Brain Health

Science-backed strategies to sharpen memory, boost focus, and protect your mind against cognitive decline.

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Hidden ADHD Often Mistaken for Anxiety in Women, Clinicians Warn

Women who report persistent restlessness, racing thoughts and chronic overwhelm are frequently diagnosed with anxiety disorders, yet mounting clinical evidence indicates that attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be the underlying condition for many of them. Specialists say the misidentification can leave patients without effective treatment for years, compounding mental and physical health burdens. Overlapping Symptoms Complicate […]

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Large Language Models Raise Questions About Truth, Creativity and Scientific Discovery

Artificial intelligence systems built on large language models (LLMs) now converse with human-level fluency, completing sentences, paragraphs and entire documents in ways that feel natural to users. Yet, despite their polished delivery, these architectures are optimized to continue a narrative rather than to verify facts. Their primary objective is to predict the most plausible next […]

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Polite Language Alters Human Perception of AI, Researchers Say

Lead: Routine expressions of courtesy such as “please” and “thank you” can quietly reshape the way users view artificial intelligence, encouraging them to see conversation engines less as tools and more as quasi-social partners, according to specialists who study human-machine interaction. Courtesy Shifts the User-AI Relationship Small linguistic habits appear trivial, yet experts note that […]

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Close Friendships Tied to Longevity and Well-Being, Research Indicates

New York, May 2024 — A growing body of scientific literature spanning several decades points to a consistent conclusion: maintaining a small circle of high-quality friends is strongly associated with better physical health, improved mental well-being, and longer life expectancy. Long-Term Studies Highlight Mortality Risk One of the earliest large-scale investigations into social ties and […]

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Navigating Unwanted Disclosures: How “Reluctant Confidants” Protect Privacy in Close Relationships

A casual question at a social gathering—“Did I ever tell you the crazy thing Camilla did at a college party?”—captures a common yet complicated dilemma: deciding whether to listen to information you may prefer not to know. Communication scholars describe people caught in this position as “reluctant confidants,” a role that raises practical and ethical […]

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Psychologists Highlight Benefits of Embracing Life’s Natural Contractions

Health professionals are drawing renewed attention to the role of “contraction” — periods of reduced activity, introspection, or melancholy — as an essential counterbalance to society’s constant pursuit of expansion. Recent discussions within clinical psychology emphasize that recognizing and respecting these quieter phases can support emotional resilience, strengthen self-knowledge, and prepare individuals for future growth. […]

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Research Outlines Key Factors Influencing When Expectant Parents Share Pregnancy News

The moment an expectant parent discloses a pregnancy often hinges on a delicate balance of medical risk, social support, workplace realities and personal comfort. Although family tradition and popular culture frequently promote the so-called “12-week rule,” recent studies show that the ideal timing varies widely and depends on several measurable considerations. Medical Risk Drives the […]

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Facing Unfamiliar Ideas: Why Holding Onto Confusion Can Spark Future Insight

The moment a reader encounters a concept that feels significant yet remains opaque can be disorienting. Instead of dismissing the material, researchers in psychology and neuroscience suggest that preserving—rather than discarding—those elusive ideas may play a critical role in later breakthroughs. Recent studies on incubation, insight and cross-disciplinary discovery outline how seemingly puzzling information can […]

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Culture-Specific Design Proves Critical for Online Games That Teach Users to Spot Misinformation

A new cross-national experiment indicates that media-literacy games are not universally effective and may rely heavily on cultural tailoring to change how people judge and share online content. The study, published in Nature Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, enlisted 1,589 participants—799 in Indonesia and 790 in the United States—to compare two interactive “prebunking” games against […]

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Informal Encounters Highlight Persistent Workplace Bias Against Women

During a weekend visit to a regional creative-arts district, a chance meeting between two professionals set off an impromptu discussion that underscored how frequently women experience gender-based bias on the job. Communications specialist Shari Wilson struck up a conversation with Jodie Carter, a licensed therapist who works exclusively with female clients. Carter explained that the […]

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Strategies to Promote Independence in Adolescents and Young Adults With ADHD

Parents of teenagers and young adults who live with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often juggle two competing goals: safeguarding their children and preparing them for adult life. A new set of recommendations developed by child–psychiatry specialists outlines concrete steps families can take to strengthen executive-function skills and encourage autonomy during the long transition from high school […]

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Understanding Necessary and Unnecessary Suffering: New Perspectives on Pain, Growth and Human Connection

Suffering reaches every demographic, yet experts in psychology and spirituality say the experience is not monolithic. Recent discussions distinguish between “necessary” pain that accompanies growth and “unnecessary” distress generated by resistance, avoidance or distorted self-perception. Recognizing the difference, researchers argue, can change how individuals process hardship and open paths to healthier relationships, deeper empathy and […]