Cannabis, Not Psychedelics, Is the Most Common Microdosing Drug in the U.S.
A research team at the University of California, San Diego, found that cannabis is the most widely microdosed substance in the United States.
Psychology
“This Compound Can Selectively Dampen Escalated Social Conflict”: Fish ‘High’ on Key Ingredient in Magic Mushrooms Become Lazy and Less Aggressive
A species of innately aggressive fish dosed with psilocybin, the psychoactive ingredient in magic mushrooms, became lazy and less aggressive.
Scientists Explore Paranormal Experiences and the Effects of Inaudible “Infrasound”
Experiments with infrasound have revealed a potential connection to paranormal experiences such as haunted houses and buildings
Your Dreams May Shape How You Feel the Next Day More Than You Realize
Recent research indicates that the content of your dreams, including the unsettling moments, may influence your emotional well-being more than previously understood.
Researchers Develop Framework to Explain Chronic Nightmares in Children
Published in Frontiers in Sleep, the research presents the DARC-NESS model, which offers a new approach to understanding why nightmares persist in children and how therapy can be designed to break this cycle.
Tibetan Buddhism and the Science of Death: New Perspectives on Consciousness and End-of-Life Care
At the 15th 'Behind and Beyond the Brain' Symposium, hosted by the Bial Foundation, experts in the fields of neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy gathered for three days to examine the science of end-of-life experiences.
Latest Research Reveals the Hidden ‘Light and Dark Sides’ of Gaming—and Why Both Are True
Gaming’s impact isn’t simply good or bad—new research reveals how it shapes mental health, behavior, and society in complex ways.
New Study Suggests Consciousness Is Shaped by the Body’s Signals—and How We Experience Time
Consciousness may arise from the body and time perception, not just the brain, according to new scientific research.
Psilocybin Shows Breakthrough Potential for Quitting Smoking, Beating Nicotine Patches in Clinical Trial
Psilocybin therapy shows promise for quitting smoking, outperforming nicotine patches in a new clinical trial study.
The “Secrecy Paradox”: New Study Reveals the Hidden Social Game Behind “Insider Knowledge”
New study reveals how the Secrecy Paradox shapes status, spreads secrets, and drives hidden hierarchies in online communities.
AI Therapists May Be Doing More Harm Than Good, Study Warns
Study finds AI therapists may reinforce harmful beliefs, show bias, and fail in crises, raising serious mental health concerns.
Why Some People Can Control Their Dreams: New Study Links Synesthesia to Lucid Dreaming Power
Synesthesia may explain why some people can control their dreams, revealing a surprising link between perception and lucid dreaming.
Forget Coffee and Energy Drinks: Experiments with Esports Athletes Reveal Caffeine-Free Beverage that Increases Concentration and Stamina
Experiments with esports players show this non-caffeinated drink combats mental fatigue in a different way than coffee and energy drinks
Scientists Find Missing Link to Psychedelics Like MDMA ‘Locking In’ PTSD Recovery Benefits
New experiments suggest a biological missing link that helps lock in the long-term benefits of psychedelic-assisted PTSD treatment
Concert Goers Getting the Blues: A Theater’s Color Affects the Listener Experience
Virtual concert attendees reported significant affects to their music listening experience based on the venue's color and lighting.
A Forgotten ESP Study From 1943 Is Raising New Questions About Experiments on Canada’s Indigenous Children
A resurfaced 1943 study brings the history of human experiments conducted on Indigenous children in Canadian residential schools into focus.
AI Outperformed Humans at Emotional Connections—But Only When People Thought It Was Human, Study Finds
AI outperformed humans in deep Emotional conversations—but only when people believed it was human, study finds.
Exercise and Food Restriction Shape Psilocybin’s Effects, New Study Finds
A new study from Monash University, published in Genomic Press Psychedelics, found that psilocybin changes social behavior and immune signaling in female mice.
Did Scientists Just Achieve “Inception”? Experiments Show “Dream Engineering” May Be a Reality
Experiments involving playing music during sleep have revealed a type of dream engineering that doubled subjects' problem-solving abilities.
“Their Mental Lives Go Beyond the Here and Now”: Scientists Say Imagination May Not Be Uniquely Human After All
Imagination may not be uniquely human. A new study shows an ape tracking pretend objects, reshaping ideas about cognition and evolution.
“There Could be a Mushroom Out There Causing Fairytale-Like Visions”: People Eating These Mushrooms Claim to Have the Same Hallucinations
Science is searching for the chemical compound in these Chinese mushrooms that can cause identical hallucinations of little people everywhere
Your Brain Knows Which Locations Will Make Memories Stick—Even Before Anything Happens There
Neuroscientists reveal how the brain decides which locations will best anchor memories—before new experiences even happen.
Some “Gifted” Dogs Learn Words by Overhearing Conversations—Like Human Toddlers, Study Finds
A new study finds some "gifted" dogs can learn new object names just by overhearing human conversations—much like young toddlers.
Science Says Swearing Can Make You Stronger—And Psychologists Now Know Why
New research shows swearing during intense exercise can boost strength by reducing mental restraints and helping people push harder.
‘Action Crisis’ Unraveled: New Research Tackles the Psychology of Doubting Your Doubts
Researchers found that prompting people to question their own doubts, a process called meta-cognitive doubt, can actually strengthen commitment to goals that are central to their identity.
No Burnout in the Mushroom Kingdom? Scientists Discover Surprisingly Adult Reason People Enjoy Super Mario Bros and Yoshi Games
Playing Super Mario Bros. and the expanded universe of Yoshi games appears to help young adults avoid burnout and experience childlike wonder
Simply Viewing Art Can Improve Mental Well-Being, Major Psychological Review Finds
Simply looking at visual art can measurably improve mental well-being, according to a new international review of psychological research.
Why Women Are the Biggest True Crime Fans—and What Science Says They’re Looking For
A recent study reveals why women engage with true crime, showing safety motives and psychology—not sensationalism—drive the trend.
Experiments Reveal Which Colors and Tones You Should Use to Maximize the Music Listening Experience
UC Davis scientists have figured out which colors and lighting tones you should use to best maximize the music-listening experience
A Surprising Antidepressant? How Laughing Gas Is Emerging as a Rapid Treatment for Severe Depression
New research shows Laughing Gas can ease depression within hours, though questions remain about its safety and lasting benefits.
“She Was and Is Pregnant with My Babies”: Research Reveals Just How Deep Human–Chatbot Romance Already Goes
Study of Replika chatbot reveals users forming deep romantic bonds, marriages, and emotional reliance on AI partners in surprising new ways.
Psychologists Report that Just Seeing Batman is Enough to Drive Prosocial Behaviors
Seeing Batman inspires us, say psychologists whose new research suggests that it increases people's propensity toward prosocial behaviors.
Personalization Algorithms Are Quietly Changing How Your Brain Learns, New Study Warns
Personalization algorithms may quietly distort how we learn, shaping our beliefs and boosting confidence in wrong answers, a new study finds.
Scientists Say Consciousness Is Far Older—and More Widespread—Than We Ever Realized
New studies reveal consciousness is older and more widespread than believed, with birds showing signs of awareness and self-perception.
California Sober? Scientists Find Smoking Cannabis Reduces Alcohol Consumption in This Specific Situation
Scientists discover that the 'California Sober' approach of replacing alcohol consumption with cannabis is effective under certain conditions
MIT Neuroscientist Proposes Brain Waves are the Hidden Engine Behind Thought and Consciousness
An MIT neuroscientist proposes that brain waves perform analog computations that give rise to thought and consciousness.
“Alarm Bells Went Off”: New Research Takes a Critical Look at the Landmark UFO Cult Study ‘When Prophecy Fails’
New research reexamines 'When Prophecy Fails,' the classic study of an American UFO cult, raising new questions about the work's claims.
Lost in Thought: New Research Reveals How Meditation Can Potentially Unsettle the Mind
Many people view meditation as a way to achieve a calm state of well-being, but a recent study led by psychologist Nicholas Van Dam at the University of Melbourne suggests the effects can vary from person to person.
Sweeping U.S. Study Finds Little Evidence of Smartphones Harming Mental Health
Large U.S. study finds smartphones have little impact on mood, revealing a complex and often overstated link to mental health.
Why We Love to See the Mighty Fall: The Science Behind Humanity’s Obsession With Seeing Others Fail
Science explore schadenfreude—the pleasure in others’ failures—and reveals how it shapes envy, empathy, and self-esteem.
New Research Says ADHD’s Wandering Mind May Be a Secret Engine for Creativity
New research shows ADHD’s mind wandering boosts creativity, revealing how deliberate thought drift drives innovation.
Generating Younger Versions of People’s Faces, This Digital ‘Mind Hack’ Allows Adults to Retrieve Lost Memories from Childhood
Human self-perception could be the key to retrieving the hidden memories of childhood amnesia, says new research.
Do Trees Think? Philosopher Maps a New Route Through the Consciousness Debate
Philosopher Jonah Branding’s “decision tree” explores a new road map for identifying consciousness in living things.
Genetic Links Between Humans and Bees Reveal the “Hive Mind” Behind Social Behavior
Humans and bees share genetic traits responsible for social behavior, suggesting that the basic elements of connection transcend species.
Psychedelics Can Quickly Reorganize Our Brain Functions, Offering Promise for Lasting Therapeutic Approaches
New studies reveal how psychedelics can reorganize brain function, offering stronger, longer-lasting benefits than conventional approaches.
Rare Case of ‘Autobiographical Hypermnesia’ Reveals How the Brain Travels Through Time
Scientists explore 'autobiographical hypermnesia,' a rare ability that allows people to recall of life events in exceptional detail.
You’re Welcome, Couch Potatoes. Binge-Watching TV is Actually Good for You
Binge-watching TV which has often been considered a negative behavior may have positive mental health benefits including helping with stress.
New Research Probes Link Between Claims of Past Life Memories, Trauma, and Spiritual Beliefs
New research is exploring potential links between claims of past life memories, trauma, and spiritual beliefs.
Experiments Show Mental “Time Travel” Trick Can Improve Recall and Restore Lost Memories
Experiments show mental "time travel" recreating the circumstances of the original memory can improve recall and restore lost memories
Researchers Discover “Doubling-Back Aversion” —The Hidden Bias Sabotaging Smart Decisions
A new study reveals how Doubling-Back Aversion leads people to reject smarter choices just to avoid undoing past progress.