Mental Health

New research challenges a common psychological test. Scientists found that a person's ability to count their own heartbeats does not reliably indicate their levels of anxiety, depression, or emotional awareness.

College students overwhelmed by academic pressure often use artificial intelligence to lighten their mental load. A new study explores how relying too heavily on these digital tools can erode a student's self-confidence and fuel eventual burnout.

A new study examining the mental health impacts of popular hot beverages found that while daily tea consumption had no association with mood, drinking coffee presented a possible trend toward lower rates of depression.

A single dose of psilocybin reduces the drive to seek out rewards by increasing the activity of inhibitory brain cells. These findings help explain how psychedelics might induce long-lasting changes in brain circuits to treat substance use disorders.

Men who show extravagant, obsessive dedication to an unreciprocated romantic prospect are primarily motivated by a fear of being single, according to a recent psychological study that highlights the deep anxieties driving extreme courtship strategies.

Psilocybin could help patients with chronic cluster headaches sleep better, according to a recent study in the Journal of Psychopharmacology. Researchers also noted subtle shifts in brain microstructure that tend to accompany these improvements in rest.

A large international twin study reveals that childhood economic inequality shapes adult mental health. Published in Psychological Medicine, the research provides evidence that a wide wealth gap can magnify a person's genetic risk for developing depression.

Older adults experiencing both depression and insomnia face an increased risk of developing dementia. However, a recent Journal of Affective Disorders study provides evidence that depressive symptoms are the most consistent indicator of future cognitive decline.

By using artificial intelligence to estimate the physical age of a child's brain, researchers can now predict whether they will develop a habit of suppressing their emotions during the turbulent transition into adolescence.

A new study finds that children who start drinking alcohol before age 15 show distinct whole-brain network patterns years earlier. These brain features could serve as early markers for adolescent alcohol use vulnerability.

A comprehensive review found a strong link between autistic traits and the tendency to camouflage. Surprisingly, this connection appears stronger in the general population than among those formally diagnosed with autism.

New research shows how two distinct regions of the hippocampus synchronize during fearful events. By tracking nerve cells in animal models, scientists discovered a network that bridges emotional memory and physical defensive behaviors in real-time.

Researchers have successfully reversed autism-like behaviors in mice by repairing shortened structures within specific nerve cells. The study provides evidence that core symptoms of the disorder may stem from adaptable brain changes rather than irreversible damage.

A new study suggests that the loss of protective sugar molecules drives premature aging and memory loss in people with HIV. In mice, common flu medications successfully preserved these sugars, offering a potential future approach to protect brain health.