Psychology Content

Charan Ranganath on the Search for Biomarkers to Detect Alzheimer's Disease Risk Early

Soterios J Johnson — June 26, 2023 - 10:49am

�ٺ��Ƶ psychology professor Charan Ranganath discusses how he and his colleagues are working to find biomarkers to help identify people with preclinical Alzheimer’s disease. Earlier detection — before the brain is significantly damaged — would allow for more successful interventions and better outcomes.

Asthma May Place Children at Risk of Memory Difficulties, New Research Finds

Andy Fell — November 12, 2024 - 2:41pm

Asthma is associated with memory difficulties in children, and early onset of asthma may exacerbate memory deficits, according to a new study from the University of California, Davis. The study, the first of its kind to connect asthma to memory deficits in children, was published in Nov. 5 in JAMA Network Open.

The Roots of Fear: Understanding the Amygdala

Andy Fell — October 30, 2024 - 10:50am

Treating anxiety, depression and other disorders may depend on the amygdala, a part of the brain that controls strong emotional reactions, especially fear. But a deep understanding of this structure has been lacking. Now scientists at the University of California, Davis have identified new clusters of cells with differing patterns of gene expression in the amygdala of humans and non-human primates. The work could lead to more targeted treatments for disorders such as anxiety that affect tens of millions of people.

Supported Youth Become Supportive Adults, Researchers Find

Karen Michele Nikos — September 12, 2024 - 9:01am

Adolescents who had emotional support from friends and relatives, and who were biologically prepared to respond well to others, were more likely to exhibit prosocial behavior and empathy for others as they entered young adulthood, compared to adolescents without that kind of backing. The findings came from a recent University of California, Davis, study of Mexican-origin teens living in the United States.

Children’s Lockdown Memories May Predict Declines in Psychological Well-being During the Pandemic

Andy Fell — August 14, 2024 - 9:22am

A new study shows how children’s and adolescents’ memories of the COVID lockdowns of 2020 and 2021 changed over time and related to their mental health. The work, published Aug. 14 in Child Development, shows how autobiographical memories are linked to mental health, and how the content of these memories is related to the negative psychological consequences of lockdown.

How Uncertainty Builds Anxiety

Andy Fell — June 25, 2024 - 11:45am

Alfred Hitchcock observed that “There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it.” A common way to build suspense in a movie scene is for the audience to know something bad is going to happen, but not when it is going to happen. But how does uncertainty work to ratchet up our anxiety? In a recent paper in the journal Computational Psychiatry, researchers at the University of California, Davis, Department of Psychology take a deeper look into what builds fear.

When Some Adolescent Girls Internalize Rejection, It Really Is in Their Head

Karen Michele Nikos — January 23, 2024 - 11:50am

Everyone ruminates about the bad things that happen to them. Whether it’s a nasty breakup, an embarrassing failure or simply when someone is mean, it can be hard to stop thinking about what happened and why. For people who ruminate too much, this negative thought pattern can cause lasting problems with mental health.

Higher Conscientiousness Linked to Less Risk of Dementia Diagnosis

Andy Fell — November 29, 2023 - 8:00am

People with personality traits such as conscientiousness, extraversion and positive affect are less likely to be diagnosed with dementia than those with neuroticism and negative affect, according to a new analysis by researchers at the University of California, Davis and Northwestern University. The difference was not linked to physical damage to brain tissue found in dementia patients, but more likely to how certain personality traits help people navigate dementia-related impairments.

Encouraging Latinx Youth to Embrace Ethnic Pride Can Enhance Their Well-Being

Karen Michele Nikos — July 24, 2023 - 2:02pm

Encouraging Latinx adolescents of Mexican origin to embrace their ethnic pride, cultural values, and connections to their cultural community contributes to positive development and better adjustment during adolescence, a new University of California, Davis, psychology study suggests.

Moreover, researchers said, cultural preservation can help Latinx youth cope with adverse life experiences and social threats such as racism and discrimination.

‘The Backdrop’ Podcast: The Nature of Memory and Early Signs of Alzheimer’s

Soterios J Johnson — June 28, 2023 - 1:07pm

Scientists at �ٺ��Ƶ are working to identify early indicators to identify people with pre-clinical Alzheimer’s disease. The hope is that earlier detection — before the brain is significantly damaged — would allow for more successful interventions and better outcomes.