Eric W. Dolan

1 day ago | psypost.org | Eric W. Dolan

A new series of studies suggests that unusual experiences like premonitions, déjà vu, and out-of-body sensations are not rare, but instead quite common—and that people who report them often share distinct psychological traits. The research, published in the journal Psychology of Consciousness: Theory, Research, and Practice, found that individuals high in a trait called subconscious connectedness were significantly more likely to report frequent anomalous experiences.

2 days ago | psypost.org | Eric W. Dolan

A large-scale study published in Psychiatry Research suggests that physical activity is associated with better mental health outcomes in adolescents, but only up to a point. Using wearable devices and brain imaging data, researchers found that moderate amounts of activity — but not excessive exercise — were linked to fewer internalizing and thought problems.

2 days ago | psypost.org | Eric W. Dolan

A new study published in Psychology of Religion and Spirituality examined whether psychedelic use is associated with changes in religious beliefs and spiritual identity. Analyzing two large birth cohorts in the United Kingdom and a longitudinal survey in the United States and United Kingdom, researchers found that people who had used psychedelics were more likely to report religious disaffiliation—but psychedelic use was not associated with changes in spirituality or religiosity over time.

2 days ago | psypost.org | Eric W. Dolan

New research published in Neuroscience provides insight into how chronic treatment with escitalopram, a commonly prescribed antidepressant, can reverse anxiety- and despair-like behaviors in adolescent rats that experienced early life stress. The study also suggests that these behavioral improvements may be linked to changes in the brain’s endocannabinoid system, a neuromodulatory network involved in stress regulation and emotional processing.

2 days ago | psypost.org | Eric W. Dolan

Despite widespread claims that dating is “broken,” a new study finds that college students’ perceptions of romantic relationship development have remained largely stable over the past decade. In both 2012 and 2022, young adults described a similar sequence of stages—from flirtation to commitment—even as the social landscape has shifted dramatically. The study, published in the journal Personal Relationships, was led by Brian Ogolsky at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.