Research Highlights

Our research highlights focus on behavioral and social sciences funded by the National Institutes of Health. These articles are for informational purposes only. They do not signify endorsement of specific studies or offer medical or treatment advice.

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Archived Content

The Office of Behavioral and Social Science Research (OBSSR) archives materials older than three years that are no longer updated. This content is available for historical purposes, and the information and links may have changed over time.

Research Spotlights

Physiological data from wearable devices improves COVID-19 diagnosis prediction compared to self-reported symptoms alone

Prenatal choline levels in children of Black American women may indicate potential predisposition for future mental illness risk

Electronic cigarettes may predispose adolescents to smoking cigarettes, even if they have no prior intention to smoke

Research Spotlights

Differences in EEG brain connectivity during language processing in 3-month-old infants at risk for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Violence exposure in childhood impacts brain network connectivity into adolescence

The higher the hypothetical risk of disease, the more willing Americans are to get vaccinated

Research Spotlights

Achieving herd immunity to COVID-19 may not be a practical public health strategy

Smartphone applications based on ‘acceptance and commitment therapy’ are effective for smoking cessation

Insomnia Symptoms in the Transition from Childhood to Adolescence

Research Spotlights

Past discriminatory housing practices may be impacting maternal and infant health today

Despite HPV vaccine efficacy, parental hesitancy to begin and complete vaccine series still exists in the U.S.

Child disability can reduce educational outcomes for older siblings

Research Spotlights

States that were slower to implement social-distancing orders saw higher COVID-19 death rates

Senses can indicate dementia risk in older adults

Racial discrimination may negatively impact cognition in African American women

Research Spotlights

Task functional MRI measurements—good for understanding the average human brain but may not be reliable for predicting individual differences

Children from disadvantaged neighborhoods have altered regulation of genes related to chronic inflammation, tobacco smoke, air pollution, and lung cancer as adults

A healthier lifestyle may lead to a 60% lower risk of Alzheimer’s dementia

Research Spotlights

More diversity in daily experiences may increase happiness and well-being

False memories may be the result of the brain updating poorly formed memories with incorrect information

Personal accounts of childhood abuse are more correlated with psychopathology than with official records

Research Spotlights

Evaluating the risk of school violence using natural language processing and machine learning

Children can “catch” their parents’ hidden emotions through synchronization of physiological responses

A risk-prediction model using patient electronic health records may help predict suicide risk in diverse populations

Research Spotlights

Controlling people’s movement altered the spread of COVID-19 in China

New links between vaping, oral microbes, and infection

Researchers identify a consciousness “switch” in the brain

Research Spotlights

Environmental conditions during childhood impact gene transcription, resulting in health issues during adulthood

The opioid epidemic toll likely higher than originally reported

Patient age may bias cardiac health care