Latest and Breaking Social Behavioral News

Positive words: The glue to social interaction
24 May 2012, 4:00 am
(Springer) Scientists at ETH Zurich have studied the use of language, finding that words with a positive emotional content are more frequently used in written communication. This result supports the theory that social relations are enhanced by a positive bias in human communication. The study by David Garcia and his colleagues from the Chair of Systems Design is published in the first issue of the new SpringerOpen journal EPJ Data Science, and is freely available to the general public as an open access article.

Gene discovery points towards new type of male contraceptive
24 May 2012, 4:00 am
(University of Edinburgh) A new type of male contraceptive could be created thanks to the discovery of a key gene essential for sperm development.The finding could lead to alternatives to conventional male contraceptives that rely on disrupting the production of hormones, such as testosterone and can cause side-effects such as irritability, mood swings and acne.

Exercise does not improve lipoprotein levels in obese patients with fatty liver disease
24 May 2012, 4:00 am
(Wiley-Blackwell) New research found that moderate exercise does not improve lipoprotein concentrations in obese patients with non alcoholic fatty liver disease. Results published in the June issue of Hepatology, a journal of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, report that moderate physical activity produces only a small decrease in triglyceride and alanine transaminase levels.

New test shows potential for detecting active cases of Lyme disease
24 May 2012, 4:00 am
(George Mason University) George Mason University researchers can find out if a tick bite means Lyme disease well before the bite victim begins to show symptoms.

Stanford psychologists examine how race affects juvenile sentencing
24 May 2012, 4:00 am
(Stanford University) As the Supreme Court considers whether to further limit sentences given to juveniles, new research by Stanford psychologists shows how an offender's race shifts people's support for severe punishment.

'Personality genes' may help account for longevity
24 May 2012, 4:00 am
(Albert Einstein College of Medicine) Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology of Yeshiva University have found that personality traits like being extroverted, enjoying laughter and staying engaged may also be part of the longevity genes mix that allows some people to reach age 100 and beyond. The findings published online May 21 in the journal Aging.

Male fertility genes discovered
24 May 2012, 4:00 am
(Cell Press) A new study has revealed previously undiscovered genetic variants that influence fertility in men. The findings, published by Cell Press on May 24 in the American Journal of Human Genetics, shed much-needed light on human reproduction and might provide answers for countless men suffering from infertility.

Relatively speaking: Researchers identify principles that shape kinship categories across languages
24 May 2012, 4:00 am
(Carnegie Mellon University) Different languages refer to family relationships in different ways. For example, English speakers use two terms -- grandmother and grandfather -- to refer to grandparents, while Mandarin Chinese uses four terms. Many possible kinship categories, however, are never observed, which raises the question of why some kinship categories appear in the languages of the world but others do not. A new study from Carnegie Mellon University and UC Berkeley shows that kinship categories across languages reflect general principles of communication.

Cyber exercise partners help you go the distance
24 May 2012, 4:00 am
(Michigan State University) A new study testing the benefits of a virtual exercise partner shows the presence of a moderately more capable cycling partner can significantly boost the motivation -- by as much as 100 percent -- to stick to an exercise program.

Researchers identify protein necessary for behavioral flexibility
24 May 2012, 4:00 am
(New York University) Researchers have identified a protein necessary to maintain behavioral flexibility, which allows us to modify our behaviors to adjust to circumstances that are similar, but not identical, to previous experiences. Their findings may offer new insights into addressing autism and schizophrenia -- afflictions marked by impaired behavioral flexibility.