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141 posts22 participants8 posts today

DATE: July 20, 2025 at 04:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
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TITLE: Psychopathic traits linked to distinct brain networks in new neuroscience research

URL: psypost.org/psychopathic-trait

A new study published in the European Journal of Neuroscience sheds light on how patterns of brain connectivity may relate to psychopathic traits and their association with externalizing behaviors such as aggression and rule-breaking. By analyzing brain scans from young adults, researchers found that individuals with higher levels of psychopathic traits showed distinctive patterns of structural connections in the brain. These patterns, in turn, were associated with behaviors that involve acting out, suggesting that the brain’s wiring might help explain some of the behavioral tendencies linked to psychopathy.

Psychopathy is often associated with impulsivity, aggression, and antisocial behavior. While past studies have focused heavily on how different brain regions function in people with psychopathic traits, less is known about how these regions are structurally connected. Structural connectivity refers to the physical links between brain areas—similar to the brain’s wiring system. The researchers aimed to go beyond earlier work that focused only on specific brain circuits and instead look across the entire brain to identify any structural patterns linked to psychopathy.

The researchers were especially interested in understanding whether structural differences in the brain might explain the relationship between psychopathic traits and externalizing behaviors. Previous models have suggested two possible brain-based explanations for these behaviors. One theory emphasizes problems in how people process emotional threats, while another highlights difficulties in attention control. Both theories have some support, but no study had comprehensively examined how structural brain networks might connect psychopathy with real-world behavioral problems.

The research team analyzed data from 82 young adults who participated in the Leipzig Mind-Brain-Body study. All participants were screened to rule out medical or psychological conditions that might affect the results. Psychopathic traits were assessed using a questionnaire designed to capture both interpersonal-affective characteristics (like manipulation and lack of empathy) and behavioral traits (like impulsivity and rule-breaking). Externalizing behaviors were also measured with a separate questionnaire that included items on aggression, defiance, and similar tendencies.

Each participant underwent high-resolution brain imaging using diffusion MRI, a technique that maps the white matter tracts—essentially the brain’s wiring—connecting different regions. The researchers used a method called connectome-based predictive modeling, which relies on machine learning to identify patterns in the brain’s structural connectivity that relate to individual differences in behavior.

This method allowed them to identify two kinds of networks: positive networks, where stronger connections were linked to higher psychopathy scores, and negative networks, where weaker connections were related to those same scores. They also tested whether specific connections within these networks helped explain the relationship between psychopathic traits and externalizing behaviors.

The results showed that psychopathic traits were significantly associated with both stronger and weaker connections in different parts of the brain. The positive network—made up of connections that increased with psychopathy—was better at predicting psychopathic traits than the negative network alone. But when both networks were combined, the prediction became even more accurate.

Many of the connections in the positive network were located within the brain’s frontal and parietal lobes, which are involved in decision-making, emotional processing, and attention. These connections included pathways like the uncinate fasciculus, which links the frontal cortex with areas involved in emotion, and the arcuate fasciculus, which supports language and auditory processing. Other connections involved the cingulum bundle, associated with emotional regulation and social behavior, and the posterior corticostriatal pathway, which plays a role in reward processing and learning.

On the other hand, the negative network involved fewer connections, notably in regions like the superior longitudinal fasciculus and the inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus on the left side of the brain. These tracts are important for attention control and integrating information across different senses.

The researchers then looked at whether specific connections in these networks could explain the link between psychopathic traits and externalizing behaviors. They found that one connection in the right hemisphere—part of a tract involved in emotion recognition—was associated with both psychopathy and higher levels of externalizing behavior. A second connection in the left hemisphere—related to attention control—was linked to both psychopathy and lower levels of these behaviors. Mediation analyses suggested that these two connections acted as pathways through which psychopathic traits might influence externalizing behaviors.

The findings suggest that structural differences in how the brain is connected may play a role in how psychopathic traits are expressed behaviorally. Some connections—especially those involved in emotion and reward processing—may contribute to difficulties in recognizing and responding to social and emotional cues, which could make aggressive or impulsive behaviors more likely. Other connections, especially those related to attention control, may affect a person’s ability to process competing information, potentially influencing how they respond in complex or emotionally charged situations.

Importantly, the study found that people with higher psychopathic traits did not always show weaker brain connections. In fact, some brain networks showed increased connectivity. This is different from earlier findings that have mostly focused on reduced structural integrity in white matter. The current study used a different measurement—counting the number of streamlines between regions—which may capture broader patterns of connection rather than subtle changes in tissue structure.

The researchers also emphasized that the results support a dual-pathway model of psychopathy. One pathway involves problems with emotional processing, and the other involves attention control. These two types of brain circuits may work independently or together to influence how psychopathic traits are expressed.

While the findings offer new insight into the brain’s role in psychopathy, there are several limitations. The participants in the study were young adults from the general population, and most had relatively low levels of externalizing behaviors. This limits how much the results can be applied to people with more severe or clinical forms of psychopathy.

The study also did not include behavioral or cognitive tasks that could directly link the brain’s structural features to performance in real-world situations. Including such tasks in future studies could help clarify how these brain differences translate into specific deficits in emotional or attentional processing.

Another limitation is that the study treated psychopathy as a single dimension. But research suggests that different components of psychopathy—such as callousness versus impulsivity—may be linked to different brain circuits. Future studies could look at how structural connectivity relates to specific traits or subtypes of psychopathy.

Finally, the study’s sample size was relatively small, and the findings need to be replicated in larger and more diverse populations, including those with higher levels of psychopathic traits or histories of criminal behavior.

The study, “The Role of Structural Brain Networks in Psychopathy and Its Relation to Externalizing Behaviors,” was authored by Peiyang Guo, Cheng Cheng, and Xiangyi Zhang.

URL: psypost.org/psychopathic-trait

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PsyPost Psychology News · Psychopathic traits linked to distinct brain networks in new neuroscience researchBy Eric W. Dolan

DATE: July 20, 2025 at 12:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
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TITLE: Romantic breakups can trigger trauma-like brain activity in young adults

URL: psypost.org/romantic-breakups-

A study of emerging adults who experienced a breakup (dissolution of a romantic relationship) as a traumatic event found heightened reactivity in the hippocampus and amygdala when participants were shown images related to their breakup, including photos of their actual ex-partner. This increased brain activity depended on specific characteristics of the breakup—such as who initiated it or whether participants felt betrayed. The research was published in the Journal of Affective Disorders.

Romantic relationships play a central role in emerging adulthood, a period marked by identity exploration and emotional development. During this stage, many individuals experience their first serious, long-term partnerships, which can offer emotional support, intimacy, and a sense of stability.

However, breakups are also common during this time and can be deeply distressing. Emerging adults may experience intense emotional pain, grief, and lowered self-esteem after a breakup. These events can lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and, in some cases, post-traumatic stress—particularly when the relationship was highly meaningful. Breakups may also disrupt trust in future partners or affect beliefs about love and commitment.

At the same time, some individuals experience personal growth and greater clarity about relationship needs. The psychological impact of a breakup depends on several factors, including relationship quality, the circumstances of the breakup, and available social support.

Lead author A.S.J. Van der Watt and colleagues investigated how emerging adults who perceived a breakup as psychologically traumatic responded to breakup-related stimuli in an fMRI scanner. Specifically, they examined blood-oxygen-level dependent (BOLD) responses in the amygdala, hippocampus, and insula—brain regions involved in emotional memory, threat detection, and salience processing. The researchers hypothesized that participants would show increased activation in these areas when viewing breakup-related images compared to neutral ones.

The study included 94 participants aged 18 to 25 who reported experiencing posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). Participants were divided into three groups: 42 who reported a romantic breakup as their most traumatic experience, 20 who identified a physical or sexual assault, and 32 who reported another stressful event that did not meet DSM-5 criteria for trauma. Participants completed assessments of PTSS, depression, childhood adversity, attachment style, and thoughts about their past relationships.

During the fMRI scan, participants viewed a mix of neutral, positive, and trauma-related images. These included stock photos representing relationship breakups or assaults, as well as personal photos of each participant’s own ex-partner. The researchers compared neural responses to these images with responses to neutral images.

Participants who had experienced a breakup showed increased activation in the hippocampus and amygdala when viewing images of their ex-partner, and this pattern of activation was comparable to those who viewed images related to physical or sexual assault. No significant differences were found between the breakup and trauma groups in terms of activation in these brain regions. The insula showed less consistent effects.

The study also found that individual differences affected brain responses. In the breakup group, greater hippocampal and amygdala activation was associated with being the person who did not initiate the breakup, feeling betrayed, or still holding positive thoughts about the ex-relationship. Attachment style, childhood neglect, and sexual orientation were also linked to differences in brain activation.

“RRDs [romantic relationship dissolutions] should be considered as potentially traumatic events. Breakup characteristics are risk factors for experiencing RRDs as traumatic,” the study authors concluded.

The study shows that romantic breakups among emerging adults can be traumatic events. However, the study was conducted on a small group of young adults. Results on other demographic groups might not be identical.

The paper, “Hippocampus, amygdala, and insula activation in response to romantic relationship dissolution stimuli: A case-case-control fMRI study on emerging adult students,” was authored by A.S.J. Van der Watt, S. Du Plessis, F. Ahmed, A. Roos, E. Lesch, and S. Seedat.

URL: psypost.org/romantic-breakups-

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PsyPost Psychology News · Romantic breakups can trigger trauma-like brain activity in young adultsBy Vladimir Hedrih

Ashlee Pierson Invites You to the Fall 2025 Retreat!

ACPE Psychotherapy Commissioner, Ashlee Pierson, shares her thoughts
about the last fall retreat and invites your to consider registering for
the next one this September!

youtu.be/uUVKlVb9TZY

MORE AT:
bit.ly/4eExChH

~~

#healthcare #mentalhealth #counselors #psychiatry #faith
#psychotherapists #CEUs #spiritual #ACPE #socialwork #georgia
#psychology #counseling #psychotherapy @psychotherapist
@psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych
@socialwork @psychiatry @spirituality
@religion

~~

Forwarded by: Michael Reeder LCPC, Baltimore, MD

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The #ACPE #Psychotherapy Commission is a community invested in the practice of integrating #spirituality into our work. This work may be done by a volunteer helper, a #spiritual #healer, or a licensed mental health practitioner. We offer training.

Learn more at sip-com.wildapricot.org . Blog at sip-com.wildapricot.org/news .

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Bluesky Social · LIVEdammit (@livedammit.bsky.social)#YESquote: #OffTheSpectrum: Why the Science of #Autism Has Failed #Women & Girls/Gina Rippon - "...how hard it had been to get a dx of autism for thmslves or their daughters...was not to do w/ long waitng lists...[but] getting past...'autism is a boy thing'..when they asked for help." bit.ly/4l79AxP

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Bluesky Social · LIVEdammit (@livedammit.bsky.social)Amen. #SelfCompassion [contains quote post or other embedded content]

DATE: July 20, 2025 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
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TITLE: Disgust toward meat may be a relic of our evolutionary past

URL: psypost.org/disgust-toward-mea

Humans reject foods for different reasons. Sometimes it’s because a food looks or smells unpleasant. Other times, it’s because the idea of eating it seems revolting. These two reactions—distaste and disgust—are often confused in everyday language but reflect distinct psychological processes. In a new study, researchers explored whether these emotional reactions vary depending on whether the rejected food is a plant or an animal product. The findings provide support for an evolutionary theory that humans developed disgust specifically to avoid the pathogens often found in meat.

The study, published in Appetite, aimed to understand how and why people reject commonly eaten foods. Previous research suggested that animal foods are more likely to elicit disgust, while plant-based foods are typically rejected for their taste. This distinction could have evolutionary roots: taste may have helped humans avoid bitter plant toxins, while disgust may have evolved as a defense against pathogens in meat. By better understanding these emotional reactions, researchers hope to inform interventions that promote healthier and more sustainable diets.

“In an earlier study, we found that 74% of vegetarians (but also 15% of flexitarians and even a small share of omnivores) said they were put off by meat, which made me wonder: is this just about taste, or are deeper psychological processes at play? That led us to investigate whether meat is rejected with the same kind of disgust we feel toward truly revolting things like feces or human flesh,” said Elisa Becker, a postdoctoral researcher at University of Oxford, who conducted the study while at the University of Exeter.

To test their hypothesis, the researchers conducted two online surveys using a total sample of 309 participants from the United Kingdom. The primary group included 252 people who had previously shown an aversion to meat—most of whom were vegetarians. A smaller control group of 57 meat-eating participants served as a comparison and provided a baseline for disgust reactions. All participants rated a series of food images on multiple psychological and emotional criteria, including how willing they were to eat the food, how they felt about its taste and appearance, and whether it triggered thoughts of contamination, death, or moral offense.

The researchers showed participants images of different types of food across four categories: palatable but commonly disliked vegetables (such as Brussels sprouts and olives), culturally acceptable meat (chicken, beef, and pork), classic disgust-inducing substances (like dog meat and feces), and a neutral control food (bread). They asked participants to rate these foods across 12 dimensions. Five of these dimensions related to general taste and disgust criteria, while the remaining seven measured specific subtypes of disgust: core disgust (e.g., nausea), animal-reminder disgust (e.g., reminders of death), and moral disgust (e.g., offense at the idea of eating the food).

Only participants who indicated that they were unwilling to eat a particular food were included in the main analyses for that item. This allowed the researchers to directly compare the psychological profiles of rejected foods. By analyzing the response patterns across various questions, they created “rejection profiles” for each food and used several statistical techniques to examine how similar or different these profiles were from one another.

The results showed a clear divide in how participants responded to meat versus vegetables. When people rejected meat, their reactions were emotionally similar to how the control group responded to images of dog meat and human feces.

“The immense similarity between responses to meat and classic disgust items like feces and human meat was striking,” Becker told PsyPost. “We expected some overlap, but the response profiles were almost indistinguishable.”

These meat rejection responses were characterized by high ratings on measures related to disgust, especially ideational contamination (the idea that even a tiny amount could ruin a dish) and incorporation (the thought of the food being in the body). In contrast, rejected vegetables were mostly rated negatively for their taste, with relatively low ratings on disgust-related dimensions.

A statistical method called multidimensional scaling confirmed these patterns. This technique allowed the researchers to visualize the emotional distance between different food responses on a two-dimensional map. Rejected meats and prototypical disgust elicitors like feces clustered tightly together, while vegetables formed a separate cluster aligned with distaste. Bread appeared far from both groups, consistent with its role as a neutral control food.

To investigate further, the researchers looked into the subtypes of disgust experienced when meat was rejected. They found that core disgust—responses related to nausea and the thought of the food being in the mouth—was the dominant reaction across all meat stimuli. Moral disgust (e.g., finding the act of eating meat offensive) and animal-reminder disgust (e.g., being reminded of body parts or death) were present but less strongly endorsed. This pattern was also found in reactions to dog meat and human flesh, suggesting that meat rejection among vegetarians shares emotional qualities with some of the most deeply held food taboos.

“Our study shows that when someone is ‘put off’ by meat it triggers the same gut-level disgust as the most revolting substances we can imagine,” Becker explained. “Disliked vegetables on the other hand do not trigger this response – they were rejected purely because of their taste or texture. This helps explain why some people have very strong negative feelings about meat.”

The study also included an open-ended section where participants could describe any additional feelings about the foods. These qualitative responses aligned with the quantitative findings. People who rejected meat often used language associated with contamination, moral harm, or decay. Even when other types of disgust were mentioned, core disgust themes were nearly always present.

While the study design provided strong evidence for different rejection mechanisms, it did have some limitations. The researchers relied on self-report measures, which can be influenced by how people interpret and respond to survey questions. Most participants in the meat-rejecting group were vegetarians, and the sample was predominantly female, which could affect generalizability. Additionally, because the study focused on subjective ratings rather than physiological or behavioral data, future research using other methods could help validate the findings.

Despite these limitations, the study highlights a meaningful distinction in how people relate to different types of food. By showing that disgust, not just dislike, drives many meat rejections, the researchers argue that disgust may have originally evolved as a specialized defense against contaminated meat. Over time, this reaction may have become more generalized, serving as a psychological alarm system for anything that poses a pathogen threat.

Looking ahead, the researchers hope to better understand how these food-related emotions develop. “I’d like to understand how these emotional responses to food develop over time,” Becker said. “Disgust doesn’t start developing in children until they’re about 3-5 years old, by which time most already eat meat. So when and how does meat disgust start? These questions are important if we want to support healthier and more sustainable diets.”

“The really cool thing about this is that disgust is a psychological alarm system that evolved to protect us from getting sick, from getting in touch with parasites or pathogens. These are health threats found especially in meat. It makes sense then, that humans can respond with disgust to anything that could be contaminated – feces, for example, but also any kind of meat! It makes less sense to be disgusted by a vegetable, and we’ve found support for this theory.”

The study, “Disgust and distaste – Differential mechanisms for the rejection of plant- and animal-source foods,” was authored by Elisa Becker and Natalia S. Lawrence.

URL: psypost.org/disgust-toward-mea

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PsyPost Psychology News · Disgust toward meat may be a relic of our evolutionary pastBy Eric W. Dolan

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A verified appeal for help - in the midst of the authoritarian debacle of the US, please remember those struggling to survive on nothing. 💔

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Bluesky Social · LIVEdammit (@livedammit.bsky.social)A verified appeal for help - in the midst of the authoritarian debacle of the US, please remember those struggling to survive on nothing. 💔 [contains quote post or other embedded content]

DATE: July 19, 2025 at 02:00PM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG

** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------

TITLE: Dopamine’s stronghold is the striatum, not the cortex, brain imaging study suggests

URL: psypost.org/dopamines-strongho

A new study published in Diagnostics provides evidence that the striatum, rather than the cerebral cortex, receives the highest concentration of dopamine input in the brain. Advanced confocal imaging in mice revealed that dopamine signals are densely packed in the striatum but appear faint and sparse in the cortex—even when both areas are examined using the same imaging settings. These findings could improve our understanding of movement disorders like Parkinson’s disease and psychiatric conditions such as schizophrenia.

Dopamine is a chemical messenger that helps regulate movement, motivation, and thinking. In Parkinson’s disease, the death of dopamine-producing neurons in the midbrain leads to tremors, stiffness, and slower movement. Antipsychotic medications used to treat schizophrenia work by blocking dopamine receptors in the brain. Although scientists have long studied dopamine activity across different brain regions, research on its role in the cortex has often produced mixed and conflicting results.

Study author Fu-Ming Zhou said the research was driven by a need to create a clearer and more complete picture of where dopamine actually acts in the brain. Earlier research often focused on the cortex because of its role in higher-level thinking and decision-making.

But many of those studies examined cortical tissue in isolation and used imaging techniques that were adjusted to detect dopamine in that specific area. This kind of targeted approach can give a misleading impression of how dopamine is distributed across the brain—especially when results aren’t compared directly to regions like the striatum, where dopamine is much more concentrated.

“Human cognition is highly developed and dependent on the function of the cerebral cortex,” said Zhou, a professor of pharmacology at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine. “Human cognition can go awry as manifested in symptoms of schizophrenic patients. Schizophrenic symptoms can be significantly alleviated by antipsychotic drugs. The key pharmacological mechanism for these drugs is antagonism or inhibition of dopamine D2 type receptors. Because of the central role of the cerebral cortex in human cognition, it is often thought that the cortical dopamine system is the key target for antipsychotic drugs.”

Zhou sought to avoid the limitations of previous research by creating full-slice, high-resolution images of the mouse brain that included both the striatum and cortex in the same image. This allowed them to measure dopamine levels in each region under exactly the same conditions and reveal their relative densities without technical bias.

The researcher used advanced laser-scanning confocal microscopy to capture detailed images of sagittal brain sections from two-month-old male mice. These sections included the midbrain, striatum, thalamus, motor and sensory cortices, and other key regions.

To visualize the brain’s architecture, Zhou used genetically engineered mice in which subsets of neurons were fluorescently labeled: pyramidal neurons glowed yellow, and certain inhibitory neurons glowed green. The researcher also immunostained the tissue for tyrosine hydroxylase, an enzyme that marks dopamine-producing axons, and used a red fluorescent dye to visualize these structures.

A key strength of the study was that all brain regions in each slice were photographed using the same microscope settings. This avoided the common problem of artificially boosting weak signals in low-innervation areas like the cortex or saturating intense signals in dopamine-rich regions like the striatum. The resulting images gave a side-by-side comparison of dopamine activity throughout the brain, providing a global view of the nigro-forebrain dopamine system.

The results showed an overwhelming concentration of dopamine innervation in the striatum. Red fluorescence indicating tyrosine hydroxylase was intensely bright in this area, marking dense networks of dopamine axons. In contrast, signal levels in the cerebral cortex were faint and sparse, almost disappearing in some regions. This pattern was clear in both raw images and zoomed-in views, which also revealed bundled corticofugal axons—the long pathways that carry signals from the cortex to other brain regions—passing through the striatum.

Quantitative neurochemical studies in both rodents and humans have found that dopamine tissue content is about 70 times higher in the striatum than in the frontal cortex. The current imaging data reinforce that estimate, offering a visual confirmation of these measurements. Zhou emphasized that because the same imaging parameters were used for the whole brain slice, the difference in signal intensity reflects true differences in dopamine concentration—not artifacts of the staining or microscopy process.

One practical implication of these findings is that isolated studies of cortical dopamine activity could be misleading if they fail to consider the striatum’s dominant role. Past research on cortical dopamine has yielded mixed results—some studies reported that dopamine excites cortical neurons, while others found it inhibits them. These inconsistent effects may be due in part to the very low levels of dopamine in the cortex, which could make its influence on neuronal activity too small to detect reliably.

The study also has broader relevance for understanding the effects of drugs that target dopamine systems. “Our robust data show clearly that the dopamine system in the striatum is the main brain dopamine system and therefore is the main target of antipsychotic drugs, anti-Parkinson’s drugs, Ritalin (used to treat ADHD) and cocaine,” Zhou told PsyPost. “So our results are clinically very important.”

The study focused on mice, but Zhou notes that dopamine systems are highly conserved across mammals. This means that the patterns seen in mice likely apply to humans as well. Although the images did not cover the absolute entirety of the brain, the sagittal sections included all major dopamine-related structures, providing what the researcher describes as a reasonably complete view of the system.

Zhou said there were no major surprises in the results, as he had suspected this pattern for years. Still, the ability to capture such a detailed and context-rich image of the dopamine system in one view is rare and valuable for both research and teaching. The clarity of the images and the rigor of the approach help resolve longstanding confusion in the literature about where dopamine is most active in the brain.

Looking ahead, Zhou’s goal is to continue mapping the anatomy, physiology, and pharmacology of the striatal dopamine system. By building a more reliable and comprehensive understanding of how dopamine functions in this area, he hopes to support the development of better treatments for brain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and schizophrenia.

The study, “Whole-Brain Confocal Imaging Provides an Accurate Global View of the Nigral Dopamine System,” was published June 5, 2025.

URL: psypost.org/dopamines-strongho

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PsyPost Psychology News · Dopamine’s stronghold is the striatum, not the cortex, brain imaging study suggestsBy Eric W. Dolan

Weaving Our Roots brings together pastoral counseling and Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy communities

Weaving together decades of tradition and fresh new approaches, Weaving
Our Roots brings together pastoral counseling and Spiritually Integrated
Psychotherapy communities. This gathering celebrates their distinctions
and shared commitment to presence, depth, and reverence for the
spiritual dimension in healing.

Open to all disciplines and diverse spiritual orientations, from those
rooted in a tradition to those still seeking language for their
spirituality.

More at sip-com.wildapricot.org/news/1

The #ACPE #Psychotherapy Commission is a community invested in the
practice of integrating #spirituality into our work. This work may done
by a volunteer helper, a #spiritual #healer, or a licensed mental health
practitioner. We offer training. Learn more at
sip-com.wildapricot.org . Blog at
sip-com.wildapricot.org/news .

#CEU #socialwork #psychology #mentalhealth #psychiatry #faith
#healthcare #SIP #SIPtraining #pastoral #counseling #religion #spiritual
#spotlight @psychotherapist @psychotherapists
@psychology @socialpsych @socialwork
@psychiatry @spirituality @religion

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The #ACPE #Psychotherapy Commission is a community invested in the practice of integrating #spirituality into our work. This work may be done by a volunteer helper, a #spiritual #healer, or a licensed mental health practitioner. We offer training.

Learn more at sip-com.wildapricot.org . Blog at sip-com.wildapricot.org/news .

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry @spirituality
@religion #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #faith #spirituality

sip-com.wildapricot.orgACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care and Education Psychotherapy Commission - June 2025 Newsletter

DATE: July 19, 2025 at 09:32AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY PSYCHIATIRY FEED

TITLE: Doctors used music instead of medication—what they saw in dementia patients was remarkable

URL: sciencedaily.com/releases/2025

A groundbreaking pilot in NHS dementia wards is using live music therapy—called MELODIC—to ease patient distress without relying on drugs. Developed by researchers and clinicians with input from patients and families, this low-cost approach embeds music therapists directly into care teams. Early results show improved patient wellbeing and less disruptive behavior, sparking hope for wider NHS adoption.

URL: sciencedaily.com/releases/2025

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ScienceDailyDoctors used music instead of medication—what they saw in dementia patients was remarkableA groundbreaking pilot in NHS dementia wards is using live music therapy—called MELODIC—to ease patient distress without relying on drugs. Developed by researchers and clinicians with input from patients and families, this low-cost approach embeds music therapists directly into care teams. Early results show improved patient wellbeing and less disruptive behavior, sparking hope for wider NHS adoption.

DATE: July 19, 2025 at 10:49AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Popular sugar substitute linked to brain cell damage and stroke risk

URL: sciencedaily.com/releases/2025

Erythritol, a widely used sugar substitute found in many low-carb and sugar-free products, may not be as harmless as once believed. New research from the University of Colorado Boulder reveals that even small amounts of erythritol can harm brain blood vessel cells, promoting constriction, clotting, and inflammation—all of which may raise the risk of stroke.

URL: sciencedaily.com/releases/2025

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Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: nationalpsychologist.com

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ScienceDailyPopular sugar substitute linked to brain cell damage and stroke riskErythritol, a widely used sugar substitute found in many low-carb and sugar-free products, may not be as harmless as once believed. New research from the University of Colorado Boulder reveals that even small amounts of erythritol can harm brain blood vessel cells, promoting constriction, clotting, and inflammation—all of which may raise the risk of stroke.

DATE: July 19, 2025 at 09:32AM
SOURCE: SCIENCE DAILY MIND-BRAIN FEED

TITLE: Doctors used music instead of medication—what they saw in dementia patients was remarkable

URL: sciencedaily.com/releases/2025

A groundbreaking pilot in NHS dementia wards is using live music therapy—called MELODIC—to ease patient distress without relying on drugs. Developed by researchers and clinicians with input from patients and families, this low-cost approach embeds music therapists directly into care teams. Early results show improved patient wellbeing and less disruptive behavior, sparking hope for wider NHS adoption.

URL: sciencedaily.com/releases/2025

-------------------------------------------------

Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: clinicians-exchange.org

Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot

NYU Information for Practice puts out 400-500 good quality health-related research posts per week but its too much for many people, so that bot is limited to just subscribers. You can read it or subscribe at @PsychResearchBot

Since 1991 The National Psychologist has focused on keeping practicing psychologists current with news, information and items of interest. Check them out for more free articles, resources, and subscription information: nationalpsychologist.com

EMAIL DAILY DIGEST OF RSS FEEDS -- SUBSCRIBE: subscribe-article-digests.clin

READ ONLINE: read-the-rss-mega-archive.clin

It's primitive... but it works... mostly...

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist

ScienceDailyDoctors used music instead of medication—what they saw in dementia patients was remarkableA groundbreaking pilot in NHS dementia wards is using live music therapy—called MELODIC—to ease patient distress without relying on drugs. Developed by researchers and clinicians with input from patients and families, this low-cost approach embeds music therapists directly into care teams. Early results show improved patient wellbeing and less disruptive behavior, sparking hope for wider NHS adoption.

DATE: July 19, 2025 at 10:37AM
SOURCE: PsiAN Psychotherapy Action Network

Article link at end of text if there is one. PsiAN often just posts or retweets without an article. Follow X/Twitter link to read & respond.

6) Learn more about her powerful work and perspectives in this insightful PsiAN interview with Dr. Bevin Campbell. 🎙️
t.co/OBFP9y1gSa

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DATE: July 19, 2025 at 10:37AM
SOURCE: PsiAN Psychotherapy Action Network

Article link at end of text if there is one. PsiAN often just posts or retweets without an article. Follow X/Twitter link to read & respond.

4) From working with children and families in the foster care system to providing clinical supervision across Texas, Dr. Powell-Williams brings a human-centered, culturally informed lens to every space she’s in.
#TherapeuticRelationship #HumanConnection

LINK TO X/TWEET:twitter.com/PsiANorg/status/19

PsiAN blog articles at psian.org/blog". X/Tweets can be responded to at x.com/PsiANorg

-------------------------------------------------

The Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN) advocates for awareness, policies and access to psychotherapies that create meaningful change. They offer membership and educational events.

Learn more at psian.org .

The PsiAN blog can be found at: psian.org/blog

This news robot is NOT officially affiliated with PsiAN. It merely rebroadcasts from their blog and X/Twitter accounts. Responses here are not monitored by PsiAN.

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X (formerly Twitter)Psychotherapy Action Network (@PsiANorg) on X4) From working with children and families in the foster care system to providing clinical supervision across Texas, Dr. Powell-Williams brings a human-centered, culturally informed lens to every space she’s in. #TherapeuticRelationship #HumanConnection

DATE: July 19, 2025 at 10:37AM
SOURCE: PsiAN Psychotherapy Action Network

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7) Thank you, Dr. Powell-Williams, for all you bring to PsiAN and the field. We're lucky to learn from you.

LINK TO X/TWEET:twitter.com/PsiANorg/status/19

PsiAN blog articles at psian.org/blog". X/Tweets can be responded to at x.com/PsiANorg

-------------------------------------------------

The Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN) advocates for awareness, policies and access to psychotherapies that create meaningful change. They offer membership and educational events.

Learn more at psian.org .

The PsiAN blog can be found at: psian.org/blog

This news robot is NOT officially affiliated with PsiAN. It merely rebroadcasts from their blog and X/Twitter accounts. Responses here are not monitored by PsiAN.

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #PsiAN #psychotherapist #psychoanalytic #psychodynamic #depththerapy

X (formerly Twitter)Psychotherapy Action Network (@PsiANorg) on X7) Thank you, Dr. Powell-Williams, for all you bring to PsiAN and the field. We're lucky to learn from you.

DATE: July 19, 2025 at 10:37AM
SOURCE: PsiAN Psychotherapy Action Network

Article link at end of text if there is one. PsiAN often just posts or retweets without an article. Follow X/Twitter link to read & respond.

3) Early in her career, she saw firsthand the “limitations of short-term treatment” and the need for deeper, sustained care.
#DepthTherapy

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-------------------------------------------------

The Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN) advocates for awareness, policies and access to psychotherapies that create meaningful change. They offer membership and educational events.

Learn more at psian.org .

The PsiAN blog can be found at: psian.org/blog

This news robot is NOT officially affiliated with PsiAN. It merely rebroadcasts from their blog and X/Twitter accounts. Responses here are not monitored by PsiAN.

-------------------------------------------------

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X (formerly Twitter)Psychotherapy Action Network (@PsiANorg) on X3) Early in her career, she saw firsthand the “limitations of short-term treatment” and the need for deeper, sustained care. #DepthTherapy

DATE: July 19, 2025 at 10:37AM
SOURCE: PsiAN Psychotherapy Action Network

Article link at end of text if there is one. PsiAN often just posts or retweets without an article. Follow X/Twitter link to read & respond.

5) As the only psychoanalyst of color in Texas for many years, Dr. Powell-Williams has been a trailblazer and advocate for equity in mental health care — a mission that deeply aligns with this month’s call to action.
#PsychoanalyticPsychology #MentalHealthEquity

LINK TO X/TWEET:twitter.com/PsiANorg/status/19

PsiAN blog articles at psian.org/blog". X/Tweets can be responded to at x.com/PsiANorg

-------------------------------------------------

The Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN) advocates for awareness, policies and access to psychotherapies that create meaningful change. They offer membership and educational events.

Learn more at psian.org .

The PsiAN blog can be found at: psian.org/blog

This news robot is NOT officially affiliated with PsiAN. It merely rebroadcasts from their blog and X/Twitter accounts. Responses here are not monitored by PsiAN.

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #PsiAN #psychotherapist #psychoanalytic #psychodynamic #depththerapy

X (formerly Twitter)Psychotherapy Action Network (@PsiANorg) on X5) As the only psychoanalyst of color in Texas for many years, Dr. Powell-Williams has been a trailblazer and advocate for equity in mental health care — a mission that deeply aligns with this month’s call to action. #PsychoanalyticPsychology #MentalHealthEquity

DATE: July 19, 2025 at 10:37AM
SOURCE: PsiAN Psychotherapy Action Network

Article link at end of text if there is one. PsiAN often just posts or retweets without an article. Follow X/Twitter link to read & respond.

2) Dr. Powell-Williams is a distinguished psychoanalyst who champions depth, insight, and the healing power of the therapeutic relationship. Early on, she saw the limits of short-term care—and the need for deeper, sustained treatment.
#DepthTherapy #PsiAN

LINK TO X/TWEET:twitter.com/PsiANorg/status/19

PsiAN blog articles at psian.org/blog". X/Tweets can be responded to at x.com/PsiANorg

-------------------------------------------------

The Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN) advocates for awareness, policies and access to psychotherapies that create meaningful change. They offer membership and educational events.

Learn more at psian.org .

The PsiAN blog can be found at: psian.org/blog

This news robot is NOT officially affiliated with PsiAN. It merely rebroadcasts from their blog and X/Twitter accounts. Responses here are not monitored by PsiAN.

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #PsiAN #psychotherapist #psychoanalytic #psychodynamic #depththerapy

X (formerly Twitter)Psychotherapy Action Network (@PsiANorg) on X2) Dr. Powell-Williams is a distinguished psychoanalyst who champions depth, insight, and the healing power of the therapeutic relationship. Early on, she saw the limits of short-term care—and the need for deeper, sustained treatment. #DepthTherapy #PsiAN

DATE: July 19, 2025 at 10:37AM
SOURCE: PsiAN Psychotherapy Action Network

Article link at end of text if there is one. PsiAN often just posts or retweets without an article. Follow X/Twitter link to read & respond.

1) In celebration of #MinorityMentalHealth Awareness Month, we’re spotlighting Dr. Felecia Powell-Williams — a powerhouse in psychotherapy and a proud PsiAN Board Member. 🧵
#MMHAM #PsiAN #MentalHealthEquity t.co/nRAkQtwOMw

LINK TO X/TWEET:twitter.com/PsiANorg/status/19

PsiAN blog articles at psian.org/blog". X/Tweets can be responded to at x.com/PsiANorg

-------------------------------------------------

The Psychotherapy Action Network (PsiAN) advocates for awareness, policies and access to psychotherapies that create meaningful change. They offer membership and educational events.

Learn more at psian.org .

The PsiAN blog can be found at: psian.org/blog

This news robot is NOT officially affiliated with PsiAN. It merely rebroadcasts from their blog and X/Twitter accounts. Responses here are not monitored by PsiAN.

-------------------------------------------------

#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #PsiAN #psychotherapist #psychoanalytic #psychodynamic #depththerapy

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