For the first time, a neural link between altruism and empathy toward strangers

Giving up a kidney to a stranger requires a certain sense of selflessness, what’s come to be known in social science as extraordinary altruism. University of Pennsylvania psychologist Kristin Brethel-Haurwitz wanted to understand the connection between this trait and empathy, specifically empathy for distress emotions. Continue reading “For the first time, a neural link between altruism and empathy toward strangers”

Mobile phone radiation may affect memory performance in adolescents, study finds

Radiofrequency electromagnetic fields may have adverse effects on the development of memory performance of specific brain regions exposed during mobile phone use. These are the findings of a study involving nearly 700 adolescents in Switzerland. The investigation, led by the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH), will be published on Monday, 23 July 2018 in the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives. Continue reading “Mobile phone radiation may affect memory performance in adolescents, study finds”

Childhood trauma linked to impaired social cognition later in life for patients with major psychiatric disorders

A new report published in European Psychiatryidentified a significant association between childhood adversity and impaired social cognitive functioning among adults diagnosed with major psychiatric disorders. Through a comprehensive review of all research conducted to date, the investigators established that a traumatic early social environment frequently leads to social cognitive problems and greater illness severity for individuals with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder, major depressive disorder, or post-traumatic stress disorder. Continue reading “Childhood trauma linked to impaired social cognition later in life for patients with major psychiatric disorders”

‘Mindful people’ feel less pain; MRI imaging pinpoints supporting brain activity

Ever wonder why some people seem to feel less pain than others? A study conducted at Wake Forest School of Medicine may have found one of the answers — mindfulness. “Mindfulness is related to being aware of the present moment without too much emotional reaction or judgment,” said the study’s lead author, Fadel Zeidan, Ph.D., assistant professor of neurobiology and anatomy at the medical school, part of Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center. “We now know that some people are more mindful than others, and those people seemingly feel less pain.” Continue reading “‘Mindful people’ feel less pain; MRI imaging pinpoints supporting brain activity”

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