Month: May 2025

Genetic basis of purring in cats

Whether you are lucky enough to have a cat companion or must merely live this experience vicariously through cat videos, Felis catus is a familiar and comforting presence in our daily lives. Unlike most other feline species, cats exhibit sociality, can live in groups, and communicate both with other cats and humans, which is why […]

Published on May 29, 2025

Teen Depression Jumps With More Social Media Use

A University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) study found that pre-teens who increased their usage of social media experienced a 35% rise in symptoms of depression. The study was published in JAMA Network Open. According to Breitbart, the study highlights the potential… Read Full Article (External Site) Dr. David LowemannDr. David Lowemann, M.Sc, Ph.D., is […]

Published on May 29, 2025

Unpacking the dynamic role of physical effort in shaping behavior

Effort plays a crucial role in shaping behavior. We propose that physical effort – and its perception – modulates people’s engagement across different stages of behavioral regulation: before, during, and after engagement. We demonstrate that individuals tend to avoid effort before engagement, minimize effort during task performance, and derive a sense of reward from effort […]

Published on May 29, 2025