Introduction: The Paradox of Pleasant Surprises Picture this: You walk into your favorite café, craving that usual coffee you’ve been eyeing all morning. As you approach the counter, you discover that the barista has decided to treat you to a free slice of their most decadent cake. It sounds like a dream, right? But what […]
Tag: Old World monkeys

Unraveling Isolation: Understanding Depression through the Eyes of Macaca fascicularis**
Introduction: A Deeper Dive into the Mind The human mind is a complex playground where emotions often lead the dance, driving our decisions and crafting our reality. Imagine a world where something as basic as social interaction — a smile in passing, the warmth of a friend’s voice — is stripped away. Now, couple this […]

Exploring Minds through Monkeys: Behavioral Insights into Mental Disorders
Introduction Imagine being able to unlock the intricate workings of the human mind by observing another species. Sounds like the plot of a science fiction story, doesn’t it? Yet, this is exactly the pathway that a recent study is paving—by carefully watching the behaviors of monkeys, researchers are unraveling the complexities of mental health disorders […]
Atypical Integration of Motion Signals in Autism Spectrum Conditions
Data in this article is provided by PLOS. Related Articles Eye Movements to Natural Images as a Function of Sex and Personality Unraveling the Invisible Ties: How Family and Environment Shape ADHD in Chinese Children Impulsive Action but Not Impulsive Choice Determines Problem Gambling Severity Investigating the Genetic Basis of Theory of Mind (ToM): The […]
Human-Specific Histone Methylation Signatures at Transcription Start Sites in Prefrontal Neurons
Data in this article is provided by PLOS. Related Articles Eye Movements to Natural Images as a Function of Sex and Personality Unraveling the Invisible Ties: How Family and Environment Shape ADHD in Chinese Children Impulsive Action but Not Impulsive Choice Determines Problem Gambling Severity Investigating the Genetic Basis of Theory of Mind (ToM): The […]

The Emotional Compass of a Monkey’s Mind: Understanding Social Attention
Introduction Imagine walking into a crowded room. Instinctively, your eyes dart towards someone scowling or expressing joy. Ever wondered why certain faces capture our attention more than others? This captivating dance between emotion and attention extends beyond humans, as revealed by a recent research paper titled Evidence That Emotion Mediates Social Attention in Rhesus Macaques. […]

Decoding the Mind’s Secrets: How Early Gestation Influences Brain Development
Introduction: Delving into the Mysterious World of Early Brain Development Imagine if we could unravel the secrets to how environmental factors during early gestation mold the brain. A recent research paper, titled “A Longitudinal Analysis of Regional Brain Volumes in Macaques Exposed to X-Irradiation in Early Gestation”, takes us on this enigmatic journey. This intriguing […]

The Silent Language of Baby Monkeys: Unlocking Delayed Imitation of Lipsmacking
Introduction: The Baby Steps Toward Communication Picture this: a baby, just a few hours old, gazing up at an adult’s face, trying to mirror their expressions. This astonishing display of mimicry in humans is known as neonatal imitation. But here’s a twist—it’s not exclusive to us. Recent insights have illuminated a similar behavior in our […]

Conflict, Cooperation, and Coercion: The Social Dynamics of Wild Barbary Macaques
Introduction: The Curious Lives of Macaques—More Than Just Monkey Business Imagine a world where getting a back rub feels as crucial as brokering peace agreements. Welcome to the social universe of wild Barbary macaques, where grooming isn’t just a relaxing pastime but an essential currency used for trading and negotiation, especially after conflicts break out. […]

Monkey See, Monkey Do: Understanding Visual Attention Through Rhesus Macaques
Introduction: A Glimpse Into the Monkey Mind Imagine you’re at a party. Amid the laughter and clinking glasses, your attention shifts constantly—from the animated storyteller across the room to the intriguing drama unfolding at the sofa. This unconscious process of deciding where to look and what to watch is a dance between your social instincts […]