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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/depression-and-anxiety-linked-to-stronger-inflammation-in-sexual-minority-adults-compared-to-heterosexuals/" 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;">Depression and anxiety linked to stronger inflammation in sexual minority adults compared to heterosexuals</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Feb 3rd 2026, 08:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2025.106202" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Brain, Behavior, and Immunity</a></em> provides evidence that sexual minority adults may experience a distinct physiological reaction to mental health challenges compared to heterosexual adults. The findings indicate that while depression and anxiety are more common in sexual minority populations, these conditions are also accompanied by stronger inflammatory responses for this group.</p>
<p>Health disparities affecting lesbian, gay, bisexual, and other non-heterosexual individuals are well-documented in medical literature. Statistics indicate that these groups face a higher risk for chronic physical conditions like heart disease, asthma, and diabetes compared to heterosexual adults. They also report rates of anxiety and depression that are often significantly higher than those seen in the general population.</p>
<p>Scientists often utilize the minority stress theory to explain these gaps. This framework suggests that the unique social stressors faced by marginalized groups create a burden that wears down physical health over time.</p>
<p>A key biological mechanism that might explain how stress becomes physical illness is inflammation. While acute inflammation is a necessary immune response to heal injuries or fight infection, chronic low-grade inflammation is damaging to the body.</p>
<p>Elevated levels of inflammatory markers are linked to a range of age-related conditions, including cardiovascular disease and cognitive decline. This process is sometimes referred to as “inflammaging,” where chronic inflammation contributes to accelerated biological aging.</p>
<p>“Sexual minority adults face well-documented disparities in both mental and physical health, including higher rates of depression, anxiety, and chronic conditions like cardiovascular disease,” said study author <a href="https://medicine.osu.edu/find-faculty/clinical/psychiatry-and-behavioral-health/lisa-christian-phd" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Lisa M. Christian</a>, a professor and member of the Institute of Brain, Behavior and Immunology at The Ohio State University.</p>
<p>“While minority stress theory provides a framework for understanding these disparities, there has been very little research on the biological mechanisms that link psychological distress to physical health in this population. Specifically, data on inflammation, a key pathway to chronic disease, are scarce. Our study aimed to address this gap by examining whether depressive symptoms and anxiety are associated with greater inflammatory responses among sexual minority adults compared to heterosexual adults.”</p>
<p>The research team analyzed data from the National Couples’ Health and Time Study (NCHAT). This project involves a population-representative sample of married and cohabiting adults across the United States.</p>
<p>“This study utilizes data from Wave 1 of the National Couples’ Heath and Time (NCHAT) Stress Biology Study (NCHAT-BIO),” Christian noted. “NCHAT-BIO the first US-based study focused on stress biology within a large, diverse sample of married/cohabiting sexual minority and heterosexual adults.”</p>
<p>“NCHAT-BIO capitalized on the unique opportunity of NCHAT, a population-representative US sample which intentionally oversampled sexual minority respondents. Wave 1 NCHAT-BIO data have been deposited at ICPSR for public release to all researchers. We encourage interested researchers to take advantage of this unique and impactful dataset.”</p>
<p>The researchers focused on a subset of participants who provided biological samples. The final analysis included 572 participants. There were 321 individuals who identified as heterosexual and 251 who identified as sexual minorities, a group that included lesbian, gay, bisexual, and other non-heterosexual identities.</p>
<p>Participants completed detailed surveys assessing their mental health. To measure anxiety, they used the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7). This tool asks respondents how often they have been bothered by problems such as feeling nervous or being unable to stop worrying.</p>
<p>To evaluate depressive symptoms, the researchers used the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale (CES-D 10). This measure asks participants how often they felt specific ways, such as fearful or lonely, during the past week.</p>
<p>The study also assessed adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) to understand early life stress. Participants reported if they had experienced events before age 18 such as abuse, neglect, household dysfunction, or parental incarceration.</p>
<p>Additionally, the survey asked about experiences of everyday discrimination and aggression. This included questions about being treated with less respect, being harassed, or facing physical attacks.</p>
<p>To measure biological markers, participants provided dried blood spots. They collected these samples at home by pricking a finger and placing blood drops on a special collection card. The researchers analyzed these samples for two specific markers of systemic inflammation: Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and C-reactive protein (CRP).</p>
<p>IL-6 is a cytokine that signals the immune system to respond to trauma or infection, while CRP is a protein produced by the liver in response to inflammation. Higher levels of these markers generally indicate a state of higher systemic inflammation.</p>
<p>The results showed that sexual minority participants reported higher levels of both anxiety and depressive symptoms compared to heterosexual participants. This aligns with prior statistics regarding mental health in these communities.</p>
<p>A statistical analysis revealed that this difference was partially explained by a higher number of adverse childhood experiences among the sexual minority group. Sexual minority respondents reported an average ACE score that was significantly higher than that of heterosexual respondents.</p>
<p>The most distinct finding emerged when the researchers analyzed the relationship between these mental health symptoms and inflammation levels. The data revealed a physiological pattern for sexual minority adults that was absent in heterosexual adults.</p>
<p>Among sexual minority participants, higher scores on the depression scale were associated with higher levels of both IL-6 and CRP. Similarly, higher anxiety scores were linked to higher CRP levels in the sexual minority group.</p>
<p>“We expected sexual minority adults to have higher depression and anxiety, which is consistent with prior research,” Christian told PsyPost. “What surprised us was the pattern of inflammatory response: sexual minority adults showed greater elevations in CRP with rising anxiety and depression. This effect was not seen in heterosexual adults. This suggests a unique physiological sensitivity among sexual minority individuals that warrants further investigation.”</p>
<p>The researchers adjusted their statistical models to account for potential confounding factors. They controlled for age, race, sex assigned at birth, education level, and existing health conditions.</p>
<p>They also ran sensitivity analyses that included body mass index and tobacco use. Even with these behavioral and physical factors included, the connection between distress and inflammation remained significant for sexual minority adults.</p>
<p>The study authors propose that this heightened inflammatory response is not an inherent trait of sexual minority individuals. Instead, it is likely a consequence of living in a marginalized social context.</p>
<p>Chronic exposure to stressors, such as discrimination or the threat of judgment, can sensitize the immune system. This sensitization means that when an individual experiences depression or anxiety, their body mounts a stronger inflammatory defense than it otherwise would.</p>
<p>This sensitization contributes to a “double burden” for sexual minority adults. First, they experience a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression, largely due to adverse childhood experiences and minority stress.</p>
<p>Second, when they do experience these symptoms, their bodies react with greater inflammation. Over time, even modest elevations in markers like CRP and IL-6 can increase the risk for chronic illnesses, potentially explaining some of the physical health disparities seen in this population.</p>
<p>“The main takeaway is that sexual minority adults not only experience higher rates of depression and anxiety but also show stronger inflammatory responses when they do,” Christian explained. “Even modest elevations in inflammation can increase long-term risk for chronic illnesses. This means that mental health challenges in sexual minority populations may have ripple effects on physical health, underscoring the importance of integrated care and targeted prevention efforts.”</p>
<p>There are some limitations to consider. The study used data collected at a single point in time for the survey, with blood samples collected several months later. This timeline makes it difficult to determine causality.</p>
<p>It is possible that inflammation exacerbates mood symptoms, rather than the other way around. The gap between the survey and the blood collection introduces some statistical noise, though the findings remained robust despite this.</p>
<p>“It is notable that the current effects in sexual minority adults were observed despite the presence of this statistical ‘noise,'” Christian said. “However, future studies in which time of collection is both simultaneous and longitudinal would be ideal.”</p>
<p>“Indeed, it is plausible that the presence of associations between inflammation and mental health indicators among sexual minority respondents, but not heterosexual respondents, is a function of greater chronicity of symptoms among sexual minority respondents. This could not be tested in the current analyses.”</p>
<p>The sample consisted entirely of married or cohabiting adults. People who are partnered often have better health outcomes and more social support than single individuals. This means the results might not fully reflect the experiences of unpartnered sexual minority adults.</p>
<p>The researchers also caution against interpreting these results to mean that sexual minority adults are inherently less healthy. “There is nothing problematic or unhealthy about being a sexual minority,” Christian told PsyPost.</p>
<p>“The differences we observed reflect the physiological costs of living in a society where sexual minority individuals are exposed to higher levels of stress, discrimination, and adversity, not something intrinsic to their identity. In other words, the burden comes from external exposures, not from who people are.”</p>
<p>The researchers have received funding from the National Institute on Aging to extend this work into a longitudinal study. They intend to examine how inflammatory markers change as the participants age. They also plan to look at epigenetic aging, which uses DNA methylation to measure biological age. This will help determine if the observed inflammation is translating into accelerated aging at the cellular level.</p>
<p>“This manuscript is part of a larger longitudinal study,” Christian said. “As with NCHAT-BIO Wave 1 data, assay results from Wave 3 will be made publicly available to other researchers through ICPSR alongside the survey, time diary, and contextual data from NCHAT Waves 1 through 3, and biological data from NCHAT-BIO Wave 1. Together, these resources will provide an exceptional dataset for future researchers.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2025.106202" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sexual minority adults exhibit greater inflammation than heterosexual adults in the context of depressive symptoms and Anxiety: Pathways to health disparities</a>,” was authored by Lisa M. Christian, Rebecca R. Andridge, Juan Peng, Nithya P. Kasibhatla, Thomas W. McDade, Tessa Blevins, Steve W. Cole, Wendy D. Manning, and Claire M. Kamp Dush.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/high-precision-neurofeedback-accelerates-the-mental-health-benefits-of-meditation/" 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;">High-precision neurofeedback accelerates the mental health benefits of meditation</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Feb 3rd 2026, 06:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-025-02671-z" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mindfulness</a></em> has found that high-precision brain training can help novice meditators learn the practice more effectively. The findings indicate that neurofeedback can assist individuals in reducing self-critical or wandering thoughts. This training appears to lead to sustained improvements in mindful awareness and emotional well-being during subsequent daily life.</p>
<p>Meditation is often promoted for its ability to reduce stress and improve mental health. The practice frequently involves focusing attention on a specific anchor, such as the sensation of breathing.</p>
<p>The goal is to notice when the mind wanders and gently return focus to the breath. While the concept is simple, the execution is often difficult for beginners. Novices frequently struggle to recognize when their minds have drifted into daydreams or self-referential thinking. Because meditation is an internal mental process, it lacks the external feedback that accompanies learning physical skills.</p>
<p>“A key problem that motivated this project, is ‘not being able to know whether what we are doing internally while meditating is what we were actually meant to be doing,'” said study author <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/saamprasganesan/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saampras Ganesan</a>, a postdoctoral research associate at the Laureate Institute for Brain Research and honorary research fellow at the University of Melbourne.</p>
<p>“You can look at a mirror to get live and detailed feedback while learning an intricate dance or exercise move. But this is not the case with something so abstract like meditation. This may be holding back the mental health benefits and wider impact that meditation could have in modern life.”</p>
<p>The researchers aimed to address this challenge by providing an external “mirror” for the mind. They sought to determine if real-time information about brain activity could act as a scaffold for learning.</p>
<p>The study focused on helping participants identify and reduce activity in the posterior cingulate cortex. This brain region is a key hub of the default mode network. This network typically becomes active when a person is not focused on the outside world, such as during daydreaming, worrying, or thinking about oneself.</p>
<p>To test this, the investigators recruited 40 healthy adults who had little to no prior experience with meditation. They screened these individuals to ensure they had no history of psychiatric or neurological conditions. The participants were randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group was the experimental condition, and the other served as a control.</p>
<p>The study employed a 7-Tesla fMRI scanner. This machine creates a magnetic field much stronger than the standard MRI scanners found in hospitals. The high magnetic field allows for extremely precise imaging of brain function. Participants lay inside the scanner and were instructed to practice focused attention meditation. They kept their eyes open and watched a visual display.</p>
<p>The display functioned like a thermometer. For the experimental group, the level on the thermometer changed based on the real-time activity of their own posterior cingulate cortex.</p>
<p>When they successfully focused on their breath and quieted this brain region, the thermometer reading went down. If their mind wandered and the region became active, the reading went up. This provided immediate confirmation of their internal mental state.</p>
<p>The control group went through the exact same procedure with one critical difference. The feedback they saw was not from their own brains. Instead, they viewed a recording of brain activity from a participant in the experimental group.</p>
<p>This is known as “sham” feedback. It allowed the researchers to control for the effects of being in the scanner, seeing visual stimuli, and trying to meditate. The participants did not know which group they were in.</p>
<p>The training took place over two consecutive days. Following this laboratory phase, all participants were asked to continue meditating at home for one week. They used a mobile app to guide 5-minute meditation sessions. They also completed surveys to track their mood, stress levels, and mindful awareness.</p>
<p>The results revealed that the blinding procedure was successful. Participants in both groups believed they were receiving genuine feedback. They also reported similar levels of effort and perceived success. This suggests that any differences in outcomes were due to the specific brain training rather than placebo effects or expectations.</p>
<p>“Surprisingly, people could not easily tell whether the brain feedback came from their own brain (experimental group) or someone else’s (control group),” Ganesan told PsyPost. “Both groups rated the feedback as equally accurate – even though the group receiving their own brain feedback showed more meaningful positive changes in the brain circuit linked to meditation.”</p>
<p>“This suggests that people, especially beginners at meditation, may not be completely aware of all the factors driving effects in meditation, and that perceivable benefits may only become clearer with time and more consistent practice following targeted, reliable training.”</p>
<p>Despite these similar perceptions, the brain imaging data showed distinct differences. The experimental group exhibited a change in how their brain regions communicated.</p>
<p>Specifically, they developed a stronger negative connection between the posterior cingulate cortex and the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is involved in executive functions, such as controlling attention and managing distractions.</p>
<p>This finding implies that the neurofeedback helped the experimental group recruit their brain’s control systems to down-regulate the mind-wandering network. This neural pattern was not observed in the control group.</p>
<p>The ability to suppress the default mode network is often associated with experienced meditators. The novices in the experimental group appeared to acquire this neural skill rapidly through the targeted feedback.</p>
<p>The benefits of the training extended beyond the laboratory. During the week of home practice, the experimental group maintained higher levels of mindful awareness. In contrast, the control group showed a decline in awareness over the week. This suggests that without the specific guidance provided by the neurofeedback, the control participants struggled to sustain the quality of their meditation practice.</p>
<p>The study also found improvements in emotional well-being. The experimental group reported a significant reduction in emotional distress. This measure combined ratings of depression, anxiety, and stress.</p>
<p>The researchers found a correlation between the brain changes and the mood improvements. Participants who showed the strongest connection between the attention and default mode networks experienced the greatest reduction in distress.</p>
<p>“Teaching people to meditate with live feedback from their own brain can help them meditate more effectively on their own over time, with early benefits for self-awareness and mood,” Ganesan explained. “For these benefits to matter, the brain feedback needs to be well-targeted and specific to the meditation goal – more precise feedback leads to stronger results.”</p>
<p>One unexpected finding involved a breath-counting task. This is an objective test often used to measure mindfulness. Participants press a button for each breath and a different button for every ninth breath.</p>
<p>The experimental group actually performed worse on this task after the training. The researchers suggest this might be because the task requires cognitive effort and counting. The neurofeedback training emphasized “letting go” of thoughts, which might have conflicted with the requirement to actively count.</p>
<p>As with all research, there are limitations. The sample size was relatively small. While 40 participants is common for complex neuroimaging studies, it is small for drawing broad behavioral conclusions. The equipment used is also rare and expensive. A 7-Tesla scanner is not a tool that can be easily deployed for general therapy or training.</p>
<p>“An important takeaway is that while the idea of using brain feedback to support meditation is promising, most current wearable and commercial devices are not yet reliable enough to deliver clear benefits,” Ganesan said. “Many studies testing such devices find little evidence beyond placebo, often because the brain signals used are not precise enough.”</p>
<p>“At present, there are no widely accessible, well-validated brain-feedback systems detailed enough to reliably guide meditation training and practice. Highly advanced brain-imaging approaches, like the one used in our study, show what may be possible in principle, but they are not practical for everyday use. As technology improves, reliable and scalable tools may emerge. But until then, the benefits of brain-feedback-assisted meditation will remain limited for most people.”</p>
<p>The follow-up period was also short. It remains unclear if the benefits would persist longer than one week without further reinforcement.</p>
<p>“While the study offers promising signs that detailed brain-feedback–supported meditation training can have real-world benefits, larger studies over longer periods are needed to confirm these results,” Ganesan told PsyPost. “A major strength of the current study is the use of a well-matched control group, which helped show that the benefits were greater than placebo or other unrelated effects.”</p>
<p>Future research will likely focus on whether these results can be replicated with larger groups. Scientists may also explore if similar results can be achieved using less expensive technology, such as EEG sensors. If scalable methods can be developed, this approach could offer a new way to support mental health treatments. It provides a proof of concept that technology can accelerate the learning curve for meditation.</p>
<p>“My long-term vision is to develop a scalable but personalized, science-backed brain-feedback tool that can reliably support meditation training and mental health at a population level,” Ganesan explained. “By developing such technology and making it accessible in schools, clinics, and homes, the goal is to promote everyday emotional well-being, strengthen mental resilience, and help reduce the burden of mental illness in the modern world.”</p>
<p>“While there are many types of meditation, the technique studied here – focused-attention or breathing-based meditation, often grouped under mindfulness – is widely regarded by researchers and meditation experts as a foundational practice,” the researcher added. “The skills developed through this form of meditation are considered essential for learning and practicing other techniques effectively. As a result, developing reliable and targeted brain-based tools to support training in this practice is especially valuable.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-025-02671-z" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Neurofeedback Training Facilitates Awareness and Enhances Emotional Well-being Associated with Real-World Meditation Practice: A 7-T MRI Study</a>,” was authored by Saampras Ganesan, Nicholas T. Van Dam, Sunjeev K. Kamboj, Aki Tsuchiyagaito, Matthew D. Sacchet, Masaya Misaki, Bradford A. Moffat, Valentina Lorenzetti, and Andrew Zalesky.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/stress-does-not-appear-to-release-stored-thc-into-the-bloodstream/" 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 does not appear to release stored THC into the bloodstream</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Feb 2nd 2026, 20:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study published in <em><a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-025-06833-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Psychopharmacology</a></em> investigates the biological phenomenon known as reintoxication in cannabis users. The findings indicate that acute physical stress caused by cold water immersion does not release stored THC back into the bloodstream. This research suggests that moderate physical stressors encountered in daily life are unlikely to cause a person to test positive for cannabis or experience impairment long after their last use.</p>
<p>The primary psychoactive compound in cannabis is delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, commonly known as THC. This chemical is highly lipophilic, meaning it dissolves readily in fats rather than water.</p>
<p>When a person consumes cannabis, the body metabolizes much of the THC, but a significant portion is absorbed and stored in fat tissue throughout the body. These fat deposits can act as a long-term storage depot for the drug. Traces of THC have been detected in human fat biopsies weeks after consumption has stopped.</p>
<p>This biological storage mechanism has led scientists to propose the reintoxication hypothesis. The body naturally breaks down fat deposits for energy when it faces a deficit, such as during periods of starvation or intense physical stress. This process is called lipolysis. The hypothesis suggests that when the body breaks down fat cells during stress, the stored THC could be released back into the bloodstream along with the stored energy.</p>
<p>“It has been suggested that THC stored in body fat could be released back into circulation during periods of acute stress, potentially increasing blood THC concentrations,” said study author Danielle McCartney, an associate lecturer in pharmacology at the University of Sydney.</p>
<p>“This idea has been discussed in scientific and legal contexts, but there is very little direct human evidence to support it. We wanted to test this under controlled conditions to see whether acute stress actually increases blood THC concentrations in regular cannabis users.”</p>
<p>Previous research on animals has provided some evidence for this phenomenon. Studies involving rats showed that stress hormones and food deprivation could increase blood THC concentrations in animals that had been pre-treated with the drug.</p>
<p>Human studies, however, have been less conclusive. One study found that intense exercise significantly raised plasma THC levels in regular users. Another study involving food deprivation and running produced mixed results. The authors of the current study aimed to clarify these findings by using a different form of stress.</p>
<p>The researchers recruited fifteen volunteers for the experiment. The sample included nine females and six males. All participants were regular cannabis users who reported consuming the drug at least three days per week. On average, the group used cannabis five days a week. To ensure that any THC detected was not from immediate use, participants were required to abstain from cannabis for at least twelve hours before the test. They also fasted for more than eight hours to ensure their bodies were ready to metabolize fat.</p>
<p>The chosen stressor for this experiment was cold water immersion. This method is known to trigger a robust “fight or flight” response and stimulate the breakdown of fats. Participants sat in a bath filled with water cooled to approximately 10 degrees Celsius, or 50 degrees Fahrenheit. They remained submerged up to their clavicles for ten minutes. This duration and temperature were selected to induce significant physiological stress without posing a danger to the volunteers.</p>
<p>The research team collected detailed measurements at three specific time points. They took baseline measurements immediately before the cold water immersion. They collected a second set of data five minutes after the participants exited the bath. A final set of data was collected two hours after the intervention. At each point, the team drew blood samples and administered cognitive tests.</p>
<p>The blood samples were analyzed for several chemical markers. The researchers looked for plasma THC and its metabolites to see if concentrations rose after the stress. They also measured levels of glycerol and free fatty acids. These compounds are byproducts of fat breakdown. An increase in glycerol and free fatty acids serves as biological proof that lipolysis is occurring. Additionally, the team monitored heart rate, blood pressure, and body temperature to quantify the physiological stress response.</p>
<p>Subjective and cognitive effects were also assessed. Participants completed computerized tasks designed to measure attention, processing speed, and psychomotor function. Specifically, they performed the Digit Symbol Substitution Task, the Divided Attention Task, and the Paced Serial Addition Task. Participants also used visual scales to rate how “stoned” or “euphoric” they felt, as well as their levels of calmness and nervousness.</p>
<p>The results demonstrated that the cold water immersion successfully induced a stress response. Participants exhibited elevated heart rates and higher systolic blood pressure following the bath. Their body temperature dropped as expected. Subjective ratings confirmed that the participants felt less calm and more nervous after the exposure.</p>
<p>The blood analysis confirmed that the intervention triggered the breakdown of fat. Concentrations of glycerol and free fatty acids increased significantly from the baseline to the post-intervention measurements.</p>
<p>Despite the successful induction of stress and fat breakdown, the researchers found no corresponding increase in blood THC levels. The concentrations of THC remained stable across all three time points. The levels of 11-COOH-THC, a primary metabolite of the drug, also did not rise following the cold water stress. In fact, the concentration of this metabolite tended to decrease slightly over the two-hour monitoring period, likely due to natural clearance from the body.</p>
<p>Cognitive performance remained unaffected by the stressor. The participants showed no signs of impairment on any of the computerized tasks. Their reaction times and accuracy scores did not change significantly after the cold water immersion. This aligns with the lack of change in blood THC concentrations. Without a spike in the drug’s presence in the bloodstream, functional impairment would not be expected.</p>
<p>There was a minor change in subjective sensations. Participants reported a slight increase in feeling “stoned” immediately after the cold bath. However, the researchers note that this effect was negligible. The average rating on a 100-point scale increased by fewer than three points. The authors suggest this was likely a result of the general physiological shock of the cold water or a placebo effect, rather than true intoxication.</p>
<p>The researchers also examined oral fluid, which is commonly tested in roadside drug screenings. The researchers found that the cold water stress did not lead to a surge in positive results for oral fluid tests. This provides evidence that stress-induced fat breakdown is unlikely to cause a false positive on saliva-based drug tests used by law enforcement.</p>
<p>“We found that brief physical stress, like cold water immersion, does not increase blood THC concentrations or cause intoxication in regular cannabis users,” McCartney told PsyPost. “This suggests that everyday stressors are unlikely to meaningfully impact blood THC concentrations. That said, our participants were moderate regular users rather than very heavy or dependent users, so the findings should be interpreted in that context.”</p>
<p>The researchers offered several explanations for why their results differed from the previous study that found exercise increased THC levels. The primary factor appears to be the intensity of the stress. The exercise study involved thirty-five minutes of cycling, which raised heart rates to roughly 130 beats per minute. The cold water immersion in this study only raised heart rates to about 80 beats per minute.</p>
<p>Consequently, the exercise study induced a much stronger metabolic response. The increase in free fatty acids observed in the exercise study was nearly six times greater than the increase observed in the cold water study.</p>
<p>It appears that while cold water causes some fat breakdown, it may not be intense enough to liberate a detectable amount of stored THC. The stressor in the real world would likely need to be severe and prolonged to mimic the effects seen in the exercise study.</p>
<p>Another factor could be the usage habits of the participants. The volunteers in this study were moderate regular users. Individuals with heavier consumption habits might store larger quantities of THC in their fat tissue. It is possible that a similar stressor could trigger a release in very heavy users or those with a higher body mass index.</p>
<p>Studies involving heavier cannabis users or different types of psychological and physical stress would provide a more complete picture. For now, the evidence indicates that brief, moderate physical stress is not a risk factor for sudden cannabis intoxication.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00213-025-06833-8" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Does acute stress induced via cold water immersion increase blood THC concentrations in regular cannabis users</a>,” was authored by Danielle McCartney, Jordan Levoux, Rebecca Gordon, Laura Sharman, Katie Walker, Jonathon C. Arnold, and Iain S. McGregor.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/half-of-the-racial-mortality-gap-is-explained-by-stress-and-inflammation/" 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;">Half of the racial mortality gap is explained by stress and inflammation</a>
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<p><p>Disparities in life expectancy between Black and White populations in the United States remain a persistent public health crisis. A new analysis suggests that a lifetime of accumulated stress and resulting bodily inflammation drives a large portion of this racial mortality gap. The findings appeared in a paper published in <em><a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2844221" target="_blank" rel="noopener">JAMA Network Open</a></em>.</p>
<p>Researchers have sought to understand why Black Americans experience higher rates of chronic illness and earlier death. One prevailing theory involves the concept of “weathering.” This hypothesis posits that constant exposure to social and economic adversity physically erodes health over time. Black Americans often face systemic disadvantages and discrimination that generate chronic psychological pressure. This burden is thought to disrupt the immune system and accelerate aging.</p>
<p>Isaiah D. Spears, a graduate student at Washington University in St. Louis, led the new investigation. Spears worked alongside senior author Ryan Bogdan, who directs the BRAIN lab within the university’s Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. They aimed to move beyond looking at single stressful events. Instead, they sought to measure the total weight of stress a person carries from childhood into old age.</p>
<p>Spears noted the motivation behind the work in a statement. He said he “saw the stark difference between the rate in which our Black participants in the sample have been dying relative to the white participants.” This observation prompted the team to investigate the biological mechanisms that might connect social experience to physical survival.</p>
<p>The team analyzed data from the St. Louis Personality and Aging Network (SPAN). This longitudinal project recruited late middle-aged adults from the St. Louis metropolitan area. The researchers followed these individuals for a period stretching up to seventeen years. The total sample included 1,554 participants. Approximately one-third of the group identified as Black, and two-thirds identified as White.</p>
<p>The researchers created a cumulative stress score for each person to capture the breadth of their life experiences. This score was not based on a single survey. It combined answers from multiple assessments regarding adverse life events. The team looked at exposure to maltreatment during childhood. They included traumatic events experienced during adulthood. They also accounted for specific stressful life episodes and reported experiences of discrimination.</p>
<p>Socioeconomic status served as another component of the stress score. The researchers factored in household income and education levels. They also looked at the education levels of the participants’ parents. This approach allowed the team to build a comprehensive model of the strain placed on an individual throughout their entire lifespan.</p>
<p>The study also required biological evidence of physical wear and tear. The researchers analyzed blood samples collected from the participants. They specifically looked for two biomarkers of inflammation. One is called C-reactive protein, or CRP. The other is Interleukin-6, or IL-6. These proteins are immune system messengers.</p>
<p>High levels of these markers indicate that the body is in a state of chronic inflammation. Short-term inflammation helps the body heal from injury or fight infection. Chronic inflammation, however, damages tissues and organs over time. It is a known risk factor for heart disease, cancer, and other age-related conditions.</p>
<p>The researchers then consulted the National Death Index to track mortality. They recorded which participants died during the study period and the cause of death. This allowed them to calculate survival times for Black and White participants.</p>
<p>The data revealed a clear pattern regarding survival. Black participants in the study died sooner than White participants. This aligned with national trends regarding excess death in minority populations. The Black participants also had higher scores for cumulative lifespan stress. Their blood tests showed higher levels of the inflammatory markers CRP and IL-6.</p>
<p>The researchers used statistical models to test whether these factors were connected. They found that the higher stress levels and subsequent inflammation were not merely coincidental. These factors statistically explained a large amount of the difference in survival rates.</p>
<p>The model suggested a specific pathway. Identifying as Black was associated with higher cumulative stress. This stress was associated with higher inflammation. Finally, that inflammation was associated with an increased risk of earlier death.</p>
<p>The combined effect of lifespan stress and inflammation accounted for 49.3 percent of the racial disparity in mortality. This means that roughly half of the excess mortality risk observed in Black participants could be attributed to these specific biological and environmental factors. The researchers found that stress alone and inflammation alone also played roles, but the combined pathway was the most explanatory.</p>
<p>Ryan Bogdan explained the biological logic in a press statement. He noted that “If stress becomes chronic, that could be incorporated into one’s homeostasis; you may become less able to mount your biological systems to respond to acute stress challenges and your may be less able to return to a bodily state that promotes regeneration and restoration.”</p>
<p>The study supports the idea that social inequality becomes biological reality. The stress measured in the study likely stems from structural racism. This includes factors such as unequal access to resources, neighborhood segregation, and economic barriers. These systemic issues create a constant background hum of adversity for many Black Americans.</p>
<p>Spears emphasized the physical toll of this environment. He stated, “Over time continued chronic exposure to stress leads to dysregulation and an earlier breakdown of some of the biological systems in the human body.” This breakdown manifests as the chronic diseases that disproportionately kill Black adults.</p>
<p>The authors noted several limitations to their work. The study took place in the St. Louis region. The specific social dynamics and health disparities there might not perfectly represent every part of the United States. The results might differ in regions with different economic or social structures.</p>
<p>The researchers also pointed out that their study is observational. They used statistical methods to infer a pathway from race to stress to death. However, they cannot definitively prove causation. Other unmeasured variables could be influencing the results.</p>
<p>The findings leave approximately 50 percent of the mortality gap unexplained. The authors suggest that other factors must be involved. These could include exposure to environmental toxicants like air pollution or lead. Differences in access to quality healthcare or trust in medical institutions could also play a role. Genetic or epigenetic factors that are influenced by ancestral stress might also contribute.</p>
<p>The study has implications for public policy and healthcare. It suggests that medical interventions alone cannot solve racial health disparities. Treating the downstream effects, such as high blood pressure or heart disease, is necessary but insufficient. The root causes of stress must be addressed.</p>
<p>Bogdan suggested that the work points toward the need for broader societal changes. He said, “Addressing large-scale societal issues requires concerted efforts enacted over time. That needle can be extremely hard to move.”</p>
<p>Policies that reduce structural discrimination could lower the stress burden on Black communities. This might involve economic reforms, housing policies, or changes in the criminal justice system. Reducing the sources of stress could prevent the chronic inflammation that leads to early death.</p>
<p>The researchers also see a need for better medical treatments for stress. Interventions that help the body manage the physiological response to adversity could save lives. This would be valuable while long-term societal changes are being implemented. Bogdan noted, “Stress exposure will always be there – so we need to devote more efforts to understand the mechanisms through which stress contributes to adverse health outcomes so that factors could be targeted to minimize health risks among those exposed.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2844221" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Cumulative Lifespan Stress, Inflammation, and Racial Disparities in Mortality Between Black and White Adults</a>,” was authored by Isaiah D. Spears, Aaron J. Gorelik, Sara A. Norton, Michael J. Boudreaux, Megan W. Wolk, Jayne Siudzinski, Sarah E. Paul, Mary A. Cox, Cynthia E. Rogers, Thomas F. Oltmanns, Patrick L. Hill, and Ryan Bogdan.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/for-romantic-satisfaction-quantity-of-affection-beats-similarity/" 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;">For romantic satisfaction, quantity of affection beats similarity</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Feb 2nd 2026, 16:00</div>
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<p><p>A new study suggests that the total amount of warmth shared between partners matters more than whether they express it equally. While similarity often breeds compatibility in many areas of life, researchers found that maximizing affectionate communication yields better relationship quality than simply matching a partner’s lower output. These results were recently published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10510974.2025.2610244" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Communication Studies</a>.</p>
<p>Relationship science often relies on two competing ideas regarding how couples succeed. One concept, known as assortative mating, suggests that people gravitate toward partners with similar traits, backgrounds, and behaviors. This principle implies that a reserved partner might feel most comfortable with an equally quiet companion.</p>
<p>Under that theory, a mismatch in expressiveness could lead to friction or misunderstanding. The logic holds that if one person is highly demonstrative and the other is stoic, the gap could cause dissatisfaction.</p>
<p>Conversely, a framework called affection exchange theory posits that expressing fondness is a fundamental human need that directly fuels bonding. This theory argues that affection acts as a resource that promotes survival and procreation capabilities.</p>
<p>Kory Floyd, a researcher at Washington State University, led the investigation to resolve which mechanism plays a larger role in romantic satisfaction. Floyd and his colleagues sought to determine if mismatched couples suffer from imbalance or if the sheer volume of warmth compensates for disparity.</p>
<p>The research team recruited 141 heterosexual couples from across the United States to participate in the study. These pairs represented a diverse range of ages, ethnic backgrounds, and socioeconomic levels. The researchers looked at the couple as a unit, rather than just surveying isolated individuals.</p>
<p>Each participant completed detailed surveys designed to measure their typical behaviors and feelings. They reported their “trait” affectionate communication, which refers to their general tendency to express and receive warmth. This included verbal affirmation, nonverbal gestures like holding hands, and acts of support.</p>
<p>Participants also rated the quality of their relationship across several specific dimensions. These metrics included feelings of trust, intimacy, passion, and overall satisfaction. The researchers then utilized complex statistical models to analyze how these factors influenced one another.</p>
<p>They examined “actor effects,” which measure how a person’s own behavior influences their own happiness. The analysis revealed that for both men and women, being affectionate predicted higher personal satisfaction. When an individual expressed more warmth, they generally felt better about the relationship.</p>
<p>The team also looked for “partner effects,” determining how one person’s actions change their partner’s experience. The study produced evidence that an individual’s expressions of warmth positively impacted their partner’s view of the relationship in about half of the categories tested.</p>
<p>However, the primary focus was comparing the absolute level of affection against the relative similarity of affection. The researchers created a mathematical comparison to pit the “birds of a feather” hypothesis against the “more is better” hypothesis.</p>
<p>The data showed that the absolute level of affectionate communication was a far stronger predictor of relationship health than the relative difference between partners. In simpler terms, a couple where one person is highly demonstrative and the other is moderate scores higher on satisfaction than a couple where both are equally reserved.</p>
<p>While similarity did not drag relationship scores down, it simply did not provide the same boost as high overall warmth. The results indicated that for most metrics of quality, the total volume of affection matters more than who fills the bucket.</p>
<p>This challenges the notion that finding a “mirror image” partner is the key to happiness. Colin Hesse, a co-author from Oregon State University, noted the distinction in the team’s press release.</p>
<p>Hesse stated, “The study does not discount the importance of similarity in many aspects of romantic relationships but instead highlights once again the specific importance of affectionate communication to the success and development of those relationships.”</p>
<p>The benefits appear to stem from the stress-relieving properties of positive touch and verbal affirmation. A high-affection environment creates a buffer against conflict and builds a reservoir of goodwill.</p>
<p>Hesse explained, “Generally speaking, affectionate communication is beneficial both for the partner who gives it and the partner receiving it.” This suggests that even if one partner does the heavy lifting, the union still thrives.</p>
<p>The findings offer reassurance to couples who worry about having different love languages or expressive styles. If one partner enjoys public displays of affection and the other prefers quiet support, the relationship is likely still healthy as long as the total affection remains high.</p>
<p>There were, however, specific exceptions in the data regarding feelings of love and commitment. For these two specific variables, the total amount of affection was not more influential than the similarity between partners. This nuance suggests that while satisfaction and passion are driven by volume, the core sense of commitment might operate differently.</p>
<p>While the study offers strong evidence for the power of affection, there are limitations to consider. The sample consisted entirely of heterosexual couples, meaning the dynamics might differ in LGBTQ+ relationships. The researchers relied on self-reported perceptions, which can sometimes be biased by a person’s current mood or memory.</p>
<p>Additionally, the study captures a snapshot in time rather than following couples over years. Future research could investigate how these dynamics shift over decades of marriage. It would be useful to see if the need for matched affection levels increases as a relationship matures.</p>
<p>Scientists might also look at specific types of affection to see if verbal or physical expressions carry different weights. For now, the message to couples is that increasing warmth is rarely a bad strategy.</p>
<p>Hesse concluded in the press release, “We would not prescribe specific affectionate behaviors but would in general counsel people to engage in affectionate communication.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/10510974.2025.2610244" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Affectionate Communication in Romantic Relationships: Are Relative Levels or Absolute Levels More Consequential?</a>,” was authored by Kory Floyd, Lisa van Raalte, and Colin Hesse.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/the-surprising-reason-why-cancer-patients-may-be-less-likely-to-get-alzheimers/" 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 surprising reason why cancer patients may be less likely to get Alzheimer’s</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Feb 2nd 2026, 14:00</div>
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<p><p>Cancer and Alzheimer’s disease are two of the most feared diagnoses in medicine, but they rarely strike the same person. For years, epidemiologists have noticed that people with cancer seem less likely to develop Alzheimer’s, and those with Alzheimer’s are less likely to get cancer, but nobody could explain why.</p>
<p>A <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-026-00222-7">new study in mice</a> suggests a surprising possibility: certain cancers may actually send a <a href="https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0092867425014333">protective signal</a> to the brain that helps clear away the <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-00689-w">toxic protein clumps</a> linked to Alzheimer’s disease.</p>
<p>Alzheimer’s is characterised by sticky deposits of a protein called amyloid beta that build up between nerve cells in the brain. These clumps, or plaques, interfere with <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2310168">communication</a> between nerve cells and trigger inflammation and damage that slowly erodes memory and thinking.</p>
<p>In the <a href="https://www.cell.com/cell/abstract/S0092-8674(25)01433-3?">new study</a>, scientists implanted human lung, prostate and colon tumours under the skin of mice bred to develop Alzheimer‑like amyloid plaques. Left alone, these animals <a href="https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-01-cancer-tumors-alzheimer-protein-clumps.html">reliably</a> develop dense clumps of amyloid beta in their brains as they age, mirroring a key feature of the human disease.</p>
<p>But when the mice carried tumours, their brains stopped accumulating the usual plaques. In some experiments, the animals’ memory also improved compared with Alzheimer‑model mice without tumours, <a href="https://www.insidehook.com/longevity/scientists-explore-cancers-connection-alzheimers-disease">suggesting that the change</a> was not just visible under the microscope.</p>
<p>The team traced this effect to a protein called <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3390601/">cystatin‑C</a> that was being pumped out by the tumours into the bloodstream. The new study suggests that, at least in mice, cystatin‑C released by tumours can cross the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5600438/">blood–brain barrier</a> – the usually tight border that shields the brain from many substances in the circulation.</p>
<p>Once inside the brain, cystatin‑C appears to latch on to small clusters of amyloid beta and mark them for destruction by the brain’s resident immune cells, called microglia. These cells act as the brain’s clean‑up crew, constantly patrolling for debris and misfolded proteins.</p>
<p>In Alzheimer’s, microglia seem to fall behind, allowing amyloid beta to accumulate and harden into plaques. In the tumour‑bearing mice, cystatin‑C activated a sensor on microglia known as Trem2, effectively switching them into a more aggressive, plaque‑clearing state.</p>
<h2>Surprising trade-offs</h2>
<p>At first glance, the idea that a cancer could “help” protect the brain from dementia sounds almost perverse. Yet biology often works through trade-offs, where a process that is harmful in one context can be beneficial in another.</p>
<p>In this case, the tumour’s secretion of cystatin‑C may be a side‑effect of its own biology that happens to have a useful consequence for the brain’s ability to handle <a href="https://www.nature.com/scitable/topicpage/protein-misfolding-and-degenerative-diseases-14434929/">misfolded proteins</a>. It does not mean that having cancer is good, but it does reveal a pathway that scientists might be able to harness more safely.</p>
<p>The study slots into a growing body of research suggesting that the relationship between cancer and neurodegenerative diseases is more than a statistical quirk. Large population <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2274580724006708">studies</a> have reported that people with Alzheimer’s are significantly less likely to be diagnosed with cancer, and vice versa, even after accounting for age and other health factors.</p>
<p>This has led to the idea of a biological <a href="https://ecancer.org/en/news/27107-alzheimers-protein-holds-clues-for-fighting-cancer">seesaw</a>, where mechanisms that drive cells towards survival and growth, as in cancer, may push them away from the pathways that lead to brain degeneration. The cystatin‑C story adds a physical mechanism to that picture.</p>
<p>However, the research is in mice, not humans, and that distinction matters. Mouse models of Alzheimer’s capture some features of the disease, particularly amyloid plaques, but they do not fully reproduce the complexity of human dementia.</p>
<p>We also do not yet know whether human cancers in real patients produce enough cystatin‑C, or send it to the brain in the same way, to have meaningful effects on Alzheimer’s disease risk. Still, the discovery opens intriguing possibilities for future treatment strategies.</p>
<p>One idea is to develop drugs or therapies that mimic the beneficial actions of cystatin‑C without involving a tumour at all. That could mean engineered versions of the protein designed to bind amyloid beta more effectively, or molecules that activate the same pathway in microglia to boost their clean‑up capacity.</p>
<p>The research also highlights how interconnected diseases can be, even when they affect very different organs. A tumour growing in the lung or colon might seem far removed from the slow build up of protein deposits in the brain, yet molecules released by that tumour can travel through the bloodstream, cross protective barriers and change the behaviour of brain cells.</p>
<p>For people living with cancer or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s today, this work will not change treatment immediately. But the study does offer a more hopeful message: by studying even grim diseases like cancer in depth, scientists can stumble on unexpected insights that point towards new ways to keep the brain healthy in later life.</p>
<p>Perhaps the most striking lesson is that the body’s defences and failures are rarely simple. A protein that contributes to disease in one organ may be used as a clean‑up tool in another, and by understanding these tricks, researchers may be able to use them safely to help protect the ageing human brain.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img decoding="async" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/274304/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1"><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p>
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<p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/people-who-survive-cancers-are-less-likely-to-develop-alzheimers-this-might-be-why-274304">original article</a>.</em></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/early-maternal-touch-may-encourage-sympathy-and-helping-behaviors-in-adolescence/" 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;">Early maternal touch may encourage sympathy and helping behaviors in adolescence</a>
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<p><p>A study in China found that junior high school students who recall more maternal touch in childhood tend to manifest more prosocial behavior. Attachment to mothers might be a mediator of this relationship. The paper was published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2025.2537374"><em>International Journal of Adolescence and Youth</em></a><em>.</em></p>
<p>Maternal touch refers to physical contact initiated by a mother toward her child, such as holding, cuddling, skin-to-skin contact, or gentle stroking, especially during early development. Although it was long underemphasized in developmental research, recent studies show that maternal touch plays a crucial role not only in infants’ physical growth but also in cognitive, emotional, and social development.</p>
<p>Frequent maternal touch has been linked to better psychomotor development, reduced stress responses, improved emotional regulation, and stronger mother–child bonding. Health organizations now formally recognize its importance, as reflected in recommendations for immediate skin-to-skin contact after birth, particularly for preterm and low-birthweight infants.</p>
<p>Maternal touch is thought to support early attachment formation by providing comfort, safety, and a rewarding relationship experience. Secure attachment, in turn, is associated with greater empathy, emotional stability, and prosocial behavior later in life.</p>
<p>Theoretical models suggest that early tactile experiences may scaffold the development of human prosociality by shaping how children relate to others. Maternal touch also stimulates hormonal and neural processes that support caregiving, breastfeeding, and emotional connection.</p>
<p>Study authors Kuo Zhang and Jinlong Su wanted to explore the links between maternal touch experiences and prosocial behavior. They also wanted to see if the attachment pattern of a person is associated with this link. In their study, these authors decided to focus on adolescents because prosociality becomes relatively stable at that age. Prosociality is a tendency to display voluntary behaviors intended to benefit others, such as helping, sharing, cooperating, and showing empathy.</p>
<p>Study participants were 572 students from a public junior high school in western China. They were between 12 and 16 years of age, with the average being 13.56 years. Approximately 50% of them were boys. 61% of participating students were from rural areas.</p>
<p>Students completed an assessment of maternal touch experiences constructed by the study authors based on existing measures. It consisted of three items: ‘my mother usually held me in her arms when I was a little child’, ‘my mother usually held my hand when I was a little child’, and ‘my mother usually patted me as I fell asleep when I was a little child’.</p>
<p>They also completed assessments of prosocial behavior (the Prosocial Tendencies Measure), empathic concern (which study authors refer to as “sympathy”, using the Interpersonal Reactivity Index”), and mother-child affective attachment (the Experiences in Close Relationships – Relationship Structures Questionnaire).</p>
<p>Results showed that participants who reported more maternal touch in childhood tended to score higher on the prosocial behavior assessment, specifically regarding compliant prosocial behavior. Their attachment with their mother tended to be more secure and they tended to report more empathic concern. Empathic concern is the tendency to experience feelings of compassion, warmth, and concern for others who are distressed or in need.</p>
<p>Study authors tested a statistical model proposing that maternal touch leads to more secure affective attachment (i.e., less attachment anxiety and avoidance), and that this type of attachment, in turn, leads to more compliant prosocial behavior and more empathic concern. Results showed that attachment fully mediated these relationships.</p>
<p>“Our findings provided an initial empirical support for the touch-scaffolded prosociality model and suggested the importance of tactile interactions between mothers and children in daily parenting practice,” the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study contributes to the scientific understanding of the importance of maternal touch in early childhood for children’s psychosocial development. However, it should be noted that information about maternal touch in early childhood came from self-reports based on recall in adolescence. This means that recall and reporting bias might have affected the results. Additionally, the design of the study does not allow any causal inferences to be derived from the results.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2025.2537374">Early maternal touch predicts prosocial behaviour in adolescents: the mediation role of attachment,</a>” was authored by Kuo Zhang and Jinlong Su.</p></p>
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<td><a href="https://www.psypost.org/brain-scans-reveal-neural-connectivity-deficits-in-long-covid-and-me-cfs/" style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing:-1px;margin:0;padding:0 0 2px;font-weight: bold;font-size: 19px;line-height: 20px;color:#222;">Brain scans reveal neural connectivity deficits in Long COVID and ME/CFS</a>
<div style="font-family:Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align:left;color:#999;font-size:11px;font-weight:bold;line-height:15px;">Feb 2nd 2026, 10:00</div>
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<p><p>New research suggests that the brains of people with Long COVID and Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) struggle to communicate effectively during mentally tiring tasks. While healthy brains appear to tighten their neural connections when fatigued, these patients show disrupted or weakened signals between key brain areas. This study was published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-026-07708-y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Translational Medicine</a></em>.</p>
<p>ME/CFS and Long COVID are chronic conditions that severely impact the quality of life for millions of people. Patients often experience extreme exhaustion and “brain fog,” which refers to persistent difficulties with memory and concentration.</p>
<p>A defining feature of these illnesses is post-exertional malaise. This describes a crash in energy and a worsening of symptoms that follows even minor physical or mental effort. Doctors currently lack a definitive biological test to diagnose these conditions. This makes it difficult to distinguish them from one another or from other disorders with similar symptoms.</p>
<p>The research team sought to identify objective biological markers of these illnesses. Maira Inderyas, a PhD candidate at the National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases at Griffith University in Australia, led the investigation. She worked alongside senior researchers including Professor Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik. They aimed to understand how the brain behaves when pushed to the limit of its cognitive endurance.</p>
<p>Professor Marshall-Gradisnik noted the shared experiences of these patient groups. “The symptoms include cognitive difficulties, such as memory problems, difficulties with attention and concentration, and slowed thinking,” Professor Marshall-Gradisnik said. The team hypothesized that these subjective feelings of brain fog would correspond to visible changes in brain activity.</p>
<p>To test this, the researchers utilized a 7 Tesla MRI scanner. This device is much more powerful than the standard scanners found in most hospitals. The high magnetic field allows for extremely detailed imaging of deep brain structures. It can detect subtle changes in blood flow that weaker scanners might miss.</p>
<p>The study involved nearly eighty participants. These included thirty-two individuals with ME/CFS and nineteen with Long COVID. A group of twenty-seven healthy volunteers served as a control group for comparison.</p>
<p>While inside the scanner, participants performed a cognitive challenge known as the Stroop task. This is a classic psychological test that requires focus and impulse control. Users must identify the color of a word’s ink while ignoring the actual word written. For example, the word “RED” might appear on the screen written in blue ink. The participant must select “blue” despite their brain automatically reading the word “red.”</p>
<p>“The task, called a Stroop task, was displayed to the participants on a screen during the scan, and required participants to ignore conflicting information and focus on the correct response, which places high demands on the brain’s executive function and inhibitory control,” Ms. Inderyas said.</p>
<p>The researchers structured the test to induce mental exhaustion. Participants performed the task in two separate sessions. The first session was designed to build up cognitive fatigue. The second session took place ninety seconds later, after fatigue had fully set in. This “Pre” and “Post” design allowed the scientists to see how the brain adapts to sustained mental effort.</p>
<p>The primary measurement used in this study was functional connectivity. This concept refers to how well different regions of the brain synchronize their activity. When two brain areas activate at the same time, it implies they are communicating or working together.</p>
<p>The results revealed clear differences between the healthy volunteers and the patient groups. In healthy participants, the brain responded to the fatigue of the second session by increasing its connectivity. Connections between deep brain regions and the cerebellum became stronger. This suggests that a healthy brain actively recruits more resources to maintain performance when it gets tired. It becomes more efficient and integrated under pressure.</p>
<p>The pattern was markedly different for patients with Long COVID. They displayed reduced connectivity between the nucleus accumbens and the cerebellum. The nucleus accumbens is a central part of the brain’s reward and motivation system. A lack of connection here might explain the sense of apathy or lack of mental drive patients often report.</p>
<p>Long COVID patients also showed an unusual increase in connectivity between the hippocampus and the prefrontal cortex. The researchers interpret this as a potential compensatory mechanism. The brain may be trying to bypass damaged networks to keep functioning. It is attempting to use memory centers to help with executive decision-making.</p>
<p>Patients with ME/CFS showed their own distinct patterns of dysfunction. They exhibited increased connectivity between specific areas of the brainstem, such as the cuneiform nucleus and the medulla. These regions are responsible for controlling automatic body functions. This finding aligns with the autonomic nervous system issues frequently seen in ME/CFS patients.</p>
<p>The researchers also looked at how these brain patterns related to the patients’ medical history. In the ME/CFS group, the length of their illness correlated with specific connectivity changes. As the duration of the illness increased, communication between the hippocampus and cerebellum appeared to weaken. This suggests a progressive change in brain function over time.</p>
<p>Direct comparisons between the groups highlighted the extent of the impairment. When compared to the healthy controls, both patient groups showed signs of neural disorganization. The healthy brain creates a “tight” network to handle stress. The patient brains appeared unable to form these robust connections.</p>
<p>Instead of tightening up, the networks in sick patients became looser or dysregulated. This failure to adapt dynamically likely contributes to the cognitive dysfunction known as brain fog. The brain cannot summon the necessary energy or coordination to process information efficiently.</p>
<p>“The scans show changes in the brain regions which may contribute to cognitive difficulties such as memory problems, difficulty concentrating, and slower thinking,” Ms. Inderyas said. This provides biological validation for symptoms that are often dismissed as psychological.</p>
<p>The study does have some limitations that must be considered. The number of participants in each group was relatively small. This is common in studies using such advanced and expensive imaging technology. However, it means the results should be replicated in larger groups to ensure accuracy.</p>
<p>The researchers also noted that they lacked complete medical histories regarding prior COVID-19 infections for the ME/CFS group. It is possible that some ME/CFS patients had undiagnosed COVID-19 in the past. This could potentially blur the lines between the two conditions.</p>
<p>Future studies will need to follow patients over a longer period. Longitudinal research would help determine if these brain changes evolve or improve over time. It would also help clarify if these connectivity issues are a cause of the illness or a result of it.</p>
<p>Despite these caveats, the use of 7 Tesla fMRI offers a promising new direction for research. It has revealed abnormalities that standard imaging could not detect. These findings could eventually lead to new diagnostic tools. Identifying specific broken circuits may also help researchers target treatments more effectively.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-026-07708-y" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Distinct functional connectivity patterns in myalgic encephalomyelitis and long COVID patients during cognitive fatigue: a 7 Tesla task-fMRI study</a>,” was authored by Maira Inderyas, Kiran Thapaliya, Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik & Leighton Barnden.</p></p>
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<p><strong>Forwarded by:<br />
Michael Reeder LCPC<br />
Baltimore, MD</strong></p>
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