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New research published in Psychiatry Research suggests that a nasal spray of the hormone oxytocin may help individuals with borderline personality disorder get more out of compassion-based meditation. The study provides evidence that oxytocin specifically improves a person’s ability to create and hold onto comforting mental images during these exercises. These early findings suggest a potential new way to support people who often find self-compassion practices difficult or uncomfortable.

A recent study published in the Journal of Health Psychology suggests that repeated engagement in cosmetic procedures can take on addiction-like qualities for a notable portion of women. The findings provide evidence that low body esteem and problematic social media habits are strongly linked to this compulsive behavior. These insights help explain how digital environments and personal insecurities might interact to encourage repetitive aesthetic treatments.

As countries become wealthier, the gender gap in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) graduation tends to grow larger. This finding was published in Sex Roles. Women are underrepresented in many STEM fields around the world, and one influential explanation for this pattern has been the Gender-Equality Paradox, which proposes that gender differences in STEM are actually larger in more gender-equal societies.

A new theoretical review published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences explores whether relying on artificial intelligence compromises human intelligence. The paper suggests that while outsourcing mental tasks to algorithms can erode specific learned skills, our foundational cognitive abilities are likely more resilient. The impact of these tools largely depends on how people choose to interact with them. Humans regularly use external tools to reduce the mental effort required to complete tasks.

Exposure to elevated levels of sodium fluoride might impair cognitive abilities by altering how brain cells grow and communicate. A new small study of mice and lab-grown tissues shows that excessive amounts of this chemical disrupt the structural proteins necessary for healthy neural connections. The findings were recently published in the journal Brain Research. Fluoride is an active nonmetal element found widely in the natural world. In small trace amounts, it provides benefits to human health.

Humans perceive very low-frequency sounds through a unique electrical mechanism in the inner ear, rather than the mechanical process used for normal hearing. This discovery provides evidence explaining why certain environmental noises, like the hum of a ventilation system, can feel physically intense and grow rapidly in loudness. The findings were recently published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Many young adults use cannabis, but its relationship with mood disorders characterized by intense positive emotions has remained poorly understood. A recent study of college students found that a higher risk for bipolar spectrum disorders is tied to more cannabis-related disruptions in daily life, while experiencing higher levels of natural positive emotions is associated with less frequent cannabis use. These results were published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Routine immunizations against common viral and bacterial infections might offer an unexpected benefit by protecting the brain from cognitive decline in old age. A growing body of scientific literature suggests that standard vaccinations are associated with a reduced risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.

An online experiment found that men become somewhat more supportive of feminine honor norms when they feel jealous. This was not the case with women. Additionally, individuals with a more restricted mating orientation also showed greater support for feminine honor norms. The paper was published in Cognition and Emotion. Feminine honor norms are cultural expectations about how women should behave to be regarded as respectable and honorable.

A recent study published in Psychology & Sexuality suggests that a person’s biological sex and natural sex drive play a significant role in how often they use pornography and experience unprompted sexual thoughts. The findings provide evidence that spontaneous mind-wandering acts as a bridge between high sexual desire and the sudden popping of sexual thoughts into a person’s head. These insights help explain the psychological chain of events that shape everyday human sexual cognition.