Virtual therapist tool was acceptable to hospitalized people with schizophrenia, but empathy and flexibility were limited
Patients liked clear communication and relaxation exercises, while reporting rigid dialogue and technical glitches. A pilot study tested a conversational agent called Terabot to support recognition and regulation of anger, shame, and fear in hospitalized people diagnosed with schizophrenia. Patients generally rated the experience positively, especially for clarity, friendly appearance, and helpful exercises, but rated […]
Mixed physical and mental fatigue cut badminton smash speed 10.6 percent and accuracy 46.1 percent
As fatigue deepened, accuracy dropped fast and a speed-accuracy trade-off appeared under moderate to severe fatigue. When physical and mental fatigue were induced together, badminton forehand smash performance fell sharply, especially accuracy. From baseline to severe fatigue, smash speed dropped 10.6% and accuracy dropped 46.1%. Under moderate-to-severe fatigue, hitting faster was linked to worse accuracy, […]
Self-centered reflection increased sense of agency; selfless reflection decreased it
A pilot experiment linked reflection style to agency and distinct EEG complexity patterns. In [Self-reflection, sense of agency, and underlying neural correlates: A pilot study], self-centered self-reflection increased an implicit measure of sense of agency, while selfless reflection reduced it. The researchers measured agency using intentional time binding, a timing-based method for assessing how people […]
Autistic adults report lasting mental health benefits from psychedelics
An online survey found high willingness to try psychedelics, common prior use, and reports of longer-lasting improvement linked to higher doses and meaningful experiences. Autistic adults in an online survey generally viewed psychedelics positively and many had already tried them. Reported higher doses and highly meaningful psychedelic experiences were associated with longer-lasting mental health improvements. […]
When the Brain Stops Staying in Its Lane: What LSD Reveals About Flexibility and Synchrony
When brain networks loosen their grip, experience can change fast Some mental states feel “locked in.” Anxiety loops, depressive rumination, compulsive checking, or rigid perfectionism can trap attention in the same grooves, even when we know those grooves are hurting us. A major question in psychology and neuroscience is why the brain sometimes struggles to […]
The Quiet Signals of the Body That Shape Teenagers’ Inner Worlds
Why Sensations and Self-Talk Collide in the Teen Years Teenagers often describe feeling “on edge,” hyperaware of every rustle in a crowded hallway or every flutter in their stomach before meeting new people. These are not just growing pains. They are clues to how the body’s sensory systems connect to the mind’s voice. The research […]
When Campus Noise Becomes More Than a Nuisance: What a 2,080-Student Study Says About Sound Sensitivity, Autistic Traits, Social Skills, and Gender
The Cost of Campus Noise No One Talks About University life is loud. Residences hum with hallway chatter and slamming doors. Libraries shush but still buzz with keyboard clicks, sniffles, and whispering. Dining halls clang and lecture halls echo with coughs and pen taps. For many students, these are background noises. For others, they’re not […]
When Clumsiness Isn’t a Phase: What Parents Reveal About a Hidden Childhood Disability
“Clumsy” Isn’t Harmless: The Human Cost of a Hidden Diagnosis Many children are labeled “clumsy,” “messy,” or “uncoordinated,” and the assumption is that they’ll grow out of it. But for a significant group—about 5–6%—those motor challenges point to Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD), a neurodevelopmental condition that shapes school, friendships, self-esteem, and family life. The research […]
Where We Look Shapes What We See: How Fixation Patterns Drive Face Processing in Autism
Why Eye Contact Feels Different—and What Fixations Reveal Eye contact is a social shortcut. With a glance, we gauge interest, trust, and intent. But for many autistic people, those few seconds can feel complicated—less like a shortcut and more like a traffic jam. A new research paper, Pattern of fixation explains atypical eye processing during […]
When Movement Meets Focus What Brain Signals Reveal About Attention and Repetitive Behaviors
Why Small Repetitive Movements Could Matter for Big Moments of Focus What helps you lock onto the right thing at the right time? In daily life, this might look like quickly noticing a friend waving across a busy café or catching a hazard in traffic just in time. Psychologists call this ability spatial attention—shifting your […]