Researchers identify four autism subtypes with distinct genes and traits
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/four-new-autism-subtypes-link-genes-to-childrens-traits/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit
https://redd.it/1lwe8au
@r_psychology1
Twin study suggests the ability to be funny may not run in the family | Researchers found that while people’s beliefs about their own sense of humor may reflect inherited traits, their actual ability to produce jokes that make others laugh appears to come almost entirely from environmental factors.
https://www.psypost.org/is-humor-inherited-twin-study-suggests-the-ability-to-be-funny-may-not-run-in-the-family/
https://redd.it/1lwaxd0
@r_psychology1
Prenatal exposure to “forever chemicals” linked to autistic traits in children, study finds. Children whose mothers had higher levels of PFOA in their blood during early pregnancy were more likely to show signs of social and communication difficulties by age 4.
https://www.psypost.org/prenatal-exposure-to-forever-chemicals-linked-to-autistic-traits-in-children-study-finds/#google_vignette
https://redd.it/1lvihkc
@r_psychology1
Sedentary time linked to faster brain aging in older adults, study finds | They also showed faster reductions in hippocampal volume over the 7-year study period and experienced more rapid declines in cognitive processing speed.
https://www.psypost.org/sedentary-time-linked-to-faster-brain-aging-in-older-adults-study-finds/
https://redd.it/1lupc9c
@r_psychology1
A new brain imaging study suggests that people who report symptoms of addiction to short-form video platforms—such as TikTok or Instagram Reels—may be less sensitive to financial losses and make faster, more impulsive decisions.
https://www.psypost.org/people-with-short-video-addiction-show-altered-brain-responses-during-decision-making/
https://redd.it/1lumquu
@r_psychology1
What makes someone cool: A new study offers clues, « Six traits can determine your ‘it’ factor, according to researchers who measured coolness around the globe. »
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/well/mind/cool-people-traits-study.html
https://redd.it/1lu4vel
@r_psychology1
Women with ADHD face higher risk of severe premenstrual mood disorder, study finds. For years, ADHD in women has been underdiagnosed and misunderstood. Now, new research suggests those with the condition are also at significantly higher risk for a debilitating menstrual mood disorder: PMDD.
https://cosmosmagazine.com/health/women-with-adhd-face-higher-risk-of-severe-premenstrual-mood-disorder-study-finds/
https://redd.it/1lu6s80
@r_psychology1
Addiction risk shows up in children’s brain scans before drug use starts
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/addiction-risk-shows-up-in-childrens-brain-scans-before-drug-use-starts/?utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=social&utm_source=reddit
https://redd.it/1lty8jr
@r_psychology1
New research reveals emotional control deficits in generalized anxiety disorder | These findings suggest that people with generalized anxiety disorder may have poorer emotion recognition abilities.
https://www.psypost.org/new-research-reveals-emotional-control-deficits-in-generalized-anxiety-disorder/
https://redd.it/1ltv9fp
@r_psychology1
People who have a more favorable view of artificial intelligence tend to spend more time on social media and may be more likely to show signs of problematic use, according to new research. This relationship held for both men and women, but it was stronger among men.
https://www.psypost.org/positive-attitudes-toward-ai-linked-to-more-prone-to-problematic-social-media-use/
https://redd.it/1ltr6e1
@r_psychology1
Intimate partner violence overwhelmingly affects women, but men can also be victims. Yet male victims are often met with skepticism, ridicule, or disbelief. People are more likely to dismiss male victims of intimate partner violence when they also endorse sexist beliefs about men.
https://www.psypost.org/new-study-finds-link-between-sexism-and-denial-of-male-victimhood-in-relationships/
https://redd.it/1ltf197
@r_psychology1
Loneliness predicts an increase in TV viewing for older women, but not for men
https://www.psypost.org/loneliness-predicts-an-increase-in-tv-viewing-for-older-women-but-not-for-men/
https://redd.it/1lsyesb
@r_psychology1
Loneliness predicts an increase in TV viewing for older women, but not for men. The analysis controlled for depressive symptoms and exercise frequency, so the effect of loneliness appears to stand somewhat apart from these related influences.
https://www.psypost.org/loneliness-predicts-an-increase-in-tv-viewing-for-older-women-but-not-for-men/
https://redd.it/1lsxo62
@r_psychology1
Couples who have frequent sex report greater relationship and life satisfaction. But forcing more sex, especially when it feels like a chore rather than a genuine desire, can have downsides. The relationship happiness boost from sex seems to plateau at about once a week.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/intimately-connected/202507/does-more-sex-equal-relationship-bliss
https://redd.it/1ls6qfx
@r_psychology1
Why we struggle with consistent exercise — a psychological lens from a TEDx talk I gave
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNb6VAnEkUA&t=1s
https://redd.it/1lrpnz7
@r_psychology1
Adults treated with psychostimulants for ADHD show increased brain surface complexity, study finds. These findings suggest that psychostimulant use may be associated with structural changes in brain regions involved in emotional regulation, reward, and decision-making.
https://www.psypost.org/adults-treated-with-psychostimulants-for-adhd-show-increased-brain-surface-complexity-study-finds/
https://redd.it/1lwdim5
@r_psychology1
Using pornography to reduce stress or escape emotions was linked to fewer positive behaviors and more conflict toward partners. But, when people used pornography for sexual pleasure or as a shared activity with their partner, they tended to report more warmth and less tension in daily interactions.
https://www.psypost.org/new-study-links-why-people-use-pornography-to-day-to-day-couple-behavior/
https://redd.it/1lvyk9w
@r_psychology1
Why the Golden Bachelor's Age Preference Hit a Nerve. The narrative about age-gap relationships sidesteps some painful realities.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/shrink/202507/the-golden-bachelors-age-preference-is-hitting-a-nerve
https://redd.it/1luymw0
@r_psychology1
Matching your workouts to your personality could make exercise more enjoyable and give better results. Extroverts prefer high-intensity training sessions with others, such as team sports, while people with neuroticism prefer private workouts without people watching them, punctuated by short breaks.
https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/08/health/personality-type-enjoy-exercise-intl-scli-wellness
https://redd.it/1lun3ty
@r_psychology1
Beyond the alpha male: Primate studies challenge male-dominance norms. In most species, neither sex clearly dominates over the other. Males have power when they can physically outcompete females, while females rely on different pathways to achieve power over males.
https://www.mpg.de/24986976/0630-evan-beyond-the-alpha-male-150495-x
https://redd.it/1lujwqg
@r_psychology1
Probiotics show promise for reducing hyperactivity in young children with autism and ADHD, finds new randomized, placebo-controlled trial. The probiotic contained two strains of bacteria, Lactiplantibacillus and Levilactobacillus, which are known to promote the synthesis of dopamine and GABA.
https://www.psypost.org/probiotics-show-promise-for-reducing-hyperactivity-in-young-children-with-autism-and-adhd/#google_vignette
https://redd.it/1luckxc
@r_psychology1
Anxiety is now the most common qualifying condition for medical marijuana in Pennsylvania, surpassing chronic pain. The number of medical marijuana certifications issued monthly in Pennsylvania nearly tripled after anxiety was added as a qualifying condition in 2019.
https://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/healthcare/2025/07/07/medical-marijuana-pa-anxiety-treatment-study/84460486007/
https://redd.it/1lu609f
@r_psychology1
People who skipped breakfast tended to be slightly more impulsive, particularly in terms of attentional control and self-control. They also reported slightly more severe depressive symptoms and marginally higher anxiety symptoms, finds study of young people from Hong Kong.
https://www.psypost.org/breakfast-habits-are-associated-with-depressive-symptoms-study-finds/
https://redd.it/1ltwihj
@r_psychology1
People with higher cognitive ability tend to endorse moral values less strongly across the board. The pattern held across two independent studies and did not differ by gender. These findings challenge popular assumptions that smarter people hold stronger or more “enlightened” moral values.
https://www.psypost.org/people-with-higher-cognitive-ability-have-weaker-moral-foundations-new-study-finds/
https://redd.it/1ltsdcu
@r_psychology1
Dyslexia: Identity, labelling and its place in inclusive education
https://nasenjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1467-8578.70028
https://redd.it/1ltmxw1
@r_psychology1
Weekly Discussion Thread
# Welcome to the r/psychology discussion thread!
As self-posts are still turned off, the mods have re-instituted discussion threads. Discussion threads will be "refreshed" each week (i.e., a new discussion thread will be posted for each week). Feel free to ask the community questions, comment on the state of the subreddit, or post content that would otherwise be disallowed.
Do you need help with homework? Have a question about a study you just read? Heard a psychology joke?
Need participants for a survey? Want to discuss or get critique for your research? Check out our **research thread!** While submission rules are suspended in this thread, removal of content is still at the discretion of the moderators. **Reddiquette** applies. Personal attacks, racism, sexism, etc will be removed. Repeated violations may result in a ban.
Recent discussions
Click here for recent discussions from previous weeks.
https://redd.it/1lt674o
@r_psychology1
Scientists discover that inhibitory neurons that keep other neurons in the human brain from overreacting seem to be turned down in PTSD and depression, which could make the prefrontal cortex – responsible for emotional control and decision-making – get stuck in a hyperexcitable state.
https://newatlas.com/mental-health/landmark-study-reveals-cell-level-brain-changes-tied-to-ptsd/
https://redd.it/1lsxs01
@r_psychology1
Owning dog or cat could preserve some brain functions as we age, study says. Fish or bird ownership showed no significant link to slower cognitive decline in study with implications for ageing societies.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/jul/05/dog-cat-ownership-could-preserve-specific-brain-functions-as-we-age-cognitive-decline
https://redd.it/1ls802x
@r_psychology1
A major Japanese study has found that men over 40 with low libido have a higher risk of dying earlier—but the same link wasn’t found in women.
https://www.gilmorehealth.com/low-libido-in-men-over-40-linked-to-higher-mortality-but-not-in-women-insights-from-the-yamagata-study/
https://redd.it/1ls39kt
@r_psychology1
Video games calm the body after stress, even when players feel on edge - physiological stress indicators decreased while participants were playing the video game A Plague Tale: Requiem, regardless of which part of the game they were playing.
https://www.psypost.org/video-games-calm-the-body-after-stress-even-when-players-feel-on-edge/
https://redd.it/1ljjati
@r_psychology1
