with chronic heroin addiction exhibited increased local brain activity in certain regions, particularly within the parietal cortex,” Duan told PsyPost. “This suggests that while large-scale network coordination—especially between the default mode network and the frontoparietal control network—was disrupted, some local neural circuits became overactive as a compensatory mechanism.” </p>
<p>“In other words, the addicted brain may still attempt to generate multiple ideas, but it does so in a fragmented and inefficient manner—working harder, yet connecting less effectively. This ‘locally hyperactive but globally disconnected’ pattern provides a novel perspective on how chronic addiction reshapes the neural architecture underlying divergent thinking.”</p>
<p>The researchers employed machine learning algorithms to verify the importance of these neural connections. The computer model was able to classify participants with high or low divergent thinking ability based solely on their brain connectivity patterns. The connection between the frontal and parietal regions emerged as the most accurate biological marker for cognitive impairment. This finding supports the idea that creativity relies on global network integration rather than just local brain activity.</p>
<p>“Individuals with chronic heroin addiction show significantly poorer performance in divergent thinking tasks, finding it more difficult to generate novel ideas or approach problems from alternative perspectives,” Duan explained. “EEG results indicate that the functional connectivity between two key brain networks—the default mode network and the frontoparietal network—is markedly reduced in these individuals.” </p>
<p>“These networks are essential for flexible thinking and creative idea generation. When such neural coordination is disrupted, the fluidity of thought and creative potential become constrained, and the spark of inspiration dims. This suggests that creativity does not arise from mental chaos, but rather from the precise coordination of a healthy brain operating in order and dynamic balance.”</p>
<p>These cognitive deficits may have real-world consequences for recovery. Reduced divergent thinking can make it difficult for individuals to see alternatives to drug use when they face stress. If a person cannot generate novel solutions to daily problems, they are more likely to fall back on established habits. The inability to accurately judge one’s own performance may also hinder the acceptance of feedback during therapy.</p>
<p>There are some limitations to this study that should be considered. The research was observational and looked at participants at a single point in time. It cannot definitively prove that heroin use caused these brain changes, as pre-existing differences may have contributed to addiction vulnerability. It is also unknown whether these neural deficits are permanent or if they can heal over time.</p>
<p>“Our next steps involve longitudinal and multimodal neuroimaging studies to track cognitive recovery during abstinence and explore whether neuromodulation techniques (like tACS or neurofeedback) could help restore creative and flexible thinking in addiction rehabilitation,” Duan said.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41398-025-03783-9" target="_blank">The impact of chronic heroin addiction on creative cognition: an EEG study based on divergent thinking</a>,” was authored by Wenjuan Fu, Yifan Wang, Wanyi Li, Yujia Meng, Jiaqi Dang, Kai Yuan, and Haijun Duan.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/a-simple-30-minute-eeg-test-may-predict-who-will-experience-sexual-dysfunction-from-ssris/" 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 simple 30-minute EEG test may predict who will experience sexual dysfunction from SSRIs</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 17th 2026, 06:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.11.002" target="_blank">Journal of Psychiatric Research</a></em> has found that a simple brain measurement taken before treatment begins may predict which patients will experience sexual dysfunction from antidepressant medications. The findings suggest that individuals with naturally higher levels of serotonin activity are significantly more susceptible to these side effects, particularly difficulties with reaching orgasm.</p>
<p>Depression is a debilitating condition that frequently impacts sexual health, with symptoms often including reduced desire and satisfaction. While effective treatment with antidepressants usually improves mood and overall well-being, the medications themselves can introduce new sexual challenges.</p>
<p>Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the most commonly prescribed class of antidepressants. They are known to cause sexual side effects in a large percentage of users. These adverse effects can range from decreased libido to an inability to ejaculate or reach orgasm.</p>
<p>These complications present a significant barrier to effective treatment. Many patients discontinue their medication because the sexual side effects affect their quality of life, self-esteem, and relationships.</p>
<p>Currently, psychiatrists rely on a trial-and-error approach when prescribing these drugs. There is no standard clinical method to determine in advance who will tolerate a specific medication well and who will develop severe side effects. Two patients with similar depression profiles might take the same dose of the same drug, yet have vastly different physical reactions.</p>
<p>“Sexual side effects are one of the most troublesome problems with antidepressants, affecting up to 70% of patients taking SSRIs. These side effects, particularly difficulty reaching orgasm and reduced libido, make patients concerned about starting medication, and often cause people to stop their medication, which can be dangerous for their mental health,” said study author Kristian Høj Reveles Jensen, a postdoctoral at the Neurobiology Research Unit at Copenhagen University Hospital.</p>
<p>“The frustrating thing is that we can’t predict who will experience these problems in advance. Two patients might take the same antidepressant at the same dose, but one has no sexual side effects, whilst the other develops distressing side effects. We suspected this variability might be related to differences in brain chemistry, specifically the amount of serotonin activity before starting treatment.”</p>
<p>The study utilized data from the NeuroPharm-1 clinical trial. The research team recruited 90 adults who had been diagnosed with a moderate to severe depressive episode. The participants ranged in age from 18 to 56 years. The majority of the sample was female, making up 73 percent of the group.</p>
<p>Strict inclusion criteria ensured that the participants were appropriate for the study. All subjects were free of antipsychotic medication and had not taken any antidepressants for at least two months prior to the start of the trial. This washout period ensured that the baseline measurements would not be influenced by lingering medication effects. A certified psychiatrist confirmed all diagnoses according to standard medical classification systems.</p>
<p>Before receiving any medication, each participant underwent an electroencephalogram recording session. This procedure involves placing sensors on the scalp to detect electrical activity in the brain. The researchers measured a specific response known as the loudness dependence of the auditory evoked potential. During the test, participants listened to a series of tones played at five different intensities, ranging from 60 to 100 decibels.</p>
<p>The brain’s electrical response to these increasing volumes provides insight into serotonin activity. Previous research has established an inverse relationship between this electrical response and central serotonin levels. A strong increase in electrical activity as the sound gets louder indicates low serotonin activity. Conversely, a weak or flat response to the increasing volume suggests high serotonin activity. This established biomarker allowed the researchers to estimate each patient’s baseline serotonin function without invasive procedures.</p>
<p>Following the initial testing, the patients began an eight-week treatment regimen with escitalopram. This drug is a standard selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Doses were adjusted individually between 5 and 20 milligrams per day, depending on how well the patient responded and what side effects they reported.</p>
<p>Sexual function was assessed at the beginning of the study and again after eight weeks using validated questionnaires. Clinicians also conducted structured interviews to rate the severity of any side effects and determine whether they were likely caused by the medication.</p>
<p>The researchers found an association between the pretreatment brain measurements and the development of sexual side effects. Patients who exhibited a weaker response to the auditory tones—indicating higher baseline serotonin activity—experienced significantly more severe orgasmic dysfunction after eight weeks of treatment. This relationship held true even when the researchers statistically adjusted for age, sex, and any sexual problems the patients had related to their depression before treatment started.</p>
<p>The predictive power of the model increased when the researchers combined the EEG data with the patients’ pretreatment reports of sexual symptoms. This combined approach allowed the model to predict distressing sexual side effects with 87 percent accuracy. This level of precision is substantial for a psychiatric biomarker. It suggests that the test could be clinically useful in identifying those at high risk.</p>
<p>The researchers also found that the brain measurement was specifically predictive of medication-induced side effects rather than general sexual health. The EEG scores did not correlate with the patients’ sexual function before they started the medication. </p>
<p>“What surprised us most was how specific the prediction was,” Jensen told PsyPost. “The EEG measure wasn’t related to sexual function before treatment; it only predicted treatment-emergent sexual side effects. This suggests we’re measuring something about how the brain will respond to SSRIs, not just general vulnerability in sexual function.”</p>
<p>The researchers also investigated whether testosterone levels played a role in predicting these side effects. Blood samples were taken to measure plasma testosterone before treatment. However, adding testosterone data to their statistical models did not improve the accuracy of the predictions. The EEG measurement of serotonin activity remained the primary predictor of outcome.</p>
<p>When examining the specific types of sexual dysfunction, the biomarker was more strongly associated with difficulties in reaching orgasm than with decreased libido. This aligns with biological understandings of the serotonin system.</p>
<p>The ability to reach orgasm is known to be directly influenced by specific serotonin receptors. Sexual desire, in contrast, involves a more complex interplay of various neurotransmitters, including dopamine. The specificity of the finding lends support to the idea that the EEG test is measuring a relevant biological mechanism.</p>
<p>The study also highlighted differences in how men and women experience these side effects. Consistent with broader medical literature, a higher proportion of women in the study had sexual dysfunction prior to treatment compared to men.</p>
<p>During treatment, clinicians and patients generally agreed on the presence of side effects. However, women were more likely to report distressing sexual side effects that clinicians did not attribute as strongly to the medication. In men, there was near-perfect agreement between the patient’s report and the clinician’s assessment.</p>
<p>“We found that a simple 30-minute EEG test before starting antidepressants can predict who is most likely to develop sexual side effects,” Jensen explained. “Patients with naturally higher serotonin activity, measured by lower LDAEP scores, had a much higher risk of experiencing sexual side effects from SSRIs, particularly difficulty reaching orgasm.”</p>
<p>“When we combined the EEG test with information about any sexual symptoms patients already had from their depression, we could predict sexual side effects with 87% accuracy. This could help doctors and patients make more informed choices about which antidepressant to try first.”</p>
<p>While the results are promising, there are some limitations to consider. The sample size of 90 patients is relatively small for a clinical study intended to change practice standards. The gender imbalance, with a high preponderance of female participants, means the results may be less precise for male patients. The confidence intervals for the predictions in men were wider, indicating less certainty in that subgroup.</p>
<p>Another limitation is the accessibility of the technology. While an electroencephalogram is less expensive than brain imaging scans, it is not currently a standard piece of equipment in most psychiatric outpatient clinics. Implementing this testing as a routine procedure would require significant investment in equipment and training.</p>
<p>“It is essential to note that while the EEG test shows great promise, it is not yet widely available in clinical settings and is largely limited to research contexts,” Jensen told PsyPost. “We are working towards making this test more accessible to healthcare providers in the near future.”</p>
<p>The study was also open-label, meaning both the patients and doctors knew which medication was being administered. This design can sometimes introduce bias in how side effects are reported. However, the objective nature of the pretreatment EEG measurement helps mitigate this concern regarding the biological findings.</p>
<p>The researchers note that the results do not suggest patients with high serotonin activity should avoid antidepressants entirely. “Rather, it gives clinicians and patients better information for shared decision-making,” Jensen said. “For some, the mood benefits might outweigh the sexual side effects. For others, knowing their risk is high might prompt choosing an antidepressant with a different mechanism, like bupropion or mirtazapine, which have lower rates of sexual side effects. This is about precision treatment—using biology to inform, not dictate, clinical decisions.”</p>
<p>“Also, we need to sort out what we mean by sexual side effects. Libido is very context-dependent, and the causes of changes in libido are difficult to quantify and predict. SSRIs do, in a dose-dependent manner, change the ability to reach orgasm, and this was easier to predict with our EEG measure. A slight delay in reaching orgasm/ejaculation may be welcomed for some male patients or be non-distressing or a minor side effect compared to the mood benefit from the drug.”</p>
<p>“Overall, we see that patients taking SSRIs improve their general sexual functioning after 2-3 months because the depression is treated,” Jensen continued. “When their mood improves, they start having more sex, and the side effects become noticeable.”</p>
<p>“We’re currently running a much larger study, called BrainDrugs-Depression, with 600 patients to replicate and extend these findings. If confirmed, the next step would be to develop standardised protocols for implementation in clinical practice. We’re also interested in whether this biomarker could help predict other SSRI side effects. The broader goal is moving psychiatry from “trial and error” to “predict and personalise” by using objective brain measures to help match patients with the treatments most likely to help them, whilst minimising side effects.”</p>
<p>“This work was led by our medical student, Gudrun Dilja Ketilsdottir, who will help us validate the findings in our larger study,” Jensen added.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2025.11.002" target="_blank">Serotonergic activity estimated by EEG loudness-dependent auditory evoked potentials as a predictor of sexual SSRI side effects</a>,” was authored by Gudrun Dilja Ketilsdottir, Cheng-Teng Ip, Vibe G. Frokjaer, Annamaria Giraldi, Martin Balslev Jørgensen, and Kristian H. Reveles Jensen.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/the-psychological-reason-news-reports-single-out-women-and-children/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">The psychological reason news reports single out women and children</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 16th 2026, 20:00</div>
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<p><p>The phrase “women and children” creates a specific image in the mind of a news consumer. It appears frequently in headlines covering war, natural disasters, and humanitarian crises. A new study published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2025.106320" target="_blank">Cognition</a></em> suggests that this wording is not merely a descriptive habit of journalists. The research reveals that highlighting these specific groups amplifies a psychological response known as moral outrage. The findings indicate that this reaction relies heavily on traditional views regarding gender roles rather than a simple instinct to protect the vulnerable.</p>
<p>In the modern media landscape, news organizations compete fiercely for engagement. Reporters and editors often frame stories to elicit a strong emotional reaction from the audience. Psychologists recognize that different types of victims trigger different levels of sympathy. The researchers behind this new work wanted to understand if grouping women with children alters how observers judge a tragedy. They focused on moral outrage, which is distinct from empathy. While empathy involves feeling the pain of a victim, moral outrage is an anger directed at a perpetrator. It is a mobilizing emotion that drives people to want to punish wrongdoers.</p>
<p>The study was conducted by Anastasiia D. Grigoreva Crean, Stella F. Lourenco, and Arber Tasimi. They are researchers affiliated with the Department of Psychology at Emory University. They sought to determine if the phrase “women and children” is a rhetorical tool that effectively manipulates moral judgment. They also investigated why adult women might elicit a protective response similar to that afforded to young children.</p>
<p>The investigation involved six distinct experiments with over 3,000 participants. In the first experiment, the team presented participants with a short news article describing a bombing during the Syrian Civil War. The text was identical for everyone, except for the headline and a sentence specifying the victims. One group read about “women and children,” while another group read a baseline version that did not specify the demographic of the victims.</p>
<p>The results showed a clear divide in emotional responses. Participants who read about “women and children” reported higher levels of moral outrage. They were more likely to agree that the perpetrators were “despicable” and deserved severe punishment. The researchers considered whether this reaction was due to a misunderstanding of the facts. It is possible that the phrase leads people to believe that a larger number of people died.</p>
<p>To test this, the team asked participants to estimate the number of casualties based on the article. The data showed that highlighting women and children did not cause people to overestimate the death toll. The participants knew the numbers were the same, yet their anger was more intense when the victims were identified as women and children. This proved that the identity of the victims, not the scale of the loss, drove the emotional response.</p>
<p>The researchers next tested whether the effect was simply due to identifying any specific group. They compared the phrase “women and children” against the term “civilians.” The label “civilian” already implies that the victims are innocent non-combatants. If the outrage was solely about the violation of rules of war, both groups should elicit similar reactions. The study found that “women and children” still generated more outrage than “civilians.” This suggested that gender and age carry specific moral weight that exceeds the general status of a bystander.</p>
<p>A pivotal moment in the research came during the third experiment. The team attempted to isolate the two components of the phrase. It is widely accepted in psychology that children are viewed as the ultimate innocent victims. The researchers hypothesized that the word “children” might be doing all the heavy lifting in the phrase. They separated the groups, presenting stories that highlighted only “women,” only “children,” or “civilians.”</p>
<p>The findings challenged the assumption that children are unique in their ability to generate outrage. The study revealed that highlighting “women” alone elicited levels of moral outrage comparable to highlighting “children” alone. Both groups generated more anger than the “civilians” condition. This implied that adult women are afforded a moral status similar to that of children in the context of victimization.</p>
<p>The researchers then sought to pinpoint the source of this “moral pull” for women. A common cultural narrative suggests that women are valued primarily as mothers. If this were true, the outrage might stem from the disruption of the maternal bond. To test this theory, the team created narratives involving parents versus students. They contrasted “civilians who were mothers” and “civilians who were fathers” with “students who were young women” and “students who were young men.”</p>
<p>The analysis showed that parenthood was not the deciding factor. Women elicited more moral outrage than men regardless of whether they were identified as mothers or college students. The “moral pull” appeared to be attached to womanhood itself rather than the role of caregiver. This led the team to investigate the limits of this protection. They asked if all women receive this sympathy or if it is reserved for those who fit a certain mold.</p>
<p>The fifth experiment introduced a condition that challenged traditional gender roles. The researchers compared the reaction to “civilians who were women” against “soldiers who were women.” They also included “soldiers who were men” as a control group. The results highlighted a stark boundary to the sympathy afforded to women. While female civilians triggered high outrage, female soldiers did not.</p>
<p>In fact, the moral outrage in response to the deaths of female soldiers was statistically indistinguishable from the reaction to male soldiers. This suggested that the protection granted to women is conditional. It appears to depend on women conforming to perceived norms of innocence or passivity. When women enter a role associated with aggression or agency, such as military service, they lose the moral advantage usually associated with their gender.</p>
<p>To explain this phenomenon, the researchers looked to a psychological concept called “benevolent sexism.” This is a belief system that does not necessarily view women with hostility. Instead, it views women as pure, refined, and morally superior to men, but also as weaker and in need of male protection. The final experiment measured how strongly participants endorsed these views.</p>
<p>The study found a direct correlation between benevolent sexism and moral outrage. Participants who believed that women have a “superior moral sensibility” were the most outraged by the victimization of women. This correlation vanished when the victims were female soldiers. The data suggests that the “moral pull” of women is a byproduct of sexist attitudes that strip women of agency in exchange for protection.</p>
<p>There are limitations to the study that provide context for these results. The participants were located in the United States. Cultural attitudes toward gender and war vary globally. It is possible that the results would look different in societies with different gender hierarchies. The researchers also note that the study used a conflict in a foreign country as the stimulus. Responses might differ if the victims belonged to the participants’ own national group.</p>
<p>The team also points out that while the phrase “women and children” is effective at grabbing attention, it carries hidden costs. By consistently grouping adult women with children, media narratives reinforce the idea that women are perpetually vulnerable. This framing denies women full moral agency. It paints them as passive subjects rather than active participants in society.</p>
<p>This dynamic creates a double-edged sword. Women who conform to traditional roles receive increased concern during tragedies. However, this same mechanism may lead to a lack of empathy for men, who are viewed as the default agents of violence. It also penalizes women who step outside traditional boundaries, such as those in the military. The researchers suggest that future work should examine the long-term societal consequences of this rhetoric.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2025.106320" target="_blank">The moral pull of ‘women and children’</a>,” was authored by Anastasiia D. Grigoreva Crean, Stella F. Lourenco, and Arber Tasimi.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/playing-video-games-for-this-long-each-week-is-linked-to-worse-diet-and-sleep/" 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;">Playing video games for this long each week is linked to worse diet and sleep</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 16th 2026, 18:00</div>
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<p><p>University students who spend more than ten hours a week playing video games may face higher risks of obesity and poor sleep quality. A new study published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2025.113051" target="_blank">Nutrition</a></em> suggests that this specific level of gaming is associated with reduced diet quality and a higher body mass index. These results indicate that excessive screen time could be displacing healthy habits during a pivotal period for young adults establishing their independence.</p>
<p>Video gaming is a dominant pastime in modern culture, particularly among young adults attending university. This demographic is currently navigating a transition where parental supervision decreases and academic pressures increase. Previous research has suggested that the immersive nature of gaming might distract players from physiological cues like hunger or fatigue. </p>
<p>The research team, led by Thanaporn Kaewpradup and Mario Siervo, sought to quantify how specific amounts of gaming time relate to physical health markers. Kaewpradup is affiliated with Chulalongkorn University in Thailand and Curtin University in Australia, while Siervo is a professor at the Curtin School of Population Health.</p>
<p>The researchers aimed to understand if the duration of play correlates directly with adverse health outcomes. They hypothesized that time spent gaming might replace health-promoting activities such as physical exercise, meal preparation, and adequate sleep. This concept is often referred to as the displacement hypothesis. Additionally, the team wanted to investigate if the cognitive absorption characterized by gaming leads to mindless eating or the consumption of convenient, energy-dense foods.</p>
<p>To investigate these questions, the team recruited 317 undergraduate students from five universities in Western Australia. The participants completed an online survey that assessed various lifestyle factors. The survey included validated questionnaires to measure diet quality, physical activity levels, perceived stress, and sleep quality. Students also reported their height and weight, which the researchers used to calculate body mass index.</p>
<p>The researchers divided the students into three groups based on their self-reported weekly play time. The “low” group played between zero and five hours per week. The “moderate” group played between six and ten hours. The “high-frequency” group played more than ten hours per week. This categorization allowed the team to look for threshold effects, where health outcomes might change drastically after a certain amount of exposure.</p>
<p>The data revealed a clear distinction for those who exceeded the ten-hour threshold. Students in the high-frequency group had a median body mass index of 26.3. This number falls into the overweight category. In contrast, the low-frequency group had a median body mass index of 22.2, which is considered a healthy weight. The distribution of weight categories was quite different between the groups. While only about 5 percent of low-frequency gamers were classified as obese, that number rose to 24 percent among the high-frequency gamers.</p>
<p>Diet quality also suffered among the most frequent players. The study used a specific scoring system called the Diet Quality Tool to evaluate nutritional intake. This tool looks at the consumption of core food groups like vegetables and fruit as well as discretionary items like sweets. The researchers found that for every additional hour spent gaming, the diet quality score decreased by a small but consistent amount.</p>
<p>Mario Siervo noted the pattern in the data regarding the threshold of ten hours. “What stood out was students gaming up to 10 hours a week all looked very similar in terms of diet, sleep and body weight,” Siervo said. “The real differences emerged in those gaming more than 10 hours a week, who showed clear divergence from the rest of the sample.”</p>
<p>The analysis showed that these dietary associations remained even after the researchers controlled for other variables. They adjusted their statistical models to account for gender, ethnicity, smoking status, and alcohol consumption. Even with these adjustments, the number of hours spent gaming remained an independent predictor of poorer diet.</p>
<p>“Each additional hour of gaming per week was linked to a decline in diet quality, even after accounting for stress, physical activity and other lifestyle factors,” Siervo said. This suggests there may be something specific about the gaming environment or the behaviors it encourages that leads to worse nutritional choices. The researchers noted that gaming environments often feature readily available energy-dense snacks and sugary beverages.</p>
<p>Sleep issues were prevalent across the entire study population. The scoring system used for sleep indicates that a score above five represents poor sleep quality. The median score for low-frequency gamers was 6.0, meaning even those who barely played video games were not sleeping well. However, the severity of sleep disturbance was higher for those who spent the most time gaming. High-frequency gamers had a median score of 7.0.</p>
<p>The study found a correlation between gaming hours and sleep quality impairment. This relationship might be mediated by exposure to blue light from screens, which can suppress melatonin production. Cognitive arousal from the games themselves may also interfere with the ability to fall asleep. The researchers suggested that late-night gaming sessions could delay sleep onset, shortening the overall duration of rest.</p>
<p>The team also examined the types of games played and the platforms used. High-frequency gamers were more likely to use personal computers rather than consoles or mobile devices. They also tended to prefer games with higher levels of violent content. The researchers found a statistical link between the level of violence in preferred games and the total hours played.</p>
<p>Physical activity showed a weak negative correlation with gaming frequency. This provides some preliminary support for the idea that gaming displaces exercise. However, the link was not as strong as the associations with diet and body weight. The researchers speculated that the sedentary nature of gaming, combined with poor diet, creates a positive energy balance that leads to weight gain.</p>
<p>“This study doesn’t prove gaming causes these issues, but it shows a clear pattern that excessive gaming may be linked to an increase in health risk factors,” Siervo said. “Our data suggests low and moderate gaming is generally fine, but excessive gaming may crowd out healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, sleeping properly and staying active.”</p>
<p>There are several limitations to this study that affect how the results should be interpreted. The design was cross-sectional, meaning it captured a snapshot in time rather than following students over years. Consequently, the data cannot prove that gaming causes poor health. It is plausible that individuals with existing health issues or poorer dietary habits are simply more drawn to sedentary hobbies like gaming.</p>
<p>The study relied on students to report their own behaviors. Self-reported data is subject to recall bias. Participants may underestimate their food intake or overestimate their physical activity. Additionally, the sample was limited to university students in Western Australia. This specific demographic may not represent the general population or students in other parts of the world.</p>
<p>The definition of “high” gaming frequency in this study was more than ten hours per week. This is relatively low compared to the cutoffs often used for diagnosing gaming disorders, which can exceed 30 hours. The study did not assess participants for clinical gaming addiction. It focused strictly on the duration of play rather than psychological dependency.</p>
<p>Future research is needed to establish causal relationships. Longitudinal studies that follow young people as they transition into university could help clarify if gaming leads to weight gain or vice versa. The researchers also suggest that future work should include validated screenings for gaming disorder to distinguish between enthusiastic hobbyists and those with pathological behaviors.</p>
<p>The authors conclude that universities may need to consider these findings when designing wellness programs. “Because university habits often follow people into adulthood, healthier routines such as taking breaks from gaming, avoiding playing games late at night and choosing healthier snacks may help improve their overall wellbeing,” Siervo said.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2025.113051" target="_blank">Video gaming linked to unhealthy diet, poor sleep quality and lower physical activity levels in Australian University students</a>,” was authored by Thanaporn Kaewpradup, Svetlana Deric, Hannah Velure Uren, Van Hoang Nguyen, Leticia Radin Pereira, Ranil Coorey, Jonathan C.K. Wells, Sirichai Adisakwattana, Blossom C.M. Stephan, and Mario Siervo.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/men-who-think-they-are-attractive-are-more-likely-to-infer-sexual-interest-from-women/" 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;">Men who think they are attractive are more likely to infer sexual interest from women</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 16th 2026, 16:00</div>
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<p><p>A study of heterosexual men found that they perceive stronger sexual intent in women’s behavior when they (participating men) feel stronger sexual arousal. They tended to report greater sexual arousal when shown a picture of an attractive woman than when the woman was unattractive. The paper was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15081101"><em>Behavioral Sciences</em></a>.</p>
<p>Men sometimes infer sexual interest from women’s behavior even when no sexual intention is present. This is called sexual overperception. On the other hand, women tend to underperceive men’s interest in long-term commitments. In part, these situations occur because both men and women tend to rely on ambiguous social cues to infer the other party’s intentions. However, costs associated with making a mistake in judging sexual intent differ by gender.</p>
<p>Error management theory suggests that gender differences in perceptions appear because men and women strongly guard against costly mating mistakes. For men, this usually means making sure that an opportunity for sex is not missed. For women, this means avoiding a situation where they would have a child with a man who will not invest resources in her or her offspring.</p>
<p>Study author Peter O. Rerick and his colleagues wanted to explore how the attractiveness of a woman they are in contact with affects their own self-perceived physical attractiveness. They hypothesized that men will perceive themselves as more attractive if they perceive an attractive woman directing her behavior towards them (versus directing it towards another man). Their second hypothesis was that men’s self-perceived attractiveness would be positively related to their perceptions of women’s sexual interest, regardless of whether the interest is directed towards them or towards another man.</p>
<p>Study participants were 180 male university students who completed the study online for course credit. Their average age was 20 years. They were randomly divided into 4 groups.</p>
<p>In the course of the study, participants were first shown a headshot of either an attractive (2 groups) or an unattractive woman (2 groups) that was referred to as Megan. The text below the photo described Megan as a 21-year-old American with no further information. Participants rated Megan’s attractiveness.</p>
<p>Next, participants from one group that viewed an attractive Megan, and one group that viewed an unattractive Megan were asked to imagine Megan engaging in a series of different behaviors towards them (e.g., “She gives you her phone number”, “She invites you to her house for dinner”, “She does not resist when you initiate intercourse”). Participants’ task was to rate each of these behaviors by how much they mean that Megan wants sex.</p>
<p>The other two groups rated the same behaviors, but the instructions said that they were directed towards another man (e.g., “She gives a man her phone number”). At the end of the study, participants self-reported their present sexual arousal and their self-perceived physical attractiveness.</p>
<p>Results showed that, as expected, participating men rated the attractive Megan as more attractive than the unattractive Megan. Participating men’s interpretation of Megan’s sexual intent did not depend directly on her attractiveness. Instead, it was associated with participating men’s self-reported sexual arousal and physical attractiveness.</p>
<p>Men reported greater sexual arousal when they were shown the attractive Megan than when Megan was unattractive, but this effect occurred primarily when they imagined themselves as the target of her behavior. Men who reported greater sexual arousal and those who saw themselves as more attractive tended to interpret Megan’s actions as signaling stronger sexual intent.</p>
<p>However, contrary to the researchers’ hypothesis, men did not perceive themselves as more attractive when the attractive woman’s behavior was directed toward them. In fact, when the attractive woman’s behavior was directed toward another man, participants reported lower self-perceived physical attractiveness.</p>
<p>“Findings suggested that men’s self-perceptions and women’s appearance may bias men’s sexual judgment,” the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study contributes to the scientific understanding of nuances in social perception in mate selection contexts. However, the current study used a static picture of a woman as the main stimulus and short sentences requiring men to imagine the woman’s behavior. This is very unlike real-life situations where men have many different cues from which they can infer sexual intent and verify their interpretations.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/bs15081101">The Relationship Between Men’s Self-Perceived Attractiveness and Ratings of Women’s Sexual Intent,</a>” was authored by Peter O. Rerick, Tyler N. Livingston, and Jonathan Singer.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/global-safety-data-suggests-severe-physical-complications-from-psychedelics-are-rare/" 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;">Global safety data suggests severe physical complications from psychedelics are rare</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 16th 2026, 14:00</div>
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<p><p>A new analysis of global pharmacovigilance data indicates that while reports of psychiatric distress are common among users of classic psychedelics and MDMA, severe physical health complications appear to be relatively rare in real-world settings. The study suggests that the high rates of reported substance abuse associated with these drugs may be heavily influenced by the simultaneous consumption of other intoxicants rather than the psychedelics alone. These findings were published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116929" target="_blank">Psychiatry Research</a></em>.</p>
<p>The consumption of psychedelic substances has increased significantly in recent years. This rise has occurred in both clinical settings, where researchers are testing these compounds for therapeutic potential, and in unregulated recreational environments. </p>
<p>National surveys in the United States have documented a steady growth in the use of LSD and other hallucinogens among adults over the last two decades. While clinical trials generally indicate that these substances have a favorable safety profile, such studies are conducted under strictly controlled conditions with carefully screened participants.</p>
<p>Clinical trials often exclude individuals with complex medical or psychiatric histories to ensure safety and data clarity. This exclusion criteria means that data from trials may not fully represent the risks faced by the general population using these drugs in naturalistic settings. There has been a lack of empirical research exploring the safety of psychedelic use within real-world samples.</p>
<p>“Psychedelic use, mainly surrounding magic mushrooms (or psilocybin) and LSD, has been rapidly increasing within both recreational and academic contexts over recent years. Nevertheless, these substances may still carry some stigma and misconceptions surrounding their safety in the eyes of the public, and there has not been much research on the side effects related to real-world use of these substances,” said study author <a href="https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=f3Xk7xIAAAAJ&hl=en&oi=ao" target="_blank">Omer A. Syed</a>, a PhD student at the University of Toronto.</p>
<p>“In academic contexts, there are some supposed theoretical risks related to psychedelic use, such as cardiotoxic effects from chronic use or congenital/ developmental abnormalities following use during pregnancy or breastfeeding. However, it is often difficult to accurately and empirically assess such side effects. This study attempted to bridge this gap of real-world side effects and supposed theoretical risks.”</p>
<p>The research team collected data from VigiBase, which is the World Health Organization’s global individual case safety report database. This comprehensive repository aggregates spontaneous reports of adverse events from more than 180 countries. It includes data submitted by healthcare professionals, pharmaceutical companies, and consumers. The researchers accessed this data through the VigiAccess public dashboard.</p>
<p>The study focused on reports related to “classic” psychedelics, specifically LSD, psilocybin, DMT, and mescaline. The researchers also included MDMA in their analysis. Although MDMA is chemically distinct from classic psychedelics, it is frequently grouped with them in clinical and recreational contexts. The team examined all reports available in the database from its inception up to December 14, 2025.</p>
<p>The researchers identified a total of 1,573 adverse event reports for MDMA and 394 reports for LSD. The number of reports for the other substances was considerably lower. There were only 56 reports for psilocybin, 18 for DMT, and 15 for mescaline. The majority of these reports involved male individuals. The most common age group represented in the data was adults between 18 and 44 years old.</p>
<p>“One of the most surprising result was that while psilocybin is by far the most commonly reported psychedelic that is used according to national and global psychedelic-specific surveys, most reports in this database were for MDMA and LSD, and reports related to psilocybin and other classic psychedelics, namely DMT and mescaline, were quite low,” Syed told PsyPost.</p>
<p>To provide context for their findings, the researchers compared the psychedelic reports against two control substances. Acetaminophen was selected as a negative control because it has a well-established safety profile with low potential for abuse or dependence. Oxycodone was chosen as a positive control because it is known to have high potential for abuse and dependence. The researchers used a statistical tool called the Reporting Odds Ratio to compare the frequency of specific adverse events across these different substances.</p>
<p>The analysis revealed that the most frequent category of adverse events for all five psychedelic substances involved psychiatric disorders. Approximately 38 percent of all adverse events reported for LSD fell into this category. Similarly, psychiatric issues accounted for roughly 32 percent of the reports associated with MDMA. The second most common category involved nervous system disorders, which appeared in about 11 to 15 percent of the reports depending on the substance.</p>
<p>In contrast to the prevalence of psychiatric complaints, reports of physical organ damage or severe physiological distress were uncommon. Cardiac disorders, for example, made up only about 5 percent of the total adverse events reported for MDMA. This figure was even lower for LSD and the other classic psychedelics. Reports specifically citing “overdose” were also relatively rare, constituting between 1.1 percent and 1.7 percent of the total adverse events for LSD and MDMA.</p>
<p>The researchers also specifically investigated reports related to pregnancy and congenital development. The data showed that complications in these areas were extremely rare. For MDMA, there were nine reports related to pregnancy conditions, such as premature delivery or stillbirth. There were four reported cases of congenital disorders associated with MDMA. For LSD, there was one report of fetal growth restriction and two reports of congenital disorders. The other substances had no reports in these categories.</p>
<p>A significant portion of the study focused on analyzing reports of drug abuse and dependence. When compared to the acetaminophen control, both LSD and MDMA were associated with significantly higher odds of being linked to reports of “substance use disorder” and “dependence.” For instance, LSD had a Reporting Odds Ratio of 71.1 for substance use disorder compared to acetaminophen. MDMA showed an even higher ratio of 129.9.</p>
<p>The comparison with oxycodone yielded more complex results. As expected, oxycodone had much higher odds of being associated with “drug dependence” than either LSD or MDMA. However, the psychedelics were associated with higher odds of reports involving “alcohol abuse,” “substance abuse,” and “substance use disorder” than oxycodone. The researchers noted that “drug dependence” is a term often used for prescription medications, whereas “drug abuse” is more commonly applied to illicit substances.</p>
<p>The researchers argue that these findings likely reflect the common practice of “polysubstance use,” or using multiple drugs at the same time. Global surveys have consistently shown that people who use psychedelics frequently consume alcohol, cannabis, or other recreational drugs simultaneously. The high number of reports involving alcohol abuse and substance use disorder in this dataset may stem from the secondary substances consumed alongside the psychedelic.</p>
<p>The study identified reports categorized as “toxicity to various agents” for both MDMA and LSD. This specific categorization further suggests that other chemical agents were present and may have contributed to the adverse events. Because the VigiBase public data does not provide case-level details, the researchers could not isolate exactly which other substances were involved in each specific report. This makes it difficult to determine if the reported dependence or abuse was driven by the psychedelic or by the co-administered drugs.</p>
<p>The findings regarding physical safety align with existing clinical literature. The scarcity of reports regarding cardiac, respiratory, or gastrointestinal disorders supports the general consensus that classic psychedelics are physiologically well-tolerated. While concerns exist regarding potential heart risks from chronic microdosing or long-term MDMA use, such events did not appear frequently in this dataset. The low number of pregnancy-related reports may suggest that public education regarding the avoidance of psychoactive substances during pregnancy has been effective.</p>
<p>“Given the nuance associated with the interpretation of this study’s findings, the average person should not use this report to create a personal risk assessment or judgements for using these substances,” Syed explained. “In general, our results highlight that drug abuse and dependence is pronounced within the reports related to LSD and MDMA use, likely due to the co-use of other substances alongside psychedelics.” </p>
<p>“Global surveys have found those who use psychedelics do indeed use several other recreational substances as well, sometimes at the same time. Therefore, it is difficult ascertain whether our findings of heightened reports related to substance abuse and dependence are a consequence of the use of psychedelics, use of other substances, or from a synergistic combination of various substances being used at the same time.”</p>
<p>“Encouragingly, some of the more serious side effects such as overdose, pregnancy-related complications, congenital abnormalities, and cardiac disorders were not as commonly reported,” Syed said. “Nevertheless, people should continue to follow the current guidelines of avoiding psychedelic use while pregnant or breastfeeding, as well as avoiding use if diagnosed with a serious psychiatric, neurological, or cardiovascular condition. Perhaps there were fewer adverse reports related to these conditions, not because these aren’t valid contraindications, but because of an improved public education towards safe and responsible use.”</p>
<p>There are some limitations to consider. The data in VigiBase comes from voluntary reporting, which means it is subject to underreporting and inconsistency. Because classic psychedelics and MDMA remain illegal in most parts of the world, consumers may be hesitant to report adverse effects to any system that feeds into government databases. This fear of legal repercussions could mean that the actual number of adverse events is higher than what is captured here.</p>
<p>“Since psychedelics are illegal and controlled substances in most jurisdictions, people may be hesitant to report their side effects to these substances because that would mean admitting use to a healthcare regulatory body, which are typically government-run,” Syed noted. “Therefore, while these global reports are valuable in providing preliminary insights into side effects, this sample may not be generalizable to the entire psychedelic user population.”</p>
<p>The database also lacks detailed patient information. The researchers could not account for pre-existing medical conditions, dosage amounts, or the purity of the substances taken. This lack of granularity means the study can identify statistical signals and associations but cannot prove causation. </p>
<p>Despite these limitations, the study provides a rare glimpse into the global safety profile of these substances outside of clinical trials. The researcher conclude that while psychiatric adverse events and substance abuse reports are common, they are likely complicated by the use of other drugs. Future research will need to utilize more comprehensive datasets to further untangle the risks of psychedelics from the risks of polysubstance use.</p>
<p>“The overarching aim of my research is to better understand the safety and efficacy of these novel therapeutics – primarily psilocybin and the dissociative drug ketamine – for mood disorders,” Syed added. “I am also involved in investigations surrounding the microdosing of psychedelics, and aim to further investigate the safety of repeatedly consuming psychedelics at microdoses.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2025.116929" target="_blank">Adverse events associated with classic psychedelics and MDMA: a real-world population-based study using the WHO pharmacovigilance database (VigiBase)</a>,” was authored by Omer A Syed, Sean M Nestor, Muhammad Ishrat Husain, Mark Sinyor, Fahad Alam, and Peter Giacobbe.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/stress-related-brain-activity-links-depression-and-anxiety-to-higher-heart-disease-risk/" 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;">Stress-related brain activity links depression and anxiety to higher heart disease risk</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 16th 2026, 12:00</div>
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<p><p>Recent medical research indicates that the heightened risk of heart disease observed in patients with depression or anxiety may stem from specific biological pathways involving the brain and immune system. A new analysis suggests that stress-related neural activity, combined with inflammation and nervous system imbalances, acts as a primary driver connecting mental health conditions to cardiovascular problems. The study, published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.124.017706" target="_blank">Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging</a></em>, provides evidence that addressing mental health could be an essential component of heart disease prevention.</p>
<p>Medical professionals have recognized a connection between psychiatric conditions and heart disease for some time. Previous observations established a statistical link, yet questions remained regarding whether this association existed independently of lifestyle factors such as smoking or poor diet. The biological mechanisms translating emotional distress into physical cardiovascular damage also lacked a complete explanation.</p>
<p>The authors aimed to determine if depression and anxiety contribute to heart risks through direct physiological changes rather than solely through behavioral choices. They sought to understand if suffering from both conditions simultaneously creates a greater danger than having a single diagnosis. The team also investigated whether treating these conditions as a continuum of stress could offer new insights into how emotions impact physical health.</p>
<p>“For years, depression and anxiety have been linked to heart disease, but the why has remained unclear. Some clinicians viewed mental health as a comorbidity, others as a marker of unhealthy behaviors, and others as a direct biological risk factor, but the mechanisms were debated,” said study author <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadyabohashem/" target="_blank">Shady Abohashem</a>, cardiovascular investigator and head of Cardiac PET/CT Imaging Trials at Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center of Massachusetts General Hospital, and instructor at Harvard Medical School.</p>
<p>“What motivated us was a clear gap: stress-related brain activity has been shown to link anxiety and stress to cardiovascular disease, yet its role in depression was largely unexplored, despite depression being one of the strongest predictors of heart events. We also wanted to reflect clinical reality, depression and anxiety often occur together, yet most studies examine them in isolation. Our goal was to understand whether shared brain-autonomic-immune pathways help explain cardiovascular risk across this mental health spectrum.”</p>
<p>For their study, the researchers utilized data from the Mass General Brigham Biobank. This large repository contains genetic and health information from patients within the hospital system. The final analysis included 85,551 individuals between the ages of 18 and over, tracked over a period from 2010 to 2020.</p>
<p>The team categorized participants based on their mental health diagnoses at the time of enrollment. They identified groups with depression alone, anxiety alone, and those with concurrent diagnoses of both conditions. A control group consisted of individuals with neither diagnosis.</p>
<p>Researchers monitored these participants for Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events, commonly abbreviated as MACE. This category includes severe incidents such as heart attacks, strokes, heart failure, and the need for procedures to open blocked arteries. The team tracked these outcomes over a median follow-up period of approximately three and a half years.</p>
<p>A subset of the participants provided data for more specific biological investigations. To measure brain activity, the investigators analyzed brain scans from 1,123 individuals. These scans utilized 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography, or PET/CT imaging.</p>
<p>This imaging technique allowed the researchers to observe metabolic activity in the amygdala. The amygdala is a region of the brain involved in processing fear and stress. The researchers compared activity in the amygdala to activity in the prefrontal cortex to calculate a ratio of stress-related neural activity.</p>
<p>The researchers also examined markers of the autonomic nervous system. This system controls involuntary bodily functions like heart rate and digestion. The researchers analyzed electrocardiograms from 7,862 participants to measure heart rate variability.</p>
<p>Heart rate variability refers to the fluctuation in time intervals between heartbeats. A lower variability typically indicates that the body is in a persistent state of stress or “fight or flight” mode. Higher variability generally suggests a healthier, more adaptable nervous system.</p>
<p>Finally, the team assessed chronic inflammation levels. They reviewed blood test results for C-reactive protein in 12,906 participants. Elevated levels of this protein serve as a standard marker for systemic inflammation in the body.</p>
<p>The analysis revealed that individuals with depression faced a significantly higher risk of cardiovascular events compared to those without the condition. Specifically, a diagnosis of depression was associated with a 24 percent increase in the risk of experiencing a major adverse cardiac event. This association persisted even after the researchers adjusted for traditional risk factors.</p>
<p>The statistical models accounted for variables such as age, sex, high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol levels. They also controlled for lifestyle factors including smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index, and exercise habits. Socioeconomic status was also included in the adjustment to ensure the findings were not driven by financial disparities.</p>
<p>The risk was even more pronounced for individuals diagnosed with both anxiety and depression. Participants with this comorbidity faced a 35 percent higher risk of cardiovascular events compared to the control group. This finding suggests that the co-occurrence of these conditions amplifies the burden on the heart.</p>
<p>The biological sub-studies provided evidence for how this damage occurs. Participants with depression or anxiety displayed heightened activity in the amygdala relative to the cortex. This specific pattern of brain activity is a hallmark of chronic stress processing.</p>
<p>These same individuals also exhibited reduced heart rate variability. This suggests their autonomic nervous systems were dysregulated and stuck in a state of heightened sympathetic arousal. Additionally, they showed elevated levels of C-reactive protein, indicating chronic inflammation.</p>
<p>Statistical mediation analysis linked these biological markers directly to the heart outcomes. The researchers found that the path from depression to heart disease flows partially through these three specific channels. The heightened brain activity appears to trigger the autonomic and immune responses that ultimately damage the cardiovascular system.</p>
<p>“Two things stood out,” Abohashem told PsyPost. “First, the strength and consistency of the biological signal, from the brain to the autonomic nervous system to inflammation, was striking. This wasn’t a single pathway but a coordinated stress response that helped explain cardiovascular risk.”</p>
<p>“Second, the amplified risk among people with both depression and anxiety was notable. It reinforces the idea that these conditions exist on a continuum, and that cumulative psychological stress may translate into cumulative biological risk.”</p>
<p>Abohashem noted that these results provide a clearer biological picture of how emotional distress physically affects the body. “The key takeaway is that mental health is biologically connected to heart health, not just emotionally or behaviorally,” he explained. “People with depression or anxiety had a meaningfully higher risk of heart attack, stroke, or related events, and that risk was even higher when both conditions were present.”</p>
<p>“Importantly, these differences aren’t trivial. The magnitude of risk we observed is comparable to other established cardiovascular risk factors, and it persisted even after accounting for lifestyle, socioeconomic factors, and traditional heart disease risks. Practically, this means that taking mental health seriously is also taking cardiovascular prevention seriously.”</p>
<p>However, the study is observational, meaning it identifies patterns but cannot definitively prove that mental health conditions cause heart disease. The reliance on medical billing codes for diagnoses introduces a potential margin of error regarding patient classification. Additionally, the participants were drawn from a hospital system biobank, which implies they may have had more health concerns than the general population.</p>
<p>“This study does not suggest that depression or anxiety directly ’cause’ heart disease in a simple way, nor that treating mental health alone will automatically prevent heart attacks,” Abohashem noted. “Our findings are observational.”</p>
<p>“What we show is that measurable biological stress pathways partially explain the association, which opens the door to integrated prevention strategies, but it doesn’t replace the need for prospective trials. Another important caveat is that brain imaging was available in a subset of participants, so while the biological signals are robust, they should be interpreted in that context.”</p>
<p>Future investigations will need to test whether treating depression or anxiety directly improves cardiovascular outcomes. Clinical trials could evaluate if stress-reduction therapies or anti-inflammatory treatments can break the link between the brain and the heart. The researchers hope this work leads to a more integrated model of prevention that treats the brain and heart as an interconnected system.</p>
<p>“Our long-term goal is to move from association to action,” Abohashem told PsyPost. “That means studying whether targeting stress-related brain activity and inflammation, through behavioral interventions, lifestyle changes, medications, or digital tools, can reduce cardiovascular risk.”</p>
<p>“We’re also interested in earlier prevention: identifying people at risk before heart disease develops, and understanding whether changes in brain or autonomic signals can serve as early warning markers or treatment targets. Ultimately, we hope this work helps shift prevention toward a more integrated brain–heart model.”</p>
<p>“One broader message is that integrated care isn’t optional, it’s necessary,” the researcher added. “Mental and cardiovascular health have traditionally lived in separate silos, but biology doesn’t respect those boundaries.”</p>
<p>“This study adds to a growing body of evidence showing that the brain, immune system, and heart are deeply interconnected. Recognizing that connection gives us an opportunity, not just to treat disease, but to rethink prevention in a more holistic and humane way.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.124.017706" target="_blank">Depression and Anxiety Associate With Adverse Cardiovascular Events via Neural, Autonomic, and Inflammatory Pathways</a>,” was authored by Shady Abohashem, Iqra Qamar, Simran S. Grewal, Giovanni Civieri, Sabeeh Islam, Wesam Aldosoky, Sandeep Bollepalli, Rachel P. Rosovsky, Antonia V. Seligowski, Lisa M. Shin, Antonis A. Armoundas, Michael T. Osborne, and Ahmed Tawakol.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/scientists-show-humans-can-catch-fear-from-a-breathing-robot/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Scientists show humans can “catch” fear from a breathing robot</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Jan 16th 2026, 10:00</div>
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<p><p>New research provides evidence that humans can physically absorb fear from a robot through the sensation of touch alone. The study indicates that holding a robot simulating rapid, fearful breathing causes a person’s heart rate to rise, offering evidence that emotions can spread through tactile cues. These findings were published in the scientific journal <em><a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2026-85039-001?doi=1" target="_blank">Emotion</a></em>.</p>
<p>People frequently reach out to touch or hold others when they feel frightened. A startled child might cling to a parent, or friends might grab each other’s arms while watching a horror movie. Usually, this physical contact serves to reduce distress and downregulate negative emotions. However, the individuals being touched are often experiencing intense emotions themselves.</p>
<p>Psychologists have established that emotions can spread from one person to another. This process is known as emotion contagion. It is typically studied through visual cues, such as observing facial expressions or body language. Less is known about how tactile sensations contribute to this transmission when visual cues are absent or ignored.</p>
<p>When people and animals are afraid, their breathing rate typically increases and becomes deeper. This physiological change alters the movement of the chest cavity. Because breathing patterns are physically perceptible through touch, they might serve as a distinct channel for communicating emotional states.</p>
<p>This physiological indicator is not specific to humans. Many animals exhibit changes in their breathing when they are frightened. Cats and dogs are commonly used for emotional support, and they also display respiratory changes during high-arousal states. This suggests that breath patterns could be a widely generalizable mechanism for communicating emotion across species.</p>
<p>“A large body of research shows that physical touch from others can downregulate fear and stress, such as when people hold a loved one’s hand during a scary movie, or when a child clings to their parent when they’re frightened. However, we were interested in whether touch always has this calming effect,” said study author <a href="https://www.zakwitkower.com/" target="_blank">Zachary Witkower</a>, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Amsterdam.</p>
<p>“Specifically, we asked what happens when the entity you are touching is itself expressing fear. To address this gap, we built plush robots with motorized ribcages that expanded and contracted to simulate breathing, and examined participants heart rate as they held on to this robot. Consistent with our hypotheses, in one condition where the robot engaged in accelerated breathing, participants exhibited a significantly elevated heart rate.”</p>
<p>The researchers recruited 103 undergraduate students from the University of British Columbia for the experiment. Most participants were women, and the average age was approximately 20 years. The team constructed a specialized soft robot for the study. Using a robot allowed them to isolate breathing movements from other social cues like sweating or muscle tension.</p>
<p>The robot was roughly the size of a small cat and covered in plush fur. This design encouraged comfortable tactile interaction similar to holding a pet. The researchers avoided a human-like appearance to prevent the discomfort often caused by imperfect human replicas.</p>
<p>Inside the robot, a motorized plastic ribcage allowed the researchers to control the expansion and contraction of its body. The internal structure used wishbone-shaped pieces to create a ridged, spine-like feel. A motor connected to these ribs with fishing line simulated the physical sensation of breathing.</p>
<p>Participants were seated and instructed to hold the robot against their chest with both arms. They were connected to a heartbeat detector attached to a finger. While holding the robot, participants wore headphones and watched a series of video clips on a computer screen.</p>
<p>The viewing session began with a neutral, boring video of a snail crossing a plank to establish a baseline. This was followed by a frightening scene from the movie The Shining. The researchers measured the participants’ heart rates continuously throughout the video presentations.</p>
<p>The participants were randomly assigned to one of three experimental conditions regarding the robot’s behavior. In the “no-breathing” condition, the robot remained still throughout the entire experiment. This condition served as an inactive control group.</p>
<p>In the “stable-breathing” condition, the robot simulated a calm, resting human breathing rate of about 14 breaths per minute. This movement remained consistent throughout the session. This served as an active control to ensure movement alone was not the cause of arousal.</p>
<p>In the “accelerated-breathing” condition, the robot initially breathed calmly but then sped up significantly during the scary video clip. The rate increased to 30 breaths per minute to simulate hyperventilation associated with fear. This design allowed the researchers to compare how different tactile signals influenced the participants’ physiological reactions.</p>
<p>The researchers found that the robot’s behavior influenced how participants interpreted the situation. Those holding the robot with the accelerated breathing pattern rated the robot as feeling more afraid than those in the other groups. This confirms that the tactile cues were successfully communicating an emotional state.</p>
<p>Physiological data revealed that participants in the accelerated-breathing group experienced a substantial increase in their own heart rates while watching the scary video. The physical sensation of the robot’s rapid breathing appeared to amplify their bodily response to the fear-inducing stimulus.</p>
<p>In contrast, participants holding the robot with stable, calm breathing did not experience a significant increase in heart rate during the frightening clip. The steady rhythm provided by the robot appeared to buffer the participants against the physiological stress of the video. This supports the idea that touch can help downregulate emotion, provided the entity being touched is calm.</p>
<p>Those holding the non-breathing robot showed a small increase in heart rate. This increase fell between the other two groups. It was statistically smaller than the reaction seen in the accelerated-breathing group.</p>
<p>The researchers analyzed the timing of these heart rate changes. The data showed that the increases in the accelerated-breathing group aligned with the moments the robot was hyperventilating. This synchronization suggests a direct link between the tactile perception of breathing and the observer’s physiological arousal.</p>
<p>“Our results suggest that humans can physiologically ‘catch’ fear through touch—even from a robot,” Witkower told PsyPost. “Touching a robot that simulated fearful, rapid breathing heightened participants’ heart rate during a scary film, whereas touching a robot with calm, stable breathing reduced heart rate. This indicates that our emotional responses are sensitive not just to touch itself, but to the emotional signals conveyed through that touch.”</p>
<p>“The effects were modest but reliable, which is typical for psychophysiological responses measured in controlled laboratory settings. Importantly, the findings demonstrate proof of principle: even minimal, abstract cues like simulated breathing can meaningfully shape emotional experience.”</p>
<p>Participants also completed surveys about their own emotional states after the experiment concluded. But these self-reports generally did not show significant differences in subjective fear between the groups. This discrepancy might be because the surveys were taken minutes after the interaction ended.</p>
<p>By the time the participants filled out the questionnaires, their heart rates had largely returned to baseline. However, participants in the accelerated-breathing condition did report lower levels of positive affect compared to the other groups. This suggests a lingering negative impact on their mood.</p>
<p>As with all research, there are some limitations to consider. The sample consisted entirely of undergraduate students. This demographic may not represent the general population. Older adults or young children might respond differently to tactile cues from a robot.</p>
<p>The study relied on heart rate as the primary measure of physiological arousal. While heart rate is a strong indicator of fear, it does not provide a complete picture of the autonomic nervous system. Future research could include measures of the participants’ own breathing rates to see if they subconsciously matched the robot’s rhythm.</p>
<p>The robot used in the study was clearly artificial and animal-like rather than human-like. It remains unclear if the same effects would occur with a robot designed to look and feel like a human. The context of the interaction was also strictly controlled within a laboratory environment.</p>
<p>“A key caveat is that the robot did not look human—it was a simple plush object with a moving ribcage,” Witkower noted. “This suggests that emotional contagion through touch does not require anthropomorphic appearance, but it also means we should be cautious in generalizing to all forms of human–robot interaction.”</p>
<p>These findings open new avenues for the design of social robots and therapeutic devices. Robots that simulate calm breathing could effectively help reduce anxiety in clinical or home settings. Haptic feedback simulating rapid breathing could be used in virtual reality to increase immersion and excitement.</p>
<p>“Future work will explore how these effects generalize to other emotions, longer interactions, and more naturalistic settings,” Witkower explained. “We are also interested in how individual differences and context shape whether robotic touch amplifies or dampens emotional experiences.”</p>
<p>“As robots and wearable technologies become more integrated into daily life, understanding how their physical behaviors influence human emotion will be increasingly important—both for designing supportive technologies and for avoiding unintended emotional consequences.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0001601" target="_blank">Human Psychophysiology Is Influenced by Physical Touch With a ‘Breathing’ Robot</a>,” was authored by Zachary Witkower, Laura Cang, Paul Bucci, Karon MacLean, and Jessica L. Tracy.</p></p>
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<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
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