Mental Health

Eating a diet heavily reliant on ultra-processed foods is associated with lower memory and concentration scores in young adults. Researchers warn that these industrially processed snacks could be affecting daily brain function.

When escaping into fantasy becomes an uncontrollable habit, it often brings widespread psychological distress. A massive new review of statistical evidence reveals that compulsive daydreaming behaves much like a formal mental health disorder.

Long-term nicotine use alters specific brain circuits in mice, dramatically increasing their motivation to work for food. By dampening a regulatory neural pathway, nicotine creates an exaggerated drive for non-drug rewards that persists independently of physical hunger.

Can love protect us from the fear of dying? A new psychology study suggests that healthy romantic relationships act as an existential shield, reducing death anxiety in women by giving them a deeper sense of meaning.

A new neuroimaging study reveals that teenagers who "outgrow" ADHD share the same brain chemistry development as teens who never had the disorder, while those with persistent ADHD show abnormal, rising levels of the neurotransmitter glutamate.

A new study suggests that while spending time alone increases momentary feelings of loneliness, teenagers who are frequently alone aren't necessarily lonelier overall. Instead, personality traits and relationship quality are the true drivers of chronic social isolation.

Veterans who worked in high-blast occupations, such as artillery or weapons training, show higher rates of anger and aggression. Using artificial intelligence to scan medical records, researchers found this occupational exposure carries a distinct behavioral risk.

A new study reveals that recalling a lost loved one physically spikes blood pressure. For those struggling with prolonged grief, the cardiovascular system fails to recover normally, suggesting an enduring link between emotional trauma and physical heart health.

Researchers tracked over 300 young adults for a month to see how depression symptoms interact. They discovered that specific feelings, like anhedonia and sadness, act as central hubs that are strongly linked to a wider array of mental and physical...

New research shows that specific sleep patterns, like interrupted rest and falling asleep quickly, can predict lucid dreaming in people with PTSD. This could eventually help therapists use conscious dreaming to treat trauma-related nightmares.

Children experiencing high levels of inattention and hyperactivity report persistently lower social, emotional, and physical well-being throughout their developmental years. A 13-year observational study highlights the need to treat the holistic educational and psychological needs of affected youth.

A new study suggests professional football players with documented concussions have higher odds of being arrested. The findings highlight the need for comprehensive, long-term support for athletes dealing with the behavioral aftereffects of repetitive head trauma.

Long before psychologists named maladaptive daydreaming, classic literature documented characters lost in compulsive fantasies. A new study shows that disruptive daydreaming is a deeply rooted human experience rather than a new internet-era trend.

Scientists have discovered two biologically distinct subtypes of autism using brain imaging. By studying both mice and humans, researchers linked reduced brain connectivity to synaptic function and increased connectivity to immune system activity.