All posts tagged: study

Study examines link between psychopathic traits and emotional memory

Study examines link between psychopathic traits and emotional memory

Published by José

Psychopathic traits were not significantly associated with recall or recognition of emotional or neutral stimuli, according to a recent study published in the journal Memory. Psychopathy is characterized by interpersonal, affective, and lifestyle traits, such as a lack of empathy and impulsivity. In this work Rheanna J. Remmel and colleagues clarified how psychopathic traits might influence memory for emotional events, a function typically heightened by emotional valence. Despite existing evidence linking psychopathy to impaired emotional processing, the relationship between psychopathy and emotional memory remains unclear, with previous studies offering conflicting results. The authors were motivated by findings that individuals with psychopathic traits might show diminished preferential recall for emotional stimuli, which could impact learning from negative experiences and social bonding. The researchers recruited 82 male inmates from a county jail, ranging in age from 18 to 59 (average age of ~ 29 years). Psychopathic traits were assessed using the Psychopathy Checklist: Screening Version (PCL:SV), which evaluates interpersonal, affective, and behavioral components of psychopathy. Memory abilities were measured using the Wechsler Memory Scale-IV (WMS-IV), which included …

AI chatbots outperform humans in evaluating social situations, study finds

AI chatbots outperform humans in evaluating social situations, study finds

Published by José

Recent research published in Scientific Reports has found that certain advanced AI chatbots are more adept than humans at making judgments in challenging social situations. Using a well-established psychological tool known as a Situational Judgment Test, researchers found that three chatbots—Claude, Microsoft Copilot, and you.com’s smart assistant—outperformed human participants in selecting the most effective behavioral responses. The ability of AI to assist in social interactions is becoming increasingly relevant, with applications ranging from customer service to mental health support. Large language models, such as the chatbots tested in this study, are designed to process language, understand context, and provide helpful responses. While previous studies have demonstrated their capabilities in academic reasoning and verbal tasks, their effectiveness in navigating complex social dynamics has remained underexplored. Large language models are advanced artificial intelligence systems designed to understand and generate human-like text. These models are trained on vast amounts of data—books, articles, websites, and other textual sources—allowing them to learn patterns in language, context, and meaning. This training enables these models to perform a variety of tasks, from …

Groundbreaking “hate universe” study reveals links to billions in mainstream communities

Groundbreaking “hate universe” study reveals links to billions in mainstream communities

Published by José

Online hate communities are not confined to isolated corners of the internet. In a new study published in npj Complexity shows how these groups are increasingly intersecting with mainstream online spaces. Using advanced tools to map the online “hate universe,” researchers found that around 50 million accounts in hate communities grew closer not only to each other but also to a broad mainstream audience of billions in the weeks surrounding the 2020 United States presidential election. The rapid evolution of online hate speech has created a pressing need for a deeper understanding of how it spreads, adapts, and impacts broader online communities. While previous research has examined the relationship between real-world events and the proliferation of hate speech, much of it treated hate groups as isolated entities or focused on single platforms. This fragmented approach left a gap in understanding how hate networks function across multiple platforms and how they interact with mainstream communities. The new study addressed this gap by mapping the “hate universe” at an unprecedented scale and resolution. “We hear a lot …

Study of ChatGPT citations makes dismal reading for publishers

Study of ChatGPT citations makes dismal reading for publishers

Published by skeptic

As more publishers cut content licensing deals with ChatGPT-maker OpenAI, a study put out this week by the Tow Center for Digital Journalism — looking at how the AI chatbot produces citations (i.e. sources) for publishers’ content — makes for interesting, or, well, concerning, reading. In a nutshell, the findings suggest publishers remain at the mercy of the generative AI tool’s tendency to invent or otherwise misrepresent information, regardless of whether or not they’re allowing OpenAI to crawl their content. The research, conducted at Columbia Journalism School, examined citations produced by ChatGPT after it was asked to identify the source of sample quotations plucked from a mix of publishers — some of which had inked deals with OpenAI and some which had not. The Center took block quotes from 10 stories apiece produced by a total of 20 randomly selected publishers (so 200 different quotes in all) — including content from The New York Times (which is currently suing OpenAI in a copyright claim); The Washington Post (which is unaffiliated with the ChatGPT maker); The …

Relationships formed on dating apps are as strong as those formed in person, study finds

Relationships formed on dating apps are as strong as those formed in person, study finds

Published by José

A recent study published in the journal Social Sciences suggests that romantic relationships initiated through dating apps are not significantly different in quality compared to those formed in person. These findings challenge lingering societal perceptions that app-based relationships are inherently less genuine or meaningful. Over the past decade, dating apps have surged in popularity, becoming one of the most common ways people meet potential partners. Despite this trend, online-initiated relationships have historically faced skepticism. Critics argue that such relationships may prioritize physical attraction over emotional connection or be hampered by issues like dishonesty in online profiles. “Since earning my PhD, I have been fascinated by the integration of technology in relationships, families, and development,” said study author Mickey Langlais, an assistant professor in the Department of Human Sciences and Design at Baylor University. “One facet that particularly caught my interest was the increased reliance on dating applications, often used to help form romantic relationships. When I began this research, dating applications carried a negative stigma, yet many of my students and friends mentioned meeting their …

Women with ADHD more likely to engage in risky behavior than men, study finds

Women with ADHD more likely to engage in risky behavior than men, study finds

Published by José

A new study published in BMC Psychiatry has found that women with ADHD are more likely to engage in risky behavior compared to their male counterparts, highlighting the importance of considering sex-specific differences in the treatment and understanding of ADHD. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects individuals across all ages. While males are more frequently diagnosed in childhood, females with ADHD tend to be overlooked or diagnosed later in life, partly because symptoms often present differently. Specifically, males typically display hyperactive or impulsive behavior, while females are more likely to experience emotional dysregulation and internalized symptoms, such as anxiety or depression. The study, conducted by a team of international researchers, sought to explore how these differences extend into adulthood. Led by Alexandra Philipsen and Silke Lux from the University of Bonn in Germany, the research team examined how emotional differences impact risky decision-making behavior in adults with ADHD. They were particularly interested in understanding the physiological and behavioral interactions that drive these differences. The study involved 29 adults with ADHD (16 males and …

‘Dangerous’ and ‘ineffective’ labels on menus don’t reduce how many calories people eat, study finds | Science, Climate & Tech News

‘Dangerous’ and ‘ineffective’ labels on menus don’t reduce how many calories people eat, study finds | Science, Climate & Tech News

Published by skeptic

Calorie labels on restaurant and takeaway food do not reduce how many calories people buy or eat, a new study has suggested. The mandatory labels, which were introduced by the government in 2022, forced all out-of-home food outlets with more than 250 employees to show the calories in their food, in a bid to tackle obesity. However, according to a new study published in Nature Human Behaviour, the labelling made no difference to how many calories people bought or ate. The eating disorder charity Beat told Sky News the study proves the “dangerous and ineffective policy” cannot be justified. “These findings reflect what we already knew: calorie labelling on menus has had negligible benefit to the general population but is so damaging to people with eating disorders that it cannot be justified,” said Beat’s director of external affairs, Tom Quinn. Calling for the government to scrap the policy, he added: “For those with eating disorders, calorie labelling can worsen feelings of anxiety and stress and lead to harmful behaviours such as binge eating, exercising excessively …

Are women better at forecasting relationship outcomes? New study provides intriguing insights

Are women better at forecasting relationship outcomes? New study provides intriguing insights

Published by José

Do women have a better sense of when a relationship will end? A new study suggests it’s not so simple. While women’s commitment levels are a stronger predictor of relationship dissolution in mixed-gender couples, men’s and women’s evaluations of love and satisfaction are equally important. The new findings have been published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships. Women are often thought to notice problems earlier, initiate relationship-focused discussions, and take concrete steps toward separation or therapy when issues arise. This belief is supported by evidence showing that women are more likely to end relationships and initiate divorce. From a theoretical standpoint, both social and evolutionary perspectives suggest why women’s relationship views might carry more predictive power. Social psychological theories propose that societal norms assign women greater responsibility for maintaining relationships, making them more attuned to recognizing when a relationship is failing. Evolutionary theories argue that women, due to their greater biological investment in reproduction, are more motivated to ensure their relationships align with long-term goals, which could make them more sensitive to relational …

Separated fathers struggle to maintain contact with children, especially daughters, study finds

Separated fathers struggle to maintain contact with children, especially daughters, study finds

Published by José

Parental separation can strain family bonds, but the effects are not evenly distributed between mothers and fathers. A new study published in the Journal of Marriage and Family has found that fathers in Italy tend to have significantly less contact with their children after separation, with this gap being especially wide for daughters. Even in the digital age, where communication tools are more accessible, separated fathers struggle to maintain consistent relationships. Parental separation disrupts family dynamics, often reducing parental involvement. Previous research has shown that fathers tend to lose more contact with their children than mothers after separation. However, less is understood about how these patterns vary depending on the child’s gender and the methods of communication used. Understanding these dynamics is particularly important in Italy, where family ties are traditionally strong, and mothers often play a central role in maintaining familial relationships. A new study aimed to explore how gender differences manifest in face-to-face, phone, and digital communication between separated parents and their children, focusing on adult children in an Italian context. “My interest …

Oak Hill Bio and Chiesi enrol first European patient in bronchopulmonary dysplasia treatment study

Oak Hill Bio and Chiesi enrol first European patient in bronchopulmonary dysplasia treatment study

Published by skeptic

Oak Hill Bio and Chiesi Group have launched a groundbreaking study of a revolutionary bronchopulmonary dysplasia treatment for extremely premature infants. Oak Hill Bio, a company specialising in treatments for neonatology and rare diseases, and Chiesi Group, an international biopharmaceutical firm, have announced the enrolment of the first European patient in their Phase 2b clinical study for OHB-607, a drug aimed at preventing bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in extremely premature infants. This marks a significant step in the effort to develop a bronchopulmonary dysplasia treatment, a serious lung condition currently lacking approved therapies, and could bring about the first major respiratory therapeutic breakthrough for extremely preterm infants in over thirty years. Victoria Niklas, Chief Medical Officer at Oak Hill Bio, shared her excitement: “As a neonatologist, I am thrilled that we have restarted this groundbreaking clinical trial. OHB-607 has the potential to improve outcomes for infants born extremely prematurely. At Oak Hill Bio, we are committed to advancing neonatology and delivering the best possible care and outcomes to infants, together with our partners at Chiesi.” Diego …