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DATE:
May 19, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Early AI models exhibit human-like errors but ChatGPT-4 outperforms humans in cognitive reflection tests
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/early-ai-models-exhibit-human-like-errors-but-chatgpt-4-outperforms-humans-in-cognitive-reflection-tests/
<p>Researchers have discovered that OpenAI’s latest generative pre-trained transformer models, commonly known as ChatGPT, can outperform humans in reasoning tasks. Published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s43588-023-00527-x"><em>Nature Computational Science</em></a>, the study found that while early versions of these models exhibit intuitive but incorrect responses, similar to humans, ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4 demonstrate a significant improvement in accuracy.</p>
<p>The primary aim of the study was to explore whether artificial intelligence models could mimic human cognitive processes, specifically the quick, intuitive decisions known as System 1 thinking, and the slower, more deliberate decisions known as System 2 thinking.</p>
<p>System 1 processes are often prone to errors because they rely on heuristics, or mental shortcuts, whereas System 2 processes involve a more analytical approach, reducing the likelihood of mistakes. By applying psychological methodologies traditionally used to study human reasoning, the researchers hoped to uncover new insights into how these models operate and evolve.</p>
<p>To investigate this, the researchers administered a series of tasks aimed at eliciting intuitive yet erroneous responses to both humans and artificial intelligence systems. These tasks included semantic illusions and various types of cognitive reflection tests. Semantic illusions involve questions that contain misleading information, prompting intuitive but incorrect answers. Cognitive reflection tests require participants to override their initial, intuitive responses to arrive at the correct answer through more deliberate reasoning.</p>
<p>The tasks included problems like:</p>
<p><strong>A potato and a camera together cost $1.40. The potato costs $1 more than the camera. How much does the camera cost?</strong> (The correct answer is 20 cents, but an intuitive answer might be 40 cents.)</p>
<p><strong>Where on their bodies do whales have their gills?</strong> (The correct answer is that whales do not have gills, but those who fail to reflect on the question often answer “on the sides of their heads.)</p>
<p>The researchers administered these tasks to a range of OpenAI’s generative pre-trained transformer models, spanning from early versions like GPT-1 and GPT-2 to the more advanced ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4. Each model was tested under consistent conditions: the ‘temperature’ parameter was set to 0 to minimize response variability, and prompts were prefixed and suffixed with standard phrases to ensure uniformity. The responses of the models were manually reviewed and scored based on accuracy and the reasoning process employed.</p>
<p>For comparison, the same set of tasks was given to 500 human participants recruited through Prolific.io, a platform for sourcing research participants. These human subjects were presented with a random selection of tasks and a control question to ensure they did not use external aids like language models during the test. Any participants who admitted to using such aids were excluded from the analysis to maintain the integrity of the results.</p>
<p>The researchers observed that as the models evolved from earlier versions like GPT-1 and GPT-2 to the more advanced ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4, their performance on tasks designed to provoke intuitive yet incorrect responses improved markedly.</p>
<p>Early versions of the models, such as GPT-1 and GPT-2, displayed a strong tendency toward intuitive, System 1 thinking. These models frequently provided incorrect answers to the cognitive reflection tests and semantic illusions, mirroring the type of rapid, heuristic-based thinking that often leads humans to errors. For example, when presented with a question that intuitively seemed straightforward but required deeper analysis to answer correctly, these models often failed, similar to how many humans would respond.</p>
<p>In contrast, the ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4 models demonstrated a significant shift in their problem-solving approach. These more advanced models were capable of employing chain-of-thought reasoning, which involves breaking down problems into smaller, manageable steps and considering each step sequentially.</p>
<p>This type of reasoning is akin to human System 2 thinking, which is more analytical and deliberate. As a result, these models were able to avoid many of the intuitive errors that earlier models and humans commonly made. When instructed to use step-by-step reasoning explicitly, the accuracy of ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4 increased dramatically, showcasing their ability to handle complex reasoning tasks more effectively.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the researchers found that even when the ChatGPT models were prevented from engaging in chain-of-thought reasoning, they still outperformed humans and earlier models in terms of accuracy. This indicates that the basic next-word prediction process (System 1-like) of these advanced models has become significantly more reliable.</p>
<p>For instance, when the models were given cognitive reflection tests without additional reasoning prompts, they still provided correct answers more frequently than human participants. This suggests that the intuitions of these advanced models are better calibrated than those of earlier versions and humans.</p>
<p>The findings provide important insights into the ability of artificial intelligence models to engage in complex reasoning processes. However, there is an important caveat to consider. It is possible that some of the models, particularly the more advanced ones like ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4, had already encountered examples of cognitive reflection tests during their training. As a result, these models might have been able to solve the tasks ‘from memory’ rather than through genuine reasoning or problem-solving processes.</p>
<p>“The progress in [large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT] not only increased their capabilities, but also reduced our ability to anticipate their properties and behavior,” the researchers concluded. “It is increasingly difficult to study LLMs through the lenses of their architecture and hyperparameters. Instead, as we show in this work, LLMs can be studied using methods designed to investigate another capable and opaque structure, namely the human mind. Our approach falls within a quickly growing category of studies employing classic psychological tests and experiments to probe LLM ‘psychological’ processes, such as judgment, decision-making and cognitive biases.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s43588-023-00527-x">Human-like intuitive behavior and reasoning biases emerged in large language models but disappeared in ChatGPT</a>,” was authored by Thilo Hagendorff, Sarah Fabi, and Michal Kosinski.</p>
DATE:
May 19, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
Why is a messy house such an anxiety trigger and what can you do about it?
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/why-is-a-messy-house-such-an-anxiety-trigger-and-what-can-you-do-about-it/
<p>Do you ever feel overwhelmed by the sight of clutter and mess in your home? Have you walked in the door only to feel overloaded by scattered papers, unwashed dishes and clothes in disarray? Maybe you’ve even had arguments because it bothers you more than it bothers you partner or housemates.</p>
<p>You’re not alone. Many people report a messy house can trigger feelings of <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0146167209352864">stress</a> and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0272494421000062?via%3Dihub">anxiety</a>.</p>
<p>So why do clutter and chaos make some of us feel so overwhelmed? Here’s what the research says – and what you can do about it.</p>
<h2>Cognitive overload</h2>
<p>When we’re surrounded by distractions, our brains essentially become <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21228167/">battlegrounds</a> for attention. Everything competes for our focus.</p>
<p>But the brain, as it turns out, <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1994-43838-001">prefers</a> order and “<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2015.00086/full%22%22">singletasking</a>” over multitasking.</p>
<p>Order helps reduce the competition for our attention and reduces mental load. While some people might be better than others at <a href="https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1523471113">ignoring distractions</a>, distractable environments can overload our cognitive capabilities and memory.</p>
<p>Clutter, disorder and mess can affect more than just our cognitive resources. They’re also linked to our <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23907542/">eating</a>, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360132318307157?via=ihub">productivity</a>, mental health, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1207/s15374424jccp3401_9">parenting</a> decisions and even our willingness to donate <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23907542/">money</a>.</p>
<h2>Are women more affected than men?</h2>
<p>Research suggests the detrimental effects of mess and clutter may be more pronounced in women than in men.</p>
<p>One <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0146167209352864">study</a> of 60 dual-income couples found women living in cluttered and stressful homes had higher levels of cortisol (a <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19596045/#:%7E:text=After%2520controlling%2520for%2520the%2520individual,and%2520poor%2520self-rated%2520health.">hormone</a> associated with stress) and heightened depression symptoms.</p>
<p>These effects remained consistent even when factors like marital satisfaction and personality traits were taken into account. In contrast, the men in this study seemed largely unaffected by the state of their home environments.</p>
<p>The researchers theorised that women may feel a greater responsibility for maintaining the home. They also suggested the social aspect of the study (which involved giving home tours) may have induced more fear of judgement among women than men.</p>
<p>We will all live with clutter and disorganisation to some degree in our lives. Sometimes, however, significant clutter problems can be linked to underlying mental health conditions such as <a href="https://beyondocd.org/information-for-individuals/symptoms/ocd-related-hoarding#:%7E:text=Examples%20of%20hoarding%20in%20the,are%20not%20needed%20any%20more">obsessive-compulsive disorder</a>, <a href="https://beyondocd.org/information-for-individuals/symptoms/ocd-related-hoarding#:%7E:text=Examples%20of%20hoarding%20in%20the,are%20not%20needed%20any%20more">hoarding disorder</a>, <a href="https://psychcentral.com/depression/messy-room-depression#does-it-exacerbate-symptoms">major depressive disorder</a>, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0005796704000531">attention deficit hyperactivity disorder</a>, and <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0887618510001647">anxiety disorders</a>.</p>
<p>This raises a crucial question: which came first? For some, clutter is the source of anxiety and distress; for others, poor mental health is the source of disorganisation and clutter.</p>
<h2>Not all mess is a problem</h2>
<p>It’s important to remember clutter isn’t all bad, and we shouldn’t aim for perfection. Real homes don’t look like the ones in magazines.</p>
<p>In fact, disorganised spaces can result in increased <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23907542/">creativity</a> and elicit fresh insights.</p>
<p>Living in constant disorder isn’t productive, but striving for perfectionism in cleanliness can also be counterproductive. Perfectionism itself is associated with feeling overwhelmed, anxiety and <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28026869/">poor mental health</a>.</p>
<h2>Mess makes me anxious so what can I do about it?</h2>
<p>It’s important to remember you have some agency over what matters to you and how you want to prioritise your time.</p>
<p>One approach is to try to reduce the clutter. You might, for example, have a dedicated de-cluttering session every week. This may involve hiring a cleaner (if you can afford it) or playing some music or a podcast while tidying up for an hour with your other household members.</p>
<p>Establishing this routine can reduce clutter distractions, ease your overall mental load and alleviate worry that clutter will spiral out of control.</p>
<p>You can also try micro-tidying. If don’t have time for a complete cleanup, commit just five minutes to clearing one small space.</p>
<p>If the clutter is primarily caused by other household members, try to calmly discuss with them how this mess is affecting your mental health. See if your kids, your partner or housemates can negotiate some boundaries as a household over what level of mess is acceptable and how it will be handled if that threshold is exceeded.</p>
<p>It can also help to develop a self-compassionate mindset.</p>
<p>Mess doesn’t define whether you are a “good” or “bad” person and, at times, it may even stimulate your <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23907542/">creativity</a>. Remind yourself that you deserve success, meaningful relationships and happiness, whether or not your office, home or car is a mess.</p>
<p>Take comfort in <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0013916516628178">research</a> suggesting that while disorganised environments can make us susceptible to stress and poor decision-making, your mindset can buffer you against these vulnerabilities.</p>
<p>If clutter, perfectionism or anxiety has begun to seem unmanageable, talk with your GP about a referral to a <a href="https://psychology.org.au/psychology/about-psychology/what-is-psychology">psychologist</a>. The right psychologist (and you may need to try a few before you find the right one) can help you cultivate a life driven by values that are important to you.</p>
<p>Clutter and mess are more than just visual nuisances. They can have a profound impact on mental wellbeing, productivity and our choices.</p>
<p>Understanding why clutter affects you can empower you to take control of your mindset, your living spaces and, in turn, your life.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img decoding="async" style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/211684/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>
<p> </p>
<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/why-is-a-messy-house-such-an-anxiety-trigger-for-me-and-what-can-i-do-about-it-211684">original article</a>.</em></p>
DATE:
May 19, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Negative impact of marital decline on cognitive function is greater than gains from marital satisfaction, study finds
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/negative-impact-of-marital-decline-on-cognitive-function-is-greater-than-gains-from-marital-satisfaction-study-finds/
<p>Recent research found that improving marital satisfaction is associated with better cognitive functioning in older adults. However, the link between declining marital satisfaction and worsening cognitive function was even stronger. This was much more pronounced in older adults than in middle-aged adults. The paper was published in the <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12991"><em>Journal of Marriage and Family</em></a>.</p>
<p>Cognitive function refers to a range of mental abilities, including thinking, reasoning, memory, attention, and perception. These functions enable individuals to process incoming information, store and retrieve it when needed, and apply it effectively in decision-making processes. Cognitive abilities are influenced by various factors such as age, genetics, education, and overall health.</p>
<p>They can also be impacted by neurological disorders or injuries. As children grow, their cognitive function improves rapidly, peaking in their 20s and early 30s. In old age, cognitive function can decline naturally, but studies indicate that activities that engage the mind can create a cognitive reserve that may help maintain cognitive function into advanced years.</p>
<p>Cognitive function is also a critical indicator of an individual’s well-being. Studies indicate that marital quality is one of the crucial determinants of cognitive functioning, particularly in older adults. Marriage is a social institution whose effects permeate all facets of an individual’s social life. It directly affects emotional and psychological outcomes, influences a person’s behaviors and lifestyle, and reshapes the broader social context in which individuals function. Multiple studies have highlighted profound links between the qualities and characteristics of marriage and cognitive function.</p>
<p>Study authors Jinho Kim and Sungsik Hwang wanted to better explore the links between marital satisfaction and cognitive function, particularly in older adults in South Korea. These researchers note that marriage holds profound societal and cultural significance in Korea. Korean Confucian traditions emphasize family unity. Because of this, marriage is considered a key aspect of adulthood and an important achievement in a person’s social life. In such a context, an individual’s marital status affects their social standing, sense of identity, and perceived role within their community.</p>
<p>The researchers analyzed data from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging 2006-2018, a longitudinal study on a nationally representative sample of adults aged 45 and older in South Korea. It consists of surveys conducted every two years that collect information on socioeconomic status, mental health, physical health, and various other characteristics. This study used data spanning 12 years, from 2006 to 2018.</p>
<p>Data came from 7,407 respondents. Only individuals who were married were included in this analysis. The study authors also excluded data from participants who showed signs of dementia at the time of the surveys and whose data were incomplete. They also considered the possibility that improving and declining marital satisfaction might not have equally strong associations with cognitive function, so they accounted for that possibility in their analyses. Forty-eight percent of the participants were female, and their average age was 59 years.</p>
<p>In their analysis, the researchers used data on cognitive function (the K-MMSE, a brief questionnaire designed to assess cognitive function), marital satisfaction and its change between surveys (“In general, how satisfied are you with your marriage?”), and various sociodemographic data. They calculated how marital satisfaction changed between two surveys (conducted every two years) and from this concluded whether the marital satisfaction of each participant was improving or declining.</p>
<p>Results showed that 25-35% of participants in each survey expressed the same level of satisfaction with their marriage as in the previous survey. Between 29% and 36% expressed an improvement, and between 28% and 45% expressed a decline in marital satisfaction.</p>
<p>Individuals more satisfied with their marriage tended to have better cognitive function. When the change in marital satisfaction between surveys was considered, results showed that the association between declining marital satisfaction and worsened cognitive function is much stronger than the association between improving marital satisfaction and improved cognitive function. The link between decreasing marital satisfaction and worsened cognitive functioning was almost entirely caused by older adults, with the association being very weak in middle-aged participants.</p>
<p>“Findings suggest that the negative impact of declining marital satisfaction on cognitive function outweighs the positive effects of improving marital satisfaction, especially among older adults. Reducing marital dissatisfaction and fostering healthy marital relationships are crucial strategies to promote the cognitive well-being of older adults,” the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study sheds light on the links between cognitive function and marital satisfaction. However, it should be noted that study participants were exclusively from South Korea. Results in people from other cultures might not be equal.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12991">The asymmetric effects of improving and declining marital satisfaction on cognitive function,</a>” was authored by Jinho Kim and Sungsik Hwang</p>
DATE:
May 19, 2024 at 06:00AM
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TITLE:
Perceived reputation damage predicts to increased depression in honor-endorsing individuals
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/perceived-reputation-damage-predicts-to-increased-depression-in-honor-endorsing-individuals/
<p>New research has found that individuals who prioritize their honor highly but perceive themselves to have a low reputation are more likely to experience increased depressive symptoms over time. The findings, published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/00224545.2024.2334036"><em>The Journal of Social Psychology</em></a>, suggest that reputation damage may significantly affect mental health in people who strongly endorse honor values.</p>
<p>The researchers behind the new study aimed to better understand predictors of depression and suicide, particularly in cultures of honor. These cultures place a significant emphasis on social reputation, which can manifest as a reputation for strength and fearlessness for men and sexual purity and loyalty for women. Prior studies have indicated that maintaining and defending one’s reputation in these cultures could lead to mental health challenges, including depression and suicide.</p>
<p>Cultures of honor, prevalent in certain U.S. regions like the South and West, have shown higher suicide rates than non-honor cultures in the North and Midwest. The researchers hypothesized that a deep concern for one’s reputation might underlie these higher rates, particularly when individuals feel their reputations are threatened. However, empirical evidence directly linking perceived reputation damage to depression in honor-endorsing individuals was lacking.</p>
<p>“My colleagues and I were looking to more fully understand the day-to-day experiences which contribute to the higher rates of suicide found in cultures of honor,” explained study author Stephen Foster, an assistant professor of social psychology at Penn State York</p>
<p>“We felt much of the research in this area covered facilitating factors (e.g., firearm access, thwarted belongingness), but had not yet captured if perceived reputation damage actually led to changes in mental well-being, which is presumed to help create the conditions for suicidal behaviors in honor cultures. We want to move toward intervention work, so establishing the actual lived experiences of honor endorsers is critical to developing such programs.”</p>
<p>The researchers conducted their study by recruiting 302 participants through Cloud Research, an online data collection platform. An initial survey was conducted in mid-June and a follow-up survey was administered two months later, in mid-August.</p>
<p>The initial sample consisted of 302 participants, with an average age of 41.11 years. The sample was composed of 42 percent males and 58 percent females. The majority of participants identified as white, non-Hispanic (74.1 percent). The remaining participants identified as African American (9.2 percent), Asian (8.2 percent), Hispanic (5.2 percent), or “Other” (3.3 percent). By the time of the follow-up survey, 226 participants remained, representing a retention rate of 74.8 percent.</p>
<p>Honor concerns were measured using the Honor Concerns Scale, which assesses a general sense of how important honor is to an individual. Participants responded to statements such as “I think that honor is one of the most important things that I have as a human being” and “my honor is the basis for my self-respect.”</p>
<p>To evaluate how participants perceived their personal reputation, the researchers asked two questions regarding their reputation in their social circle and local community. Participants rated these items on a scale from 1 (Very Negative) to 7 (Very Positive). Similarly, perceived family reputation was assessed by asking participants to rate their family’s reputation in their social circle and local community.</p>
<p>Depressive symptoms were measured using the 7-item depression subscale of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS). This subscale asked participants to rate how often they experienced symptoms such as “I felt down-hearted and blue” and “I felt that life was meaningless” over the past two weeks.</p>
<p>The researchers found that individuals who placed a high importance on honor and perceived their personal reputation negatively were more likely to experience increased depressive symptoms over time. This relationship held true even when controlling for initial levels of depression and perceived reputation, as well as for gender.</p>
<p>The researchers also explored the impact of perceived family reputation on the relationship between honor concerns and depressive symptoms. Similar to the findings for individual reputation, higher honor concerns predicted higher depressive symptoms at the follow-up for participants with a low perceived family reputation. No significant relationship was found for participants with a high perceived family reputation. This suggests that perceived damage to both personal and family reputations can exacerbate depressive symptoms in individuals who highly value honor.</p>
<p>“Certain individuals who are deeply concerned about their reputation may be more sensitive to social exclusion, challenges to their identity, and other reputation threats,” Foster told PsyPost. “The word ‘perceived’ is important to note as well — these may not be threats that are actual threats, but as long as an honor endorser <em>perceives</em> it that way, it can lead to depressive symptomology down the road.”</p>
<p>Another notable finding was the absence of significant gender differences in the effects observed. Both men and women who valued honor highly and perceived their reputation negatively experienced increased depressive symptoms. This result is particularly intriguing given that honor cultures often emphasize different aspects of honor for men and women.</p>
<p>“This suggests that both men and women are experiencing these effects, and raises important questions for not only male suicide rates but the lesser-studied phenomenon of female suicide in honor cultures,” Foster explained.</p>
<p>These findings provide insights into the mechanisms that may contribute to higher rates of depression and suicide in honor cultures. But there are some caveats. One key limitation is the sample, which consisted only of U.S. participants. This focus limits the generalizability of the findings to other cultural contexts.</p>
<p>“It is important to remember these effects were in a U.S. sample, so we really need to do more of this longitudinal work in non-U.S cultures as well to replicate the findings,” Foster said.</p>
<p>Another area for future research is the specific types of threats to reputation that are most impactful for honor endorsers.</p>
<p>“I’d love to do work on more specific types of threats (e.g., which ones are the worst for honor endorsers and which aren’t so bad?), and to get even more granular by tracking daily fluctuations of affect in response to average, everyday experiences of distress, reputation threat, etc,” Foster said.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/00224545.2024.2334036">Perceived reputation moderates the link between honor concerns and depressive symptoms</a>,” was authored by Stephen Foster and Jarrod Bock.</p>
B cells can control responses of myeloid cells through the release of particular cytokines (small proteins that control the growth and activity of cells in the immune system), challenging the prevailing view that T cells are the principle orchestrators of immune responses. In individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), abnormally active respiration in B cells drives pro-inflammatory responses of myeloid cells and T cells, leading them to attack the protective sheath (myelin) that covers nerve fibers, and leading to nerve damage that causes symptoms of MS.
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DATE:
May 18, 2024 at 04:00PM
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TITLE:
ChatGPT and academic cheating: Researchers identify personality traits linked to misuse of AI
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/chatgpt-and-academic-cheating-researchers-identify-personality-traits-linked-to-misuse-of-ai/
<p>A recent study published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19909"><em>Heliyon</em></a> explored the connection between personality traits and students’ willingness to use advanced language models, such as ChatGPT, to generate academic texts without acknowledging the source. The findings indicate that specific personality traits play a significant role in predicting whether students are likely to engage in this form of academic misconduct.</p>
<p>Large language models are advanced artificial intelligence systems designed to understand and generate human-like text. These models are built using deep learning techniques and are trained on vast amounts of textual data from the internet, enabling them to predict and generate coherent and contextually relevant responses to a wide range of prompts. By analyzing patterns in the data, these models can produce text that mimics human writing with high accuracy.</p>
<p>ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is one of the most prominent examples of these models. It was released in November 2022 and quickly gained popularity, reaching over 100 million users by January 2023. Its ability to generate text that is difficult to distinguish from human-generated content has raised concerns about its potential misuse, particularly in academic settings. Students might use such models to produce assignments with minimal effort, undermining the educational process and compromising academic integrity.</p>
<p>The researchers conducted their study to explore the relationship between personality traits and the likelihood of students using chatbot-generated texts for academic cheating. The study focused on two sets of personality traits: the HEXACO model and the Dark Triad. The HEXACO model includes broad dimensions of personality, such as Honesty-Humility and Conscientiousness, which are known to be associated with ethical behavior. The Dark Triad, comprising narcissism, Machiavellianism, and psychopathy, represents traits linked to manipulative and self-centered tendencies.</p>
<p>Participants were 283 university students from Austria, who completed an online survey assessing their HEXACO and Dark Triad personality traits. Participants were also informed about Chat GPT and its capabilities, including an example of a text generated by the model. They were then asked about their willingness to use such texts for their seminar papers without acknowledging the source, a behavior considered as academic cheating. To gauge their intentions, participants responded to statements like “I might consider using AI-generated texts for my seminar papers in the future” and rated the percentage of AI-generated text they could imagine using.</p>
<p>Additionally, the survey included questions to assess participants’ perceptions of the quality of chatbot-generated texts. This helped differentiate between ethical concerns and quality concerns as motivations for using or avoiding these texts.</p>
<p>Students who scored high in Honesty-Humility, a trait characterized by sincerity, fairness, and modesty, were less likely to engage in academic cheating. Similarly, high scores in Conscientiousness, which reflects traits like diligence, carefulness, and a strong work ethic, were associated with a lower intention to use chatbot-generated texts unethically. These results align with previous research that shows individuals with these traits are generally more ethical and rule-following.</p>
<p>Contrary to the researchers’ hypothesis, Openness to Experience was also negatively related to the intention to use chatbot-generated texts. Initially, it was thought that individuals high in this trait might be more willing to experiment with new technologies like Chat GPT.</p>
<p>However, the findings suggest that those with high Openness to Experience prefer to tackle academic challenges with their own original ideas rather than relying on AI-generated content. This could be due to their intrinsic curiosity and creativity, leading them to engage more deeply with their work.</p>
<p>All three traits of the Dark Triad were positively related to the intention to use chatbot-generated texts. Students with high levels of these traits, characterized by manipulative, self-centered, and unemotional behavior, were more likely to consider using AI-generated texts for academic cheating. This suggests that individuals with these traits prioritize personal gain over ethical considerations, viewing AI tools as a means to achieve their goals dishonestly.</p>
<p>An interesting aspect of the study was the role of perceived quality of chatbot-generated texts. The researchers found that the perceived quality of these texts was positively related to the intention to use them. Importantly, even after controlling for perceived quality, the significant relationships between personality traits and the intention to use chatbot-generated texts remained.</p>
<p>This study highlights the significant role of personality traits in predicting the intention to use chatbot-generated texts for academic cheating. But there are some limitations to consider. For instance, the study was conducted at a single university, which may limit the generalizability of the findings. The study also relied on self-reported data, which is susceptible to social desirability bias, where participants might provide answers they believe are socially acceptable rather than their true intentions.</p>
<p>“As the educational landscape continues to evolve, it is imperative to proactively address the challenges posed by technological advancements. Understanding the determinants of an individual’s willingness or reluctance to engage in academic cheating with the help of AI language models assists in formulating strategies to mitigate these risks effectively,” the researchers concluded. “By considering the findings of this study, educational institutions, policymakers, and relevant stakeholders can develop interventions, guidelines, and educational programs to raise awareness about the responsible use of AI language models, foster a culture of academic integrity, and discourage the misuse of these technologies for dishonest purposes.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://www.cell.com/heliyon/fulltext/S2405-8440(23)07117-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HEXACO, the Dark Triad, and Chat GPT: Who is willing to commit academic cheating?</a>” was authored by Tobias Greitemeyer and Andreas Kastenmüller.</p>
DATE:
May 18, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Whole-body hyperthermia shows promising antidepressant effects through anti-inflammatory pathways
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/whole-body-hyperthermia-shows-promising-antidepressant-effects-through-anti-inflammatory-pathways/
<p>New research provides preliminary evidence that whole-body hyperthermia may have antidepressant effects that operate through the activation of an anti-inflammatory immune signaling pathway. The findings have been published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S088915912400388X">Brain, Behavior, and Immunity</a>.</em></p>
<p>Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is expected to become the largest contributor to global disease burden by 2030. Despite the availability of various antidepressant treatments, their effectiveness remains limited for many individuals. This has driven researchers to explore alternative treatments and better understand their mechanisms.</p>
<p>Previous research indicated that fever-range whole-body hyperthermia could produce rapid and sustained antidepressant effects, but the underlying biological mechanisms remained unclear. Whole-body hyperthermia involves raising the body’s core temperature to therapeutic levels, typically through methods such as infrared heat. This process induces a fever-like state, which can activate various physiological responses.</p>
<p>“I was drawn to this topic for a number of reasons,” said study author Naoise Mac Giollabhui, a clinical fellow at Massachusetts General Hospital. “There is an urgent clinical need for novel antidepressant treatments and whole-body hyperthermia is a treatment with great potential to alleviate human suffering.”</p>
<p>“Interestingly, the idea of heated therapies is novel in psychiatry and also has an ancient lineage. Cultures all over the world have used heat for thousands of years to promote health. I was drawn to understanding why this is and the likely underlying neuroimmune mechanisms explaining it.”</p>
<p>The new study aimed to delve deeper into these mechanisms, focusing on the role of inflammatory responses, specifically interleukin-6 (IL-6), a type of cytokine, which is a protein involved in the body’s immune response. IL-6 is known to play complex roles in inflammation and has been linked to depression, but its specific pathways and effects in the context of whole-body hyperthermia needed further exploration.</p>
<p>A <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41398-023-02402-9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">prior study</a> had found that whole-body hyperthermia led to a short-term increase in IL-6 levels, which was linked to its antidepressant effects. But elevated IL-6 is typically associated with depression in medical conditions. So what could explain the link between elevated IL-6 and reduced depression after whole-body hyperthermia?:</p>
<p>The researchers noted IL-6’s dual signaling pathways. IL-6 binds to either a membrane-bound IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), initiating anti-inflammatory classical signaling, or to a soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R), triggering pro-inflammatory trans-signaling. They hypothesized that whole-body hyperthermia’s antidepressant effects are due to the preferential activation of the anti-inflammatory classical signaling pathway.</p>
<p>To examine this hypothesis, the researchers conducted a double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial with 26 adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder.</p>
<p>Participants were randomly assigned to either an active whole-body hyperthermia group or a sham (placebo) group. The active treatment involved raising the participant’s core body temperature to 38.5°C using infrared lights and heating coils, followed by a cool-down phase. The sham treatment mimicked the procedure but without the active heating elements.</p>
<p>Participants’ depressive symptoms were assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) before the treatment and at several points over the following six weeks. Blood samples were taken to measure levels of IL-6 and its soluble receptor before the treatment, immediately after, and at subsequent follow-ups. The key measure used in the study was the ratio of IL-6 to sIL-6R in the blood, which served as a proxy for the activation of the classical anti-inflammatory signaling pathway.</p>
<p>The study found that participants who received whole-body hyperthermia experienced a significant increase in the ratio of IL-6 to sIL-6R immediately following the treatment. This increase was not observed in the sham group. Importantly, this heightened ratio was associated with a greater reduction in depressive symptoms over the subsequent weeks, suggesting that the antidepressant effects of whole-body hyperthermia may be mediated by an anti-inflammatory mechanism involving IL-6.</p>
<p>Despite the promising results, the study has several limitations. First, the sample size was relatively small. This limits the generalizability of the findings and underscores the need for replication in larger trials. Additionally, the study used the ratio of IL-6 to sIL-6R as an indirect measure of classical anti-inflammatory signaling. Direct assessment of where IL-6 binds in the body, whether to membrane-bound receptors or soluble receptors, is necessary to confirm the proposed mechanism.</p>
<p>“We are not measuring the anti-inflammatory immune signaling pathway directly and are using a very imprecise proxy to estimate it,” Mac Giollabhui explained. “As such, these results should be considered preliminary and suggestive, rather than conclusive.”</p>
<p>However, if the findings are confirmed in future studies, “the acute activation of classical IL-6 signaling might emerge as a heretofore unrecognized novel mechanism that could be harnessed to expand the antidepressant armamentarium,” the researchers concluded.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2024.04.040" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The antidepressant effect of whole-body hyperthermia is associated with the classical interleukin-6 signaling pathway</a>,” was authored by Naoise Mac Giollabhui, Christopher A. Lowry, Maren Nyer, Simmie L. Foster, Richard T. Liu, David G. Smith, Steven P. Cole, Ashley E. Mason, David Mischoulon, and Charles L. Raison.</p>
DATE:
May 18, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
Scientists find link between ADHD and gaming disorder in college students
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/scientists-find-link-between-adhd-and-gaming-disorder-in-college-students/
<p>A study of university students in Lebanon found that 35.7% of those suffering from gaming disorder also suffer from attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This percentage was 24% among those without gaming disorder. Interestingly, the association between ADHD and gaming disorder was stronger in females than in males. The research was published in the journal <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0300680"><em>PLOS ONE</em></a>.</p>
<p>Gaming disorder is a mental health condition characterized by impaired control over video gaming, increased priority given to gaming over other activities, and continuation or escalation of gaming despite negative consequences. To be diagnosed with gaming disorder, the behavior must be of sufficient severity to result in significant impairment in personal, family, social, educational, occupational, or other important areas. The pattern of gaming behavior should be evident for at least 12 months for a diagnosis to be assigned, although the required duration may be shortened if all diagnostic requirements are met and symptoms are severe.</p>
<p>Recent studies have sought to understand the links between gaming disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent patterns of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that interfere with everyday functioning. It is typically first diagnosed in childhood but can continue into adulthood, adversely impacting social interactions.</p>
<p>Recent studies indicate that individuals with ADHD are more likely to suffer from gaming disorder. However, other studies have linked higher severity of gaming disorder with a range of other mental health disorders such as obsessive-compulsive disorder, anxiety disorders, and depression.</p>
<p>Study authors Nazir Hawi and Maya Samaha wanted to better explore the links between gaming disorder and ADHD in Lebanon. They were particularly interested in the severity of ADHD symptoms in individuals with gaming disorder, whether this disorder is equally frequent in both genders, and whether gaming disorder and ADHD are associated with academic performance among university students. The authors conducted a survey.</p>
<p>Participants were 383 Lebanese university students recruited through university mailing lists and social media platforms during June and July 2019. Their average age was 20 years, and 74% of them were male. The survey contained assessments of gaming disorder (the IGD-20) and ADHD (the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale). It also requested various demographic information from participants and their grade point average (GPA).</p>
<p>Results showed that 4.3% of study participants met the conditions for gaming disorder. Ninety-three percent of these individuals were male. Among students suffering from gaming disorder, 35.7% also fulfilled criteria for ADHD, compared to only 23.3% of students without gaming disorder. Individuals with gaming disorder tended to spend more time gaming during workdays compared to individuals without gaming disorder. The difference was even more pronounced during weekends.</p>
<p>Among students without gaming disorder, females spent fewer hours gaming than males. The study authors tested a statistical model proposing that ADHD leads to gaming disorder, which, in turn, leads to a lower GPA. Results indicated that such a model of relationships between these factors is indeed possible.</p>
<p>“This research study provides evidence of a significant positive relationship between GD [gaming disorder] and ADHD symptoms, with gender-specific variations indicating a stronger correlation in females than males. The study also uncovers a negative association between these disorders and academic performance, particularly in high-performing students, suggesting that GD and ADHD symptoms may be potential barriers to academic success,” the study authors concluded.</p>
<p>The study sheds light on the links between gaming disorder, ADHD, and academic performance. However, it should be noted that the design of the study does not allow any cause-and-effect conclusions to be drawn from the results. The study was exclusively based on self-reports, leaving room for reporting bias. Additionally, the reported share of ADHD students in the study sample is several times higher than that typically reported in epidemiological studies.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0300680">Relationships of gaming disorder, ADHD, and academic performance in university students: A mediation analysis,</a>” was authored by Nazir Hawi and Maya Samaha.</p>
DATE:
May 18, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
New psychology research reveals the hidden benefits of hitting a mental wall
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-psychology-research-reveals-the-hidden-benefits-of-hitting-a-mental-wall/
<p>Have you ever felt stuck while solving a problem? That frustrating feeling of hitting a mental wall is called an impasse. But what if these moments of feeling stuck are more than just obstacles? In recent work published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2024.105746"><em>Cognition</em></a>, researchers Wendy Ross and Selene Arfini find that these impasses play a crucial role in problem-solving, especially when they lead to sudden moments of insight—those “aha!” breakthroughs.</p>
<p>They argue that understanding when and how people feel stuck can shed light on cognitive processes that are essential not only for solving puzzles but for learning and innovation. This research also addresses the paradox of how impasses, though seemingly detrimental, can sometimes enhance problem-solving abilities.</p>
<p>Experiment 1 involved 125 participants tackling a “stumper” riddle within 60 seconds to elicit impasses. See the riddle below.</p>
<p><em>“Dame Dora owns an Old Masters painting in a heavy gilded frame. The cord for hanging the painting, as old as the painting itself, is made of thick 3- ply hemp, and is somewhat frayed. Dame Dora was thinking of replacing it. But before she could, a couple of hungry little mice invaded her mansion. Sneaking behind the painting, they chewed right through the cord. For a while nobody noticed because the painting didn’t budge. Explain the painting’s stability briefly.”</em></p>
<p>Participants also completed phenomenological measures gauging their experiences (e.g., feeling stupid, awareness of time) via free-text responses.</p>
<p>The researchers found that 69% of participants reported experiencing an impasse during the problem-solving tasks. Interestingly, those who did not report an impasse had a problem-solving success rate of 32%, which exceeded the 15% success rate among those who felt stuck. Feeling stuck was negatively associated with successful problem resolution, and experiencing moments of insight. Only 23% of those who felt stuck reported an insight experience, compared to 83% among those who did not feel impasse.</p>
<p>While the average latency to arrive at a correct solution was higher for those who felt stuck (57.1 seconds) compared to those who did not (51.9 seconds), this difference was not statistically significant, suggesting that feeling stuck does not always lead to delays in finding solutions. There were varied emotional responses to feeling stuck, ranging from frustration and anxiety to cognitive looping, highlighting the multidimensional nature of impasse in problem-solving.</p>
<p>Experiment 2 introduced 247 participants to similar riddles within 90 seconds. They completed a scale measuring impasse as unresolved, resolved, or not experienced. A substantial 74% of participants experienced impasse during the task. Those who resolved their impasse showed significantly better results, with 53% solving the problems correctly, compared to only 11% who did not resolve their impasse, and 52% who never experienced it. Those resolving impasses took about 84 seconds, slightly longer than those who never experienced impasses at around 69 seconds.</p>
<p>Participants who resolved their impasses reported higher levels of insight (67%) compared to those who did not experience impasse (45%). Those unable to resolve impasse saw drastically lower insight rates (7%). Resolved impasse was associated with more active and potentially motivating emotions like anxiety or happiness, while unresolved impasse was associated with more passive emotions such as sadness or hopelessness.</p>
<p>Experiment 3 included 119 participants and assessed the impact of time pressure by manipulating problem-solving time across several groups with time constraints of 30, 60, 90, and 120 seconds. Two parallel experiments were conducted: one with easier stimuli to increase the likelihood of resolving impasses, and another with stimuli matching the difficulty of previous experiments.</p>
<p>In the easier set of stimuli, correct solution rates improved with increased time—from 56% at 30 seconds to 72% at 120 seconds—though the increase was not statistically significant. However, with harder problems, time significantly impacted performance, improving from 36% at 30 seconds to 66% at 90 seconds. Most participants experienced impasse, but those who resolved it matched the success rates of those who never felt stuck. Longer times generally led to higher latency but not necessarily better outcomes.</p>
<p>Experiment 4 broadened the scope to different types of cognitive tasks, including a verbal insight puzzle, a verbal analytical puzzle, a word problem from the UK GCSE mathematics curriculum, and the original stumper used in earlier experiments. Participants were given 4 minutes per task.</p>
<p>The researchers observed higher solution rates and levels of insight in trials where impasse was resolved compared to those where it was not, indicating that resolving impasses can significantly enhance problem-solving performance. However, unresolved impasses drastically reduced insight levels. Consistent with prior experiments, there were longer times in unresolved cases. Resolved impasses were associated with higher affect and motivation levels, reinforcing the positive effects of overcoming impasses.</p>
<p>Interestingly, trials characterized by fast impasse reported higher solution rates and insights, showing that the subjective experience of speediness was beneficial, although it did not necessarily correlate with actual faster solution times.</p>
<p>Further research in more naturalistic settings will be important to better understand the real-world dynamics of feeling stuck.</p>
<p>This work challenges the traditional view of impasses as mere obstacles, proposing instead that they can act as catalysts for deeper learning and innovation.</p>
<p>The research, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2024.105746">Impasse-Driven problem solving: The multidimensional nature of feeling stuck</a>”, was authored by Wendy Rossa and Selene Arfini.</p>
DATE:
May 18, 2024 at 06:00AM
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TITLE:
Children with autism show different patterns of attention during shared book reading, new study finds
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/children-with-autism-show-different-patterns-of-attention-during-shared-book-reading-new-study-finds/
<p>A recent study reveals that children with autism spectrum disorder exhibit different patterns of attention compared to their neurotypical peers during shared book reading activities. Researchers found that autistic children tend to pay less attention to socially relevant cues, such as the reader’s face and the book, and more attention to nonsocial background objects. These findings have significant implications for understanding social learning and engagement in children with autism and suggest potential pathways for developing supportive interventions.</p>
<p>The new research was published in the <em><a href="https://acamh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jcpp.13993?af=R" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry</a></em>.</p>
<p>Social attention, the ability to focus on social cues such as faces and eye contact, is crucial for social, cognitive, and language development. Previous research has shown that children with autism often have reduced attention to social stimuli, impacting their development and learning. Given the importance of early intervention, the new study aimed to investigate how autistic and neurotypical children allocate their attention during a common educational activity—shared book reading.</p>
<p>“We wanted to try to develop an observation task that involves rich social learning behaviors so that we could understand responses that children have to these social scenarios,” said study author Adam Guastella, a clinical psychologist, the Michael Crouch Chair in Child and Youth Mental Health, and head of the <a href="https://www.canresearch.com.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Clinic for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research</a> at the University of Sydney’s Brain and Mind Centre.</p>
<p>“Social book reading is almost a universal task that caregivers and teachers do with children for learning and development. It involves lots of pointing, gesturing, joint attention opportunities, emotion expressions, and a lot of teaching moments. I even remember watching shows like ‘Play School’ where this reading behaviour was conducted daily to teach children over the TV.”</p>
<p>“Social book reading with caregivers has been linked to lots of good outcomes, such as vocabulary and academic development for children long term, and bonding between caregivers and their children. The way children engage and learn in such scenarios can teach us a lot about their own development and what supports they might need to learn.”</p>
<p>The study involved 90 children aged 3 to 12 years, including 56 diagnosed with autism and 34 neurotypical children. The participants were recruited from various sources, including the Clinic for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Research at the University of Sydney. The researchers ensured the groups were matched in age and gender to make valid comparisons.</p>
<p>Participants watched one of four videos of an adult reading a picture book. The setup was designed to mimic a naturalistic shared book reading environment, with toys and household objects in the background. Each video included eight bids for joint attention, where the reader made deliberate efforts to engage the child by pointing to illustrations and making comments or asking questions.</p>
<p>The children’s eye movements were tracked using a high-resolution eye-tracking system. This allowed researchers to measure how long the children spent looking at different areas of interest: the reader’s face, the book, the joint attention targets, and the background objects.</p>
<p>The researchers found that autistic children spent significantly less time focusing on the reader’s face and the book itself—areas of social relevance—compared to their neurotypical peers. Instead, they directed more of their attention toward nonsocial background objects. This shift in focus suggests that autistic children might find it challenging to engage with the socially rich aspects of shared book reading, which could have implications for their social, cognitive, and language development.</p>
<p>During the joint attention episodes — when the reader deliberately tried to engage the child by pointing to illustrations and making comments or asking questions — autistic children again showed reduced attention to the social aspects of the task. They were less likely to look at the reader’s face and the target illustrations meant to capture their interest. Instead, their attention remained more on the background objects.</p>
<p>“Time spent with children reading and teaching them is not only an opportunity to teach children about books and reading, it’s also a rich social learning opportunity to teach about how to engage in conversations, to ask questions and to join in emotive and fun discussions with imagination,” Guastella told PsyPost. “It really is a great opportunity to develop skills that can be important across the lifespan.”</p>
<p>“Our study shows that some kids have greater difficulty engaging in tasks, they can be easily distracted, or struggle more to get into storytelling. While our study shows that such challenges may represent markers for neurodevelopmental delays, our future work will look at how to provide supports to children to help ensure that they get the best opportunity to learn from such scenarios.”</p>
<p>The study also examined how these attention patterns related to various developmental measures within the autistic group. It found that children with better receptive language skills and higher nonverbal IQ were more likely to focus on the socially relevant aspects of the shared book reading task.</p>
<p>In contrast, those with higher levels of symptoms associated with autism showed greater attention to the nonsocial background objects. These correlations suggest that improving cognitive and language skills might help autistic children engage more with social stimuli during shared activities.</p>
<p>Children who spent more time focusing on socially relevant cues during the task also tended to engage similarly during free play with an assessor. This finding suggests that the patterns of social attention observed in a structured task like shared book reading might predict how children will behave in more natural, unstructured social interactions.</p>
<p>“I was surprised how well the gaze patterns kids had when watching these book reading videos mapped onto clinical assessment tools that track cognition, learning and development,” Guastella said. “I was also surprised that gaze spent engaged in the book tracked onto gaze in real play. I thought it would be a good task to understand development, but the data is very positive.”</p>
<p>The findings emphasize the challenges autistic children face in social engagement and highlight the need for tailored interventions. By understanding these attention patterns, educators and caregivers can develop strategies to better support autistic children’s social learning.</p>
<p>“I want to make sure we get sensitive measures of development that are relevant for everyday life,” Guastella said. “I think this task as a lot of relevance and if we test in many different populations we can see how well it tracks for development in kids with different needs. Most importantly, I want to see if we can develop supports that can help kids engage more and to see whether these supports can make a difference in everyday life.”</p>
<p>“Finally, we really lack good social measures that can be used in clinical trials to understand whether children are improving in their social learning. I think tasks such as this could be very very good to show whether kids are learning more effectively.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.13993" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Social and joint attention during shared book reading in young autistic children: a potential marker for social development</a>,” was authored by Zahava Ambarchi, Kelsie A. Boulton, Rinku Thapa, Joanne Arciuli, Marilena M. DeMayo, Ian B. Hickie, Emma E. Thomas, and Adam J. Guastella.</p>
DATE:
May 17, 2024 at 06:00PM
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TITLE:
Brain inflammation and DNA damage: Unexpected keys to long-term memory
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/brain-inflammation-and-dna-damage-unexpected-keys-to-long-term-memory/
<p>A surprising discovery by researchers at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine suggests that brain inflammation and DNA damage are essential components in the formation of long-term memories. The study, published in the journal <em><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07220-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nature</a></em>, challenges the conventional view that inflammation in the brain is solely detrimental.</p>
<p>“Inflammation of brain neurons is usually considered to be a bad thing, since it can lead to neurological problems such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease,” said study leader Jelena Radulovic, M.D., Ph.D., professor in the Dominick P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, and the Sylvia and Robert S. Olnick Chair in Neuroscience at Einstein. “But our findings suggest that inflammation in certain neurons in the brain’s hippocampal region is essential for making long-lasting memories.”</p>
<p>To investigate memory formation, the researchers conducted their study using a controlled experimental setup with mice. They began by subjecting the mice to mild, brief shocks, a method known as contextual fear conditioning. This approach is used to create an episodic memory, which is a type of memory associated with specific events. The shocks were designed to be strong enough to form a memory without causing significant harm to the animals.</p>
<p>Following the memory-inducing shocks, the researchers focused on the hippocampus, a critical region of the brain involved in memory processing. They used advanced genetic and molecular biology techniques to analyze the neurons within this region. One of the primary techniques used was bulk RNA sequencing, which allowed the researchers to examine the expression of thousands of genes simultaneously.</p>
<p>They discovered that the Toll-Like Receptor 9 (TLR9) inflammatory pathway was highly activated in these neurons. This pathway is typically involved in the immune response, detecting DNA fragments from pathogens. However, the researchers found that the TLR9 pathway was activated due to DNA damage in the hippocampal neurons rather than an infection.</p>
<p>The results provide evidence that the activation of the TLR9 pathway in response to DNA damage is crucial for memory formation. This finding was unexpected, as this pathway is generally known for its role in immune responses rather than memory processes. The researchers found that when the TLR9 pathway was blocked, the mice could not form long-term memories, indicating its essential role in this process.</p>
<p>To delve deeper, the researchers examined the DNA damage and repair processes within these neurons. They found that DNA fragments and other molecules resulting from the damage were released from the nucleus. This release triggered the activation of the TLR9 pathway, which then stimulated DNA repair mechanisms at the centrosomes — organelles usually involved in cell division. In neurons, which do not divide, the centrosomes played a different role, aiding in organizing neurons into stable memory assemblies necessary for long-term memory formation.</p>
<p>“Cell division and the immune response have been highly conserved in animal life over millions of years, enabling life to continue while providing protection from foreign pathogens,” Radulovic explained. “It seems likely that over the course of evolution, hippocampal neurons have adopted this immune-based memory mechanism by combining the immune response’s DNA-sensing TLR9 pathway with a DNA repair centrosome function to form memories without progressing to cell division.”</p>
<p>Another significant finding was that during the week-long inflammatory process, the memory-encoding neurons became more resistant to new or similar stimuli. This resistance is important because it helps preserve the information already acquired, preventing these neurons from being distracted by new inputs. This resistance ensures the stability of the formed memories over time.</p>
<p>“This is noteworthy,” said Radulovic, “because we’re constantly flooded by information, and the neurons that encode memories need to preserve the information they’ve already acquired and not be ‘distracted’ by new inputs.”</p>
<p>The study also highlighted the potential risks of fully inhibiting the TLR9 pathway. The researchers observed that blocking this pathway not only prevented memory formation but also led to profound genomic instability in the hippocampal neurons. Genomic instability is a condition characterized by a high frequency of DNA damage and is associated with accelerated aging and various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease. This finding suggests that while modulating the TLR9 pathway could have therapeutic potential, it must be done with caution to avoid adverse effects on genomic stability.</p>
<p>“Genomic instability is considered a hallmark of accelerated aging as well as cancer and psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s,” Radulovic said. “Drugs that inhibit the TLR9 pathway have been proposed for relieving the symptoms of long COVID. But caution needs to be shown because fully inhibiting the TLR9 pathway may pose significant health risks.”</p>
<p>Using animal models, such as mice, in scientific research offers significant benefits, including the ability to control experimental conditions tightly and the opportunity to conduct invasive procedures that would be unethical in humans. Mice share many genetic and physiological similarities with humans, making them excellent models for studying complex biological processes like memory formation and brain function. However, there are notable pitfalls, including the differences in brain complexity and cognitive abilities between mice and humans, which can limit the direct applicability of findings.</p>
<p>Future research should focus on validating these findings in humans to determine if similar mechanisms of DNA damage and inflammation are involved in human memory formation. Additionally, exploring the molecular details of the TLR9 pathway in different types of neurons could uncover more about its role in memory and neurodegenerative diseases. Investigating potential therapeutic interventions that can modulate this pathway without causing genomic instability could also provide new treatments for memory-related disorders.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-07220-7" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Formation of memory assemblies through the DNA-sensing TLR9 pathway</a>,” was authored by Vladimir Jovasevic, Elizabeth M. Wood, Ana Cicvaric, Hui Zhang, Zorica Petrovic, Anna Carboncino, Kendra K. Parker, Thomas E. Bassett, Maria Moltesen, Naoki Yamawaki, Hande Login, Joanna Kalucka, Farahnaz Sananbenesi, Xusheng Zhang, Andre Fischer, and Jelena Radulovic.</p>
DATE:
May 17, 2024 at 02:00PM
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TITLE:
Playing video games linked to enhanced wayfinding abilities
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/playing-video-games-linked-to-enhanced-wayfinding-abilities/
<p>Recent research has found that playing video games regularly is linked to better navigation skills, while relying on GPS systems does not appear to impact one’s ability to find their way. The new study provides insight into how modern technology influences our cognitive functions, specifically in terms of wayfinding ability. The study was published in the <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2024.102296" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Journal of Environmental Psychology</a></em>.</p>
<p>Navigation is a critical cognitive function that involves complex processes such as planning routes, reading maps, identifying landmarks, and maintaining a sense of direction. The ability to navigate effectively is vital for daily life and can impact safety and independence.</p>
<p>Poor navigation skills can lead to distress and dangerous situations, especially for individuals with cognitive impairments or conditions like Alzheimer’s disease, where navigation deficits are often early symptoms. By understanding how daily activities, such as playing video games and using GPS devices, affect navigation skills, researchers aimed to uncover factors that might enhance or impair this essential cognitive ability.</p>
<p>The study’s motivation also stemmed from previous findings suggesting that video games might improve spatial cognition, while reliance on GPS could potentially weaken navigation skills. Video games often require players to navigate complex virtual environments, which might train their spatial awareness and problem-solving abilities. In contrast, using GPS devices could offload cognitive processes that would otherwise be engaged during navigation, potentially leading to a decline in these skills.</p>
<p>“Understanding how daily activities influence individual differences in navigation ability is important given that the use of rising modern-day technologies may both exercise one’s navigation abilities, e.g. potentially video games, and be used to offload the cognitive processes that normally occur during navigation, e.g. GPS-assisted devices. However, the impact of video games and reliance on GPS has not been directly tested at a large scale using an objective navigation task,” said study author <a href="https://t.co/BVap6RNcRZ" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Emre Yavuz</a>, a PhD student in cognitive neuroscience at University College London.</p>
<p>To investigate these relationships, the researchers used the mobile app Sea Hero Quest, a validated tool for assessing navigation skills. Sea Hero Quest is a spatial navigation game that has been shown to predict real-world wayfinding performance effectively. The study involved 822 participants from the United States, including 367 men and 455 women, with an average age of 26.3 years.</p>
<p>Participants were recruited through the Prolific database and completed a series of tasks within the Sea Hero Quest app to measure their navigation performance. The app requires players to navigate a virtual environment in a boat, searching for sea creatures based on maps provided at the beginning of each level.</p>
<p>In addition to the navigation tasks, participants answered self-report questionnaires about their reliance on GPS and video game habits. The GPS reliance questionnaire assessed how frequently participants used GPS in various situations over the past month. For video game habits, participants reported the number of hours they spent playing video games each week, the types of games they played, and the devices they used.</p>
<p>The researchers found that participants who engaged in ten or more hours of video gaming per week exhibited significantly better navigation performance than those who played less. This finding supports the idea that video games, which often require players to navigate complex virtual environments, can enhance spatial awareness and cognitive processes related to wayfinding.</p>
<p>Interestingly, the genre of video games played did not significantly alter this relationship, suggesting that the cognitive benefits of gaming might be broad and not restricted to specific types of games.</p>
<p>The researchers also considered the possibility that the Sea Hero Quest game itself, being a video game, might advantage participants who are more familiar with gaming interfaces. However, they found no significant association between video game experience and performance on the tutorial level of the game, which required minimal navigation skills. This suggests that the observed benefits of video game play on navigation performance are specific to tasks that require cognitive demands like orientation and spatial memory, rather than simply familiarity with gaming controls.</p>
<p>“The finding that video gaming was significantly associated with navigation performance only for the harder game levels was surprising/intriguing, given that it opens up the possibility that video gaming may be particularly important when navigation is more complex – a hypothesis that hadn’t really been objectively tested by previous studies,” Yavuz told PsyPost.</p>
<p>The study’s findings on GPS reliance were also surprising. Despite previous research suggesting that heavy reliance on GPS might impair navigation skills by offloading cognitive processes to the device, the researchers did not find evidence that reliance on GPS systems had any impact, positive or negative, on navigation performance.</p>
<p>“If GPS use is bad for us, those who report using it the most should be worse navigators,” Yavuz explained. “We find no effect at all. GPS use is not linked to navigation skill – at least for wayfinding in new places with a map as we tested.”</p>
<p>But the study, like all research, includes limitations. The sample was limited to participants in the United States, primarily young adults, which might not reflect broader population trends. Additionally, the study relied on cross-sectional data, meaning it captured a single moment in time, which limits the ability to draw causal conclusions.</p>
<p>“This study was cross-sectional and revealed associations between variables,” Yavuz noted. “Further work will need to determine causal associations between GPS use/video gaming and human spatial navigation performance, including intervention-based and real-world studies.”</p>
<p>Despite these limitations, the study opens up exciting avenues for future research. One important direction is to explore whether the benefits of video gaming on navigation skills can be replicated in real-world settings. While the Sea Hero Quest app is a valid tool for assessing navigation skills, it remains a virtual environment.</p>
<p>The study also raises questions about the potential for using video games as a tool for cognitive training. If playing certain types of video games can enhance navigation skills, it might be possible to develop targeted video game-based interventions to improve cognitive functions. This could be particularly beneficial for individuals with navigation impairments, such as those with early signs of Alzheimer’s disease or other cognitive disorders.</p>
<p>“Our studies provide a platform for future intervention-based and causal studies looking at the specific genres of video game which may be important in shaping their navigation performance, as well as determining how the way in which one interacts with/uses GPS-assisted devices may be important in shaping their navigation performance,” Yavuz said.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0272494424000690" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Video gaming, but not reliance on GPS, is associated with spatial navigation performance</a>,” was authored by Emre Yavuz, Chuanxiuyue He, Christoffer J. Gahnstrom, Sarah Goodroe, Antoine Coutrot, Michael Hornberger, Mary Hegarty, and Hugo J. Spiers.</p>
DATE:
May 17, 2024 at 12:00PM
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TITLE:
New study examines the dynamics of adaptive autonomy in human volition and behavior
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-study-examines-the-dynamics-of-adaptive-autonomy-in-human-volition-and-behavior/
<p>Voluntary action—our ability to decide what to do and when to do it— is a complex challenge in cognitive science. New research published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2023.105684"><em>Cognition</em></a> explored this concept.</p>
<p>Volition involves more than just reacting to external cues or following ingrained habits; it encompasses our ability to initiate and control actions on our own terms. Traditional studies on this topic often struggle with experimental designs that don’t fully capture the spontaneity and complexity of real-world decision-making.</p>
<p>To address these limitations, researchers Keiji Ota and colleagues developed a novel approach using a competitive gaming framework, challenging participants to adapt their decision-making strategies in response to dynamic, unpredictable virtual competitors.</p>
<p>A total of 152 participants completed this study. The experimental setup required participants to press a key to deliver food in a digital game, aiming to strategically avoid interceptions by virtual birds. These birds were programmed to predict and react to participants’ actions based on the timing of their previous key presses. The game was structured into four distinct blocks, each escalating in complexity and designed to penalize specific decision-making biases.</p>
<p>In the baseline block (immediate response bias), the game penalized participants for reacting immediately to stimuli. This block tested participants’ ability to resist the impulse to respond immediately, promoting a more deliberate and controlled approach to the task.</p>
<p>In Block 1 (choice bias), the focus shifted to penalizing a preference for selecting certain actions over others without rational justification. The task encouraged participants to diversify their choices across different timing intervals, thereby challenging any preference for habitual selections.</p>
<p>Block 2 (transition bias) addressed the propensity to follow predictable sequences of actions. Participants were encouraged to make each choice independently of the previous ones, disrupting any sequence-based patterns in their decision-making.</p>
<p>Block 3 (reinforcement bias) targeted the influence of past outcomes on current decisions. This phase intended to detach participants’ choices from the outcomes of previous trials, promoting decisions that were less predictable and independent of prior rewards or penalties.</p>
<p>Throughout these blocks, the participants were not provided with explicit instructions on how the virtual competitors (birds) would adapt their strategies. Instead, they had to infer the rules and adjust their strategies based solely on the feedback from trial outcomes.</p>
<p>Results showed that participants were successful in the baseline block, avoiding immediate responses with a success rate of 96.6%. However, as the tasks progressed to penalize more complex biases, success rates dropped significantly—to 64.3% in Block 1 and even lower in subsequent blocks (59.0% and 56.9% respectively). This pattern indicated increasing difficulty in adapting to more complex constraints on decision-making.</p>
<p>Despite attempts to adapt, the study revealed that while participants could adjust to simpler task demands, they struggled significantly with complex biases like reinforcement bias, highlighting the intrinsic challenges in achieving true behavioral autonomy.</p>
<p>A notable limitation is the potential influence of learning or fatigue over the course of the game, given the fixed sequence of competitors.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2023.105684">Autonomous behaviour and the limits of human volition</a>” was authored by Keiji Ota, Lucie Charles, and Patrick Haggard.</p>
DATE:
May 17, 2024 at 10:00AM
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TITLE:
Men with dark triad traits accurately detect similar traits in others’ faces
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/men-with-dark-triad-traits-accurately-detect-similar-traits-in-others-faces/
<p>A recent study published in <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1363399" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Frontiers in Psychology</a></em> has found that people can accurately infer certain personality traits, known as the “dark triad,” from the faces of women but not men. The dark triad includes Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. Intriguingly, men who possess these traits themselves are better at recognizing them in other men, whereas women with these traits are less accurate in detecting them in men.</p>
<p>The “dark triad” refers to a trio of malevolent personality traits: Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism. Machiavellianism is characterized by manipulative behavior, cunning, and a focus on self-interest and deception. Psychopathy involves traits such as a lack of empathy, impulsivity, and antisocial behaviors. Narcissism is marked by grandiosity, a sense of entitlement, and a deep need for admiration. Though distinct, these traits share common features like emotional coldness, manipulation, and a lack of ethical concern.</p>
<p>The researchers conducted this study to explore the intriguing possibility that people can infer these dark traits simply by looking at facial photographs. Previous research had suggested that personality traits could often be judged from facial features, but little was known about the ability to detect specifically dark traits and how one’s own personality might affect this ability.</p>
<p>“We conducted this study because we were interested in whether we could correctly identify a person’s dark personality based on his or her external characteristics, such as facial information. At the same time, we conducted a study to determine whether there were individual differences in the accuracy of our determination,” explained study author Keita Masui, a senior lecturer in psychology at Otemon Gakuin University.</p>
<p>To create facial stimuli for the study, the researchers took photographs of 31 young Japanese men and 28 young Japanese women. These subjects had neutral facial expressions and no makeup or jewelry, ensuring a standardized appearance. They also completed a 12-item questionnaire designed to measure the three dark triad traits. The researchers then used software to merge the facial features of the five individuals with the highest and lowest scores for each trait, resulting in composite images that represented high and low levels of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism for each gender.</p>
<p>The researchers then recruited 170 Japanese participants, consisting of 88 men and 82 women, aged between 20 and 69. These participants then engaged in an online face judgment task. During this task, they were presented with pairs of facial photographs, one high in a particular dark trait and one low. Participants were asked to identify which face better matched the trait description provided alongside each pair.</p>
<p>Definitions for Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism were given to guide their judgments. Participants rated their confidence in their choices using an 11-point Likert scale, where higher scores indicated greater confidence in their judgment.</p>
<p>The presentation order of the facial pairs was randomized, and the placement of the high and low trait faces was counterbalanced to avoid any order effects. After completing the face judgment task, participants filled out the same dark triad questionnaire to assess their own levels of these traits. This dual assessment allowed the researchers to examine the correlation between participants’ own dark triad traits and their accuracy in judging these traits in others.</p>
<p>The researchers that participants were significantly more accurate in identifying dark triad traits in female faces than in male faces. The accuracy of inferences for all three traits was above chance when the targets were women. In contrast, the accuracy was below chance for male targets, indicating that participants struggled to accurately identify these dark traits in men based on facial information alone.</p>
<p>“Our study found that we can identify internal characteristics, such as personality, with some degree of accuracy from the external characteristics of a person,” Masui told PsyPost.</p>
<p>The researchers also uncovered interesting correlations between participants’ own dark triad traits and their ability to judge these traits in others. Among male participants, there was a positive correlation between their own levels of Machiavellianism, psychopathy, and narcissism and their accuracy in identifying Machiavellianism in male faces. This suggests that men with higher levels of these dark traits were better at recognizing similar traits in other men.</p>
<p>“It was interesting to us that people with higher dark triad personality traits were more accurate about the relationship between personality and facial information,” Masui said. “In general, people with high levels of dark triad personality traits seeks to manipulate and exploit others. The results of this study suggest the possibility that people with high dark triad correctly judge the type of person who would be a potential target based on their appearance.”</p>
<p>On the other hand, the researchers found a negative correlation between female participants’ levels of psychopathy and narcissism and their accuracy in judging these traits in male faces. Women with higher levels of these traits were less accurate in identifying them in men. This could suggest that women with higher levels of psychopathy and narcissism have a reduced ability to detect these traits in others, possibly due to different social strategies or perceptual biases.</p>
<p>While the study provides valuable insights, it has some limitations. For instance, the sample was limited to Japanese participants, which raises questions about the generalizability of the findings to other cultures. Previous research has shown some consistency in these findings across different cultures, but direct comparisons are necessary to understand cultural influences fully.</p>
<p>Another limitation is the uncertainty about whether the ability to recognize dark traits from facial information is innate or learned. Further research could investigate whether this skill develops through interactions with individuals exhibiting these traits or if it is an evolutionary adaptation.</p>
<p>“We are interested in why dark personalities are able to survive in our society,” Masui said. “Therefore, we would like to conduct research on what kind of individuals that people with dark personalities want to have interpersonal relationships with, and what kind of individuals they are likely to form relationships with.”</p>
<p>“I would like to emphasize that our study is in no way intended to be an endorsement of lookism,” he added.</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1363399/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Men with high dark triad personality traits can accurately infer dark triad traits from other people’s faces</a>,” was authored by Keita Masui, Ryusei Yoshizumi, and Hina Nakajima.</p>
DATE:
May 17, 2024 at 08:00AM
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TITLE:
Marital status appears to have a peculiar impact on psychedelic outcomes
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/household-size-appears-to-have-a-peculiar-impact-on-psychedelic-outcomes/
<p>An analysis of data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health has found that individuals who reported using psychedelics at least once in their lives tended to experience less psychological distress. This association was strongest in single individuals but greatly diminished in those who were married, widowed, or divorced. The research was published in <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293675"><em>PLOS ONE</em></a>.</p>
<p>Psychedelics are a class of psychoactive substances that alter perception, mood, and various cognitive processes. These substances often cause vivid visual and auditory hallucinations, an altered sense of time, and deep introspective experiences. Common psychedelics include LSD (lysergic acid diethylamide), psilocybin (found in magic mushrooms), mescaline (derived from peyote and other cacti), and DMT (dimethyltryptamine), among others.</p>
<p>Historically, many cultures have used psychedelic substances for religious or spiritual purposes, seeking to gain deeper insights or connect with the divine. In contemporary times, there is a growing interest in their therapeutic potential, particularly for treating mental health issues such as depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and anxiety. Research indicates that psychedelics can significantly alter neural circuits that are typically rigid in adults, potentially ‘resetting’ brain activity patterns associated with certain psychological disorders.</p>
<p>Studies have also found a positive relationship between psychedelics and health. Promising results have been reported in using psychedelics to treat major psychological problems that were resistant to years of psychotherapy and pharmaceutical treatments.</p>
<p>Additionally, population studies report a link between the use of another drug, 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or “ecstasy”), a stimulant drug (not a psychedelic), and better physical and mental health, as well as a lower incidence of negative social behaviors such as committing larceny or domestic violence.</p>
<p>Study author Sean M. Viña wanted to examine the relationship between the use of psychedelics, marital status, household size, and distress. He hypothesized that married individuals with experience of psychedelic use might experience less distress, that those living in larger households would experience more distress, and that the positive effects of psychedelics on distress would be lowest among individuals living in large households. He also considered MDMA use.</p>
<p>Viña analyzed data from the National Survey of Drug Use and Health. The National Survey of Drug Use and Health is an annual survey conducted in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, aiming to measure the prevalence of substance use and mental health issues in the United States.</p>
<p>This analysis used data on the level of distress in the past month (the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale), the use of classic psychedelics (participants reported whether they had ever used one of the following drugs: N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), the DMT-containing admixture ayahuasca, psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), mescaline, and the mescaline-containing cacti peyote), use of MDMA (“ecstasy”), marital status, household size, and a number of other demographic characteristics.</p>
<p>Results showed that married people had lower levels of distress compared to single and divorced individuals, but similar levels to those who were widowed. Divorced individuals had the highest levels of drug use across various substances including tobacco, cocaine, tranquilizers, inhalants, pain relievers, heroin, and marijuana. They also tended to have started drinking at an earlier age.</p>
<p>Individuals who reported using classic psychedelics tended to report experiencing less psychological distress. This association remained even after accounting for marital status and household size. However, the link between psychedelic use and reduced distress was strongest in individuals who were single and greatly diminished in married, widowed, and divorced individuals.</p>
<p>Individuals living in larger households tended to report more psychological distress, but this association was weaker among psychedelic users. However, if the person reporting ever using classic psychedelics was married, the association between a large household and psychological distress was amplified.</p>
<p>“The results confirm the predictions that LCPU [lifetime classic psychedelic use] exacerbates the negative consequences of household size for the heads of households who are married, widowed, and divorced. The results also suggest that larger households are associated with harm regardless of marital status, but the negative consequences decrease for single psychedelic users as the household size increases,” Viña concluded</p>
<p>“Widowed psychedelic users may experience some benefits from living with more people, but these benefits decrease as the household size becomes too large. In contrast, among married or divorced psychedelic users, the distress caused by household size worsens as the family sizes increase. Finally, for widowed psychedelic users, there is a negative association between household size and distress, but this association decreases at a decreasing rate.”</p>
<p>“These results can be explained by the increasing responsibilities that heads of households face as their families grow, which are then exacerbated by psychedelic use. On the other hand, single individuals may experience a diffusion of responsibility as their family sizes increase.”</p>
<p>The study sheds light on the complexities of the link between classic psychedelic use and psychological distress. However, it should be noted that the described marital status and household size data often depict individuals with different roles and statuses in their immediate social networks, which then explains the differences observed.</p>
<p>Additionally, the design of the study does not allow any cause-and-effect conclusions to be drawn from the data. Because of this, it remains unknown whether it is the use of classic psychedelics that leads to lower distress or if a life with lower distress and possibly less care increases the likelihood of using psychedelics. Other possibilities remain open as well.</p>
<p>The paper, “<a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0293675">Diminished psychedelic returns on distress: Marital status and household size,</a>” was authored by Sean M. Viña.</p>
DATE:
May 16, 2024 at 08:00PM
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TITLE:
New research highlights potential of d-limonene in reducing THC-induced anxiety
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/new-research-highlights-potential-of-d-limonene-in-reducing-thc-induced-anxiety/
<p>Cannabis use is on the rise globally, with increased legal acceptance for both medical and recreational purposes. The primary psychoactive component of cannabis, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), is known for its varied effects on users, ranging from euphoria and relaxation to anxiety and paranoia. However, recent research published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2024.111267" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Drug and Alcohol Dependence</a></em> suggests that D-limonene, a common terpene found in cannabis and citrus fruits, might mitigate some of the anxiety-inducing effects of THC.</p>
<p>The focus of cannabis research has primarily been on cannabinoids like THC and CBD. However, the cannabis plant contains numerous other compounds, including terpenes such as D-limonene, which may influence the plant’s overall effect on users. Terpenes are aromatic compounds also found widely in nature and are known for their distinctive fragrances and biological activities, which in some cases include therapeutic properties.</p>
<p>The concept of the “entourage effect” suggests that the therapeutic effects of cannabis are not just due to THC alone but may be enhanced, or its side effects mitigated, by other plant compounds. Despite this, research into how non-THC constituents like terpenes interact with THC has been limited and mostly anecdotal. The new study aimed to fill that gap by investigating whether D-limonene could modulate the anxiety-provoking effects of THC.</p>
<p>The research conducted a double-blind, within-subjects crossover study with 20 participants. This means each participant received multiple treatments (THC and D-limonene in various combinations, and placebo) across different sessions, and neither the participants nor the researchers knew which treatment was being administered at any given time. This method helps to reduce bias and allows the effects of each treatment to be compared within the same individuals, enhancing the reliability of the results.</p>
<p>Participants were selected based on specific criteria. They had to be adults in good health, not pregnant, non-users of drugs other than cannabis, alcohol, nicotine, or caffeine, and with a history of experiencing anxiety when using cannabis. These criteria ensured that the sample was representative of typical users who might benefit from anxiolytic interventions.</p>
<p>The study consisted of several sessions where participants inhaled vaporized substances through a controlled setup. Each session was spaced by at least 48 hours to prevent carryover effects from previous sessions. D-limonene and THC were administered alone and in combination at varying doses to assess their individual and interactive effects. A placebo session involved inhaling distilled water vapor to establish a baseline for comparison.</p>
<p>The most notable result from the study was the reduction in anxiety-like and paranoid feelings when D-limonene was administered alongside THC. The effects were particularly pronounced when 30 mg of THC was combined with 15 mg of D-limonene. This finding is pivotal because it indicates that D-limonene could potentially be used to mitigate some of the less desirable effects of THC, making cannabis use more palatable for those who may experience anxiety as a side effect.</p>
<p>“People use cannabis to help reduce anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, but since THC levels vary widely, if a person overshoots their tolerance of THC, cannabis can induce anxiety rather than relieve it,” explained study senior author Ryan Vandrey, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. “Our study demonstrates that d-limonene can modulate the effects of THC in a meaningful way and make THC more tolerable to people using it for both therapeutic and non-therapeutic purposes.”</p>
<p>Interestingly, D-limonene did not broadly alter all the effects of THC. The terpene specifically reduced feelings of anxiety and paranoia without significantly affecting other subjective, cognitive, or physiological effects induced by THC. This specificity is beneficial because it allows for the potential use of D-limonene in a targeted way</p>
<p>The results also showed that while D-limonene affected some of the psychological impact of THC, it did not alter the pharmacokinetics of THC (how THC was absorbed, distributed, metabolized, and excreted by the body).</p>
<p>These findings open up new avenues for the formulation of cannabis products. By incorporating specific terpenes like D-limonene, it may be possible to enhance the therapeutic index of THC-rich products. This could lead to the development of specialized cannabis strains or products designed to offer the benefits of THC while mitigating its potential to cause anxiety and paranoia.</p>
<p>Despite these promising results, the study has several limitations. The high dose of D-limonene used is not typically found in natural cannabis products, and the study did not test the entourage effects in full-spectrum cannabis products containing multiple cannabinoids and terpenes.</p>
<p>“This study is a first step in uncovering how we can mitigate risks of THC when used in medicine, and also is targeted at making cannabis safer for the general, non-therapeutic consumer,” said study lead author Tory Spindle, an associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.</p>
<p>Future research could explore the impact of different ratios and forms of THC and D-limonene, including oral administrations more typical of medical cannabis use. The findings also need replication in larger and more diverse samples to understand variability in response based on individual differences such as genetics, previous cannabis use, and sex.</p>
<p>“This is among the first clinical studies to demonstrate the validity of the cannabis entourage effect, which theorizes that THC and other constituents of the plant interact in meaningful ways that alter acute cannabis effects,” the researchers concluded.</p>
<p>“Given the growing interest in the use of cannabis for medicinal purposes and expanding legalization of cannabis for nonmedicinal purposes, further understanding of which constituents may increase the safety profile of cannabis by attenuating acute adverse effects (e.g., anxiety and paranoia), and which constituents may exacerbate adverse effects, is paramount for advancing the use of cannabinoids in medicine and, more broadly, protecting public health.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0376871624001881" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vaporized D-limonene selectively mitigates the acute anxiogenic effects of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in healthy adults who intermittently use cannabis</a>,” was authored by Tory R. Spindle, C. Austin Zamarripa, Ethan Russo, Lauren Pollak, George Bigelow, Alexandra M. Ward, Bridget Tompson, Cristina Sempio, Touraj Shokati, Jost Klawitter, Uwe Christians, and Ryan Vandrey.</p>
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DATE:
May 16, 2024 at 04:00PM
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TITLE:
Parental presence linked to reduced fear activation in children’s brains
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URL: https://www.psypost.org/parental-presence-linked-to-reduced-fear-activation-in-childrens-brains/
<p>A recent study published in the journal <em><a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/desc.13505" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Developmental Science</a></em> has shed light on how the presence of parents can influence their children’s fear responses. The findings suggest that the presence of a parent during a fear-inducing scenario can modulate the activity in brain areas associated with fear responses. In particular, parental presence was found to reduce activation in the centromedial amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex, areas linked to fear processing and emotional regulation.</p>
<p>The study was motivated by the desire to better understand how the presence of parents affects children’s neural responses during fear conditioning, a fundamental process by which individuals learn to associate a neutral stimulus with an aversive one. Fear conditioning is crucial for survival, enabling organisms to recognize and respond to potential threats.</p>
<p>While this process has been extensively studied in adults, there is limited understanding of how it operates in children and adolescents. The researchers aimed to fill this gap by examining the influence of parental presence on the fear responses of young people.</p>
<p>“We all know how important parents are to the emotional development of their children, and that parental care protects children from developing emotional difficulties. We know, for example, that children who grew up without a stable caregiver, such as children who grew up in institutions or experienced multiple switches in their caregiving environment, are prone to develop anxiety and difficulties in regulating emotions,” said study author Lior Abramson, a postdoctoral scientist at the Developmental Affective Neuroscience Lab at Columbia University.</p>
<p>“However, we don’t really know what happens in the brain level that makes the protective influence of the parent so robust. We were fascinated by previous data from animal studies, which showed that parental presence buffers pups’ stress response while they are being exposed to an aversive environment by altering the activation of a specific circuit in the brain. We were interested to see if a similar process occurs in human youth and parents as well.”</p>
<p>The study involved 52 participants aged 6 to 17, who were part of a larger research project on emotional neurodevelopment. The participants were placed in an MRI scanner and shown two different fractal images. One of these images (the conditioned stimulus) was paired with an unpleasant, loud noise (the unconditioned stimulus) 75% of the time, while the other image was never paired with the noise (safety cue). This setup was intended to measure how the brain responds to both the learned threat and the actual stressful stimulus.</p>
<p>Before and after the conditioning phase, participants rated how much they liked each fractal image and how nervous each image made them feel. These behavioral measures were used to assess the subjective experience of fear and its association with the neural responses observed in the MRI scans. The researchers specifically focused on brain regions known to be involved in fear processing, such as the amygdala and the medial prefrontal cortex.</p>
<p>The researchers used a within-participant design, meaning that each participant experienced both conditions of the experiment: one with a parent present and one without. In the “presence” condition, a parent stood next to the child, holding their hand or leg, providing a comforting physical presence. In the “absence” condition, the child was alone in the MRI room.</p>
<p>The order of these conditions was counterbalanced across participants to control for any effects related to the sequence in which the conditions were experienced. This method ensured that any observed differences in neural responses could be attributed to the presence or absence of the parent rather than the order in which the conditions were presented.</p>
<p>Behaviorally, the children reported feeling more nervous about the the conditioned stimulus compared to the safety cue after the conditioning phase, indicating that the conditioning procedure was effective in inducing a fear response.</p>
<p>The researchers found that the presence of a parent reduced activation in the centromedial amygdala in response to the unconditioned stimulus (the loud, unpleasant noise). The centromedial amygdala plays a crucial role in processing fear and generating physiological and emotional responses to threatening stimuli. This reduction in activation suggests that having a parent nearby helps buffer the child’s immediate, unlearned stress response, supporting the idea of parental presence serving as a social buffer.</p>
<p>Additionally, the researchers found a potential impact of parental presence on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), which is involved in higher-order cognitive processes, including the regulation of emotions and fear learning.</p>
<p>When children were with their parents, there was a trend towards reduced activation in the mPFC in response to the conditioned threat cue compared to a safety cue. Although this finding did not survive multiple comparisons correction, it suggests that parental presence might modulate the neural processes involved in fear learning, potentially by reducing the cognitive and emotional load associated with processing threats.</p>
<p>“Parental presence is important for how youth’ brains process new threatening information,” Abramson told PsyPost. “Our paper showed that while children and adolescents learn about new threatening stimuli, the presence of a parent reduces activation in the amygdala- a region that reacts to emotionally salient events in the environment. If you incorporate this finding with previous studies, it suggests that by reducing youth’ stress response at the brain level, parents help their children face threatening events, explore them more extensively, and learn them better.”</p>
<p>Surprisingly, the effects did not significantly vary across the wide age range of 6 to 17 years. This suggests that the immediate stress-buffering role of parents might be consistently beneficial across childhood and adolescence.</p>
<p>“Based on previous studies, we expected the effect of parents to be stronger on younger children than on adolescents, whereas here we didn’t find any effect of the participants’ age,” Abramson noted. “On the other hand, our sample was quite small, and it could be that we did not find an age effect due to lack of statistical power.”</p>
<p>While this study provides valuable insights into how parental presence affects children’s neural responses during fear conditioning, there are some limitations to consider. For example, study may not have had sufficient power to detect more nuanced or smaller effects because of the relatively small sample size. A larger sample size would enable a more robust analysis and potentially reveal subtler patterns that this study could not detect.</p>
<p>“Future research should replicate our findings with more participants,” Abramson said. “This study showed the effect of parental presence on children’s fear learning at one specific moment. Our long-term goal is to understand how numerous momentary events like this, which happen all the time in families’ daily lives, aggregate to more stable parental influences on children’s emotional competence (e.g., development of emotion regulation abilities). From the other end, we want to understand how lack of caregiving stability and support contributes to development of emotional difficulties and psychopathologies like anxiety.”</p>
<p>The study, “<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/desc.13505" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The effects of parental presence on amygdala and mPFC activation during fear conditioning: An exploratory study</a>,” was authored by Lior Abramson, Bridget L. Callaghan, Jennifer A. Silvers, Tricia Choy, Michelle VanTieghem, Anna Vannucci, Andrea Fields, and Nim Tottenham.</p>
