Scientists have recently discovered that psilocybin, the active ingredient in “magic mushrooms,” can significantly reduce chronic pain in rats | Notably, this pain relief was related to pain from touch, but not pain from heat.
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Current Biology
Intravenous psilocybin attenuates mechanical hypersensitivity in a rat model of chronic pain
Kolbman et al. show that a single intravenous administration of psilocybin produces
long-lasting attenuation of hyperalgesia in a rat model of formalin-induced chronic
pain. This is the first systematic preclinical investigation to show that psylocibin
can…
long-lasting attenuation of hyperalgesia in a rat model of formalin-induced chronic
pain. This is the first systematic preclinical investigation to show that psylocibin
can…
Things that go buzz in the night - there really are more insects out after dark. Global analysis not only shows that insect activity rises by a third (31.4%) during the night on average, but crucially reveals key ecological factors driving patterns in insect activity across the Earth
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www.uwa.edu.au
Things that go buzz in the night - there really are more insects out after dark
Have you ever wondered if there are more insects out at night than during the day?
Researchers have found evidence suggesting that certain types of gut bacteria may influence the thickness of the brain’s cortex. The study identifies specific bacteria within the orders Lactobacillales and Bacillales that are potentially associated with changes in brain structure.
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PsyPost
New study suggests gut microbiota can influence brain structure
In a study recently published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, researchers have found evidence suggesting that certain types of gut bacteria may influence the thickness of the brain's cortex.
New findings suggest that individuals who frequently engage in self-affirmation — recognizing and reinforcing their own positive attributes and values — are likely to find more meaning in life and are less prone to boredom.
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PsyPost
Spontaneous self-affirmation is related to reduced boredom proneness via heightened meaning in life
A recent study found that individuals who frequently engage in spontaneous self-affirmation tend to perceive more meaning in their lives and exhibit lower levels of boredom proneness.
A new study finds that AI-generated restaurant reviews can pass a Turing test, fooling both human readers and AI detectors
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SpringerLink
The Turing test of online reviews: Can we tell the difference between human-written and GPT-4-written online reviews?
Marketing Letters - Online reviews serve as a guide for consumer choice. With advancements in large language models (LLMs) and generative AI, the fast and inexpensive creation of human-like text...
Patients with a common movement disorder known as essential tremor (ET) developed dementia at three times the rate of similarly aged people in the general population. ET is often accompanied by nonmotor features such as anxiety and depression, hearing impairment, and sleep difficulties
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www.utsouthwestern.edu
Essential tremor triples dementia risk, UTSW study shows
Patients with a common movement disorder known as essential tremor (ET) developed dementia at three times the rate of similarly aged people in the general population, a study led by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers shows.
Scientists have created mice with hybrid brains—part mouse, part rat—that sense the odors of the world with their rat neurons. It is the first time that an animal has been able to use the sensory apparatus of another species to sense and respond accurately to the world.
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Columbia University Irving Medical Center
With Hybrid Brains, These Mice Smell Like a Rat
Mice lacking an olfactory system have had their sense of smell restored with rat neurons, the first time scientists have successfully integrated the sensory apparatus of one species into another.
A study of 41 high-grossing teen romantic drama movies from 1961 to 2019 found that male characters were more likely to express romantic ideals, whereas hookups involving female characters often predicted relationship terminations, highlighting a persistent sexual double standard in these films.
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PsyPost
Hookups lead to breakups for female characters in top teen romance dramas
A study of 41 high-grossing teen romantic dramas from 1961 to 2019 found male characters expressed more romantic ideals while female characters' hookups often led to relationship terminations.
A recent study explored how liberals and conservatives in the US evaluate a person based on their Facebook posts. The results indicated that both groups tended to evaluate ideologically opposite individuals more negatively. This bias was three times stronger among liberals compared to conservatives.
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PsyPost
Liberals three times more biased than conservatives when evaluating ideologically opposite individuals, study finds
Both liberals and conservatives negatively evaluate individuals with opposing ideological views on Facebook, with liberals displaying this bias three times more strongly than conservatives.
Insightful exploration of the latest breakthroughs in bifunctional catalysts for Li-air batteries, meticulously analyzing their impact on cell performance. This discussion sheds insights on the interplay between cathode morphology, charge carrier density, catalyst efficiency, and defect density.
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Eastern Gartersnakes pass a smell based version of the mirror test, like dogs. The less social Ball Python did not pass this same test, supporting the suggestion that social species are more likely to self-recognize.
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Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Olfactory self-recognition in two species of snake | Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Mark tests, in which an animal uses a mirror to locate and examine an otherwise unnoticeable
mark on its own body, are commonly used to assess self-recognition, which may have
implications for self-awareness. Recently, several olfactory-reliant species ...
mark on its own body, are commonly used to assess self-recognition, which may have
implications for self-awareness. Recently, several olfactory-reliant species ...
The brain function of older generations is improving, with the gap between old and young healthy adults lessening. In contrast, findings show that that young adults’ cognition remained relatively flat across time
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www.ntu.ac.uk
Brain function of older adults catching up with younger generations
The brain function of older generations is improving, with the gap between old and young healthy adults lessening.
One funeral at a time: new study based on data from eight countries over 40 years finds that opinions on sensitive topics like abortion, euthanasia, and homosexuality tend to change more through generational replacement than by individuals changing their minds.
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SuchScience
New study finds opinions on controversial topics evolve through generational turnover, not by people changing their minds
The study, which included data from eight countries over 40 years, found that opinions on sensitive topics like abortion, euthanasia, and homosexuality tend to change more through generational replacement than by individuals changing their minds.
SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccine dose significantly extends humoral immune response half-life beyond the primary series
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Nature
SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccine dose significantly extends humoral immune response half-life beyond the primary series
Scientific Reports - SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccine dose significantly extends humoral immune response half-life beyond the primary series
Living at higher altitudes in India is linked to an increased risk of stunted growth, with children living in homes 2000 metres or more above sea level 40% more at risk than those living 1000 metres below.
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Bmj
Living at higher altitudes in India linked to increased risk of childhood stunting | BMJ
Children living at 2000+ m above sea level 40% more at risk than those living 1000m below Children in rural areas seem to be the most vulnerable Living at higher altitudes in India is linked to an increased risk of stunted growth, with children living in…
MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine uptake among young people in England is up by 23% since 2023, reports the NHS. However, reported measles cases in England have increased by 40% since March, finds a new study from the UK Health Security Agency.
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the Guardian
MMR jab uptake among young people in England up by 23% since 2023, says NHS
Exclusive: Vaccinations rise amid national campaign, but reported measles cases have increased by 40% since March
A new study suggests that people are more likely to share information that aligns with their beliefs, even if it isn’t particularly surprising. This challenges the common notion that novelty and surprise are primary drivers of information sharing.
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PsyPost
What drives us to share info? Belief alignment trumps surprise and novelty, study finds
A recent study found that people are more likely to share information that aligns with their beliefs, even if it's not surprising, challenging the idea that novelty and surprise primarily drive sharing behavior.