Thursday, September 19, 2024

The relationship between emotions and economic decision-making differs across countries, multi-national analysis finds

The relationship between emotions and economic decision-making could differ across countries — Cross-country variation in the relationship between positive mood and patience (a) or

When making economic decisions, humans can be driven by various factors, including their goals and emotions. Past studies have hypothesized that emotions play a crucial role in economic decisions, particularly those that involve risk or trade-offs between immediate and future benefits.

Researchers at Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University and University of Chicago Booth School of Business recently set out to investigate the relationship between emotions and economic choices in greater depth by analyzing a large multi-national dataset.

Their findings, published in Nature Human Behaviour, unveiled distinct patterns in the extent to which emotions predict economic decisions across several countries worldwide.

"In 2019, we encountered a new dataset that measured how individuals make financial decisions around the globe," Samuel Pertl, co-author of the paper, told Phys.org. "We were fascinated by this dataset, and as we delved deeper, we discovered an additional layer of information that the original research team had not explored: participants' emotional experiences.

"This aspect intrigued us because most prior research on the influence of emotions on decision-making has been conducted in a few highly developed countries, primarily the U.S. With nationally representative samples from 74 countries, we saw an opportunity to test whether the relationship between emotions and economic decision-making replicates and generalizes on a global scale."

Some theorists previously proposed that the link between emotions and economic choices could be universal and thus exhibits similar patterns across different countries. The key objective of the recent study by Pertl and his colleagues was to test this hypothesis, by analyzing data from the Gallup World Poll and Global Preferences Survey, two large-scale surveys spanning a total of 74 countries.

"To examine how emotions influence economic decision-making, we employed two different approaches," explained Pertl. "There are already many existing studies examining how incidental emotions influence individuals' intertemporal or risky decisions. As a first step, we summarized these studies through a meta-analysis, which pools together existing findings and summarizes them into an average relationship."

The meta-analysis carried out by the researchers unveiled that most past studies were conducted with non-representative samples, typically from a few Western countries.

This encouraged them to carry out a global analysis, leveraging large multi-national datasets. Collectively, Pertl and his colleagues analyzed the survey responses of 77,242 individuals residing in 74 countries.

"Each respondent was asked about their emotional experiences—specifically, whether they experienced happiness, enjoyment, sadness, worry, anger, stress or pain during most of the previous day, with each emotion measured separately," said Pertl.

"The dataset also captured how individuals made economic decisions, such as choosing between a smaller immediate reward versus a larger future reward (intertemporal decision), or between a certain smaller reward versus an uncertain larger reward (risky decision)."

Using statistical methods, the researchers looked at whether emotions predicted the economic decisions of survey respondents, controlling for various factors, including demographics, language differences and geographical location. To determine whether the link between emotions and economic decision-making was in fact universal, they compared the patterns they observed across different countries.

"I believe the most notable finding from our paper is that there is substantial and systematic cross-country variation in whether and how emotions predict economic decision-making," said Pertl. "For example, it has been proposed that being in a positive mood leads to greater patience (i.e., individuals are more willing to wait for a delayed reward).

"However, our analyses suggest that this relationship is far from universal. We found that while being in a positive mood was associated with greater patience in 53 countries, it was linked to greater impatience in 21 countries."

Interestingly, Pertl and his colleagues also found that the cross-country differences in the relationships between emotions and economic decision-making can be explained. Specifically, they found that emotions were stronger predictors of economic decisions in more economically developed countries (measured using the Human Development Index) and in more individualistic countries (measured using Hofstede's Individualism Index).

"Our findings underscore the need for more diverse samples when studying fundamental questions about decision-making," added Pertl. "While I am now exploring questions in a different research area, my co-authors are still working on several projects related to how emotions influence decision-making."

More information: Samuel M. Pertl et al, A multinational analysis of how emotions relate to economic decisions regarding time or risk, Nature Human Behaviour (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01927-3

Journal information: Nature Human Behaviour

Fear may lead women and men to make different decisions when choosing short-vs-long-term rewards, finds study

Do cats know their own dimensions and use that knowledge to squeeze through tight openings?

An ethologist at Eötvös Loránd University has tested cats in their home environments to better understand their awareness of their own size and dimensions. In his study published in iScience, Péter Pongrácz conducted experiments with cats and their owners regarding the feline's awareness of their own body size and shape.

Anecdotal evidence has shown that the common housecat is able to slip through extremely small openings and conform itself into small odd shapes such as flower vases. These abilities have led some to describe their pets as liquid entities, able to take on any shape or form.

In this new study, Pongrácz wondered about the processing in the cat's mind as it sized up an opening or container, perhaps wondering if it could fit through, or get inside of it. To that end, Pongrácz devised experiments to carry out in his lab.

Unfortunately, he soon found that cats, unlike the dogs he has worked with in the past, were not willing to work with him in the lab environment. Undeterred, he searched for and found 30 cat owners who allowed him to come into their homes to carry out his experiments.

Pongrácz placed thick pieces of cardboard into doorframes between rooms, fully blocking them—each had a hole in it, which the cat could climb through. The cats were tested by putting them on one side of the cardboard and the owners coaxed them to come through the hole. The size of holes varied by height and width, and each cat was invited to come through the barrier under a variety of circumstances.

Pongrácz found that most of the cats began to hesitate when confronted with a hole that had a height that appeared too small to allow them passage. This was not the case regarding width—they would give it a go no matter how narrow the hole.

Pongrácz also found that if a cat had made up its mind to try to get through the hole, it was almost always unwilling to give up until it succeeded, regardless of the amount of work involved in shimmying through.

More information: Péter Pongrácz, Cats are (almost) liquid!—Cats selectively rely on body size awareness when negotiating short openings, iScience (2024). DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110799

Journal information: iScience

Guppies found to be susceptible to optical illusions

Polar bears found to have diverged from brown bears just 70,000 years ago

A team of molecular ecologists at the University of Copenhagen, in Denmark, has found that polar bears developed unique features that allowed them to survive in a harsh, cold environment just 70,000 years ago.

In their study published in the journal BMC Genomics, the group analyzed the genomes of more than 100 polar bears, another 100 brown bears and a pair of fossilized polar bears to learn more about the timeline involved in the development of characteristics such as white fur and the ability to subsist on a diet high in cholesterol.

Prior research has shown that polar bears are closely related to brown bears but until now, it was not known when the two species diverged. In this new study, the team in Denmark set themselves the task of finding the answer.

Some of the main differences between brown and polar bears are their fur color, of course, but also their fur types. Brown bears have one layer of fur, polar bears have two—an undercoat of downy fur that helps them stay warm and an overcoat that helps them stay dry. Polar bears have also developed the ability to eat meat containing a lot of blubber. If brown bears ate such a lipid-rich diet, they would develop heart disease and die young.

To learn more about when the two species diverged, the team looked at the genomes of both types of bears, most specifically at those genes involved in fur type and color and cardiovascular functions.

Polar bears found to have diverged from brown bears just 70,000 years ago — Geographic localities of the polar and brown bears included in this study. CWL shows the bears that were used in the study by Castruita, Westbury, and Lorenzen. Stars indicate the two Late Pleistocene polar bears. Credit: *BMC Genomics* (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10617-3

By comparing the genomes of 119 polar bears, 135 brown bears and two fossilized polar bears, the researchers found differences going back approximately 70,000 years, suggesting that polar bears have developed their unique characteristics much more recently than previously thought.

More specifically, the team found seven genes related to polar adaptation, four of which were fixed alleles in the polar bears. The comparison also showed that divergence was more gradual than previously thought.

The research team concludes that the gene differences associated with polar bear adaptions may have been influenced by bears living during the end stages of the last ice age.

More information: Yulin Sun et al, Late Pleistocene polar bear genomes reveal the timing of allele fixation in key genes associated with Arctic adaptation, BMC Genomics (2024). DOI: 10.1186/s12864-024-10617-3

Journal information: BMC Genomics

A study of polar bear paw papillae shows how they maintain traction on ice

Moving as one: Discovering how synchronous movements strengthen social bonds

by Elaina Hancock, University of Connecticut

Sharing stories over a cup of coffee; dancing in a group; cheering a football game in a crowd: these everyday rituals are among many different types of shared experiences that help humans develop social cohesion.

UConn researchers are studying another way humans connect: through synchronous movement or chanting, and Mohammadamin Saraei, a graduate student in the Department of Psychological Sciences, says we can see examples of the phenomenon everywhere around us, and throughout history in many cultures and religions.

After years of research, we now know that synchrony enhances social cohesion, creates a shared identity, boosts prosocial behavior, builds trust, and even contributes to our overall well-being.

But what makes this group-level synchrony happen? Saraei and co-authors Alexandra Paxton, assistant professor in the Department of Psychological Sciences, and Dimitris Xygalatas, associate professor in the Department of Anthropology, have detailed their findings in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B.

The researchers studied synchrony during a religious ritual at the UConn Islamic Center, called Salat al Jama'ah, where more than 200 worshipers gathered for evening prayer.

They wanted to determine which aspects of the ritual were most impactful for creating synchrony, so they recruited participants who agreed to wear a comfortable device to measure physiological data like heart rate, breathing, and posture, and another device to measure the position of the participants throughout the prayer.

Saraei says that each day there are five rounds of prayer that Muslims are advised to do, and ideally with others as a community. To emphasize the community aspect, the researchers timed their study during the holy month of Ramadan, when Muslims fast during daylight hours and are likely to pray in larger group settings.

"We are very appreciative of Muslim students at UConn because it was difficult to participate in this study, especially considering we gathered this data during Ramadan, when they were fasting for 14 hours or so, but they were very cooperative and this study would not have been possible without them," says Saraei.

For the ritual, worshipers gather for the group prayer, and men are encouraged to line up closely behind the leader (imam), women usually gather behind a partition, and everyone faces the same direction—qibla, or the direction of Islam's most holy site in Mecca. The imam leads a cycle of prayers which include coordinated sequences of bowing and prostrating movements.

The results showed that, beyond impacts from worshippers around an individual, the researchers discovered the important role of the leader in creating synchrony and its physiological impacts, like synchronization of the participants' heart rates.

"This study shows us the important role of a leader in a community. Having a leader is a double-edged sword. This role can either be beneficial or harmful—because if you have a bad leader, they might create a toxic environment for everyone, like in a cult. But if you have a good leader, they can foster a community that helps everyone grow," Saraei says.

He says another important aspect of creating synchrony was the effect of proximity the worshipers had to the imam—the closer to the imam, the stronger the effect.

"Worshipers are strongly advised to go to the first lines behind the imam. We don't know the religious reasons behind it, but, interestingly, it is connected to the synchrony measures we have too," he says.

"I think one of the most important findings of this study was that if you are closer to that center of synchrony, you will get more synchronous, even physiologically in your heart rate, and there seems to be a ripple effect to the lines behind."

This ripple effect is likely due to the auditory-visual information that worshipers receive, says Saraei. During the prayer, people are looking down, therefore they can see their nearest neighbors in their peripheral vision, and this seems to help with coordinating movements.

"They hear the imam, but some of them do not see him, and there is a kind of two-way effect of synchrony. On one hand, you're seeing your neighbors, and this is one of your major sources of information, but on the other hand, you're affected from a longer distance by the imam."

Beyond religious settings, Saraei says Xygalatas's research group is also looking at the role synchrony plays in political events like debates or rallies.

"The way people chant or clap for the president, these gestures all affect social cohesion. Another example is with soldiers marching, which is no use in today's battlefields, but marching still makes sense because it helps create that bond you need on the battlefield."

Saraei is currently analyzing other positive health benefits of synchronous prayer by looking at heart rate variability (HRV) during prayer.

"Another interesting finding in my current analysis is the increase in HRV during Islamic collective prayer, suggesting its positive effects on well-being and stress reduction."

He says HRV is an indicator of things like reduced stress, a greater sense of well-being, and a healthy immune system. Saraei also has plans to investigate how the number of participants impacts synchrony and the potential impacts of virtual versus in-person participation.

Saraei says this study shows some of the mechanisms underlying synchrony for grounding and creating social interactions and cohesion. This is important because synchrony is a key aspect of our social lives.

"Synchrony is all around us, subtly shaping our connections and experiences," says Saraei. "Once you recognize it, you begin to see it everywhere, woven into the fabric of daily life—bringing us together in ways we often take for granted."

More information: Mohammadamin Saraei et al, Aligned bodies, united hearts: embodied emotional dynamics of an Islamic ritual, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences (2024). DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2023.0162

Journal information: Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B

Provided by University of Connecticut In sync: The biological underpinnings of romantic attraction and bonding

Side effects of wide-scale forestation could reduce water availability by 15% in vulnerable regions

by Alice Fletcher, University of Sheffield

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

Side effects of wide-scale forestation could reduce water availability by 15 per cent in vulnerable regions — The Max Forest scenario in the context of the shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs).

The side effects of large-scale forestation initiatives could have serious consequences for water availability, a pioneering study has found.

The research, led by scientists at the University of Sheffield in collaboration with NCAR, WWF and University of Washington, has raised significant concerns about the potential unintended impacts of large-scale forest expansion as a nature-based solution to climate change.

Published in Biogeosciences, the study revealed how expanding forest cover—while beneficial for capturing carbon dioxide—may lead to water scarcity and impact water security in some of the world's most vulnerable regions. Central Africa, a region with low adaptive capacity to climate change, could see water availability reduced by 15%

The study found that large-scale forestation could result in a surface cooling of up to 2°C at low latitudes by 2100, driven by a 10% increase in evaporative cooling. However, this cooling effect comes with trade-offs.

Building on previous work examining the atmospheric and radiative effects of forest expansion, this study focuses on the implications for water availability. The research found that in certain regions, particularly in the tropics, plant water stress more than doubles when forest expansion is implemented, raising concerns about the feasibility of these initiatives and their potential to compromise water security.

This reduced water availability could negatively impact agriculture and food production, particularly in regions reliant on groundwater and rivers.

Dr. James King, from the University of Sheffield's School of Biosciences and lead author of the research, said, "Our findings suggest that large-scale forest expansion plans may have more complex side-effects than previously thought if they are realised in the next few decades.

"While forestation can contribute to local cooling, the increased water demand could have serious consequences for water supply, especially in tropical and subtropical grassland areas. This calls into question the viability of forest expansion as a one-size-fits-all solution for climate change mitigation.

"We argue that while 'nature-based solutions' such as forest expansion are important and valuable tools in the fight against climate change, they need to be stress-tested using simulations to uncover potential negative side effects. This research highlights that relying on a single mitigation strategy is risky, and there is no substitute for reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

Dr. Maria Val Martin, University of Sheffield UKRI Future Leaders Fellow and senior author of the study, said, "Our study shows that large-scale forestation can offer regional cooling benefits and contribute to climate change mitigation, but it also has trade-offs. Expanding forests enhances evaporative cooling and lowers temperatures, but it also doubles water demand in some tropical regions, raising concerns about water availability in the future. It underscores the importance of carefully considering the biophysical impacts of reforestation and afforestation strategies, in addition to their CO2 removal potential."

Using advanced computer models simulating the Earth's land, atmosphere, and oceans, the researchers analyzed the global effects of current forest expansion plans. Beyond capturing and storing carbon, trees also significantly increase water transfer from soils into the atmosphere. While this has a cooling effect on the Earth's surface, it can also dry soils and rivers, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, which may affect local food and water security.

The study comes at a time when tree planting initiatives are gaining momentum worldwide as an easy-to-understand and widely promoted solution to climate change.

The research group's next steps include investigating how forest expansion might be affected by wildfires in a warming world, as well as examining the consequences of wetland restoration for climate mitigation. The team is also studying how combining different climate strategies may affect air quality, particularly in the UK.

More information: James A. King et al, Global and regional hydrological impacts of global forest expansion, Biogeosciences (2024). DOI: 10.5194/bg-21-3883-2024

Journal information: Biogeosciences

Provided by University of Sheffield Side effects of wide scale forestation could reduce carbon removal benefits by up to a third, study finds

Discrepancies seen between young people's preferred, actual sources of contraceptive info

by Lori Solomon

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

Discrepancies seen between young people's preferred, actual sources of contraceptive info

There are discrepancies between preferred and actual sources of contraceptive information for U.S. adolescents and young adults (AYA), according to a research letter published online Sept. 13 in JAMA Network Open.

Elizabeth Pleasants, Dr.P.H., from the University of California, Berkeley, and colleagues examined AYAs' preferred and actual sources of contraceptive information and assessed associations with reporting sufficient contraceptive information. The analysis included data from the online 2023 Thanks, Birth Control Survey (1,150 AYAs aged 15 to 29 years).

The researchers found discrepancies between AYAs' preferred and actual sources of contraceptive information and variations by age. Clinicians were the most commonly preferred source (68% among those younger than 18 years, 84% among 18- to 24-year-olds, and 87% among 25- to 29-year-olds). However, clinicians were less commonly the actual sources (33% among those younger than 18 years, 43% among 18- to 24-year-olds, and 50% among 25- to 29-year-olds).

Websites were reported more often as a preferred rather than actual source among older participants (36 versus 18% among 18- to 24-year-olds and 38 versus 17% among 25- to 29-year-olds). Social networking sites were less commonly preferred (6% among those younger than 18 years, 12% among 18- to 24-year-olds, and 10% among 25- to 29-year-olds), but were the second most common actual source for respondents ages 18 years and older (28% among 18- to 24-year-olds and 18% among 25- to 29-year-olds).

"Clinician engagement in online health education may be one strategy to help AYAs access preferred contraceptive information," the authors write.

More information: Elizabeth Pleasants et al, Adolescents and Young Adults' Sources of Contraceptive Information, JAMA Network Open (2024). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.33310

Journal information: JAMA Network Open

THE STAR NAMED WORMWOOD

Study explores metabolic disruptions in Artemisia annua mutant strain

by TranSpread

SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

The hidden metabolic landscape: Unraveling the genetic underpinnings of Artemisia annua — GSTs developmental defects in Artemisia annua lead to dramatic metabolic changes. Credit: *Horticulture Research* (2024). DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae174

Artemisia annua is celebrated for its production of artemisinin, a powerful antimalarial agent. Although its glandular secretory trichomes have been the focus of extensive research, a complete understanding of their metabolic processes remains elusive. Previous studies have primarily centered on artemisinin, often overlooking other crucial metabolic pathways. Addressing these knowledge gaps is crucial for unlocking new therapeutic potentials within this medicinal plant.

Led by Shanghai Jiao Tong University researchers and published in Horticulture Research, the study explores the metabolic disturbances of a mutant strain of Artemisia annua, designated as TRICHOME DEVELOPMENTAL DEFECTS 1 (tdd1). This mutant displayed impaired glandular secretory trichome (GST) functionality, severely compromising artemisinin production. Utilizing integrated multi-omics profiling, the researchers identified complex metabolic disruptions, offering fresh perspectives on plant secondary metabolism.

The study analyzed the tdd1 mutant, which displayed pronounced defects in GSTs, crucial for artemisinin biosynthesis. In both young and mature leaves, artemisinin and its precursors were nearly undetectable, highlighting a significant disruption in the metabolic pathway. Through advanced Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analyses, 836 metabolites were identified, including flavonoids and terpenoids, many of which were absent in the mutant.

The research revealed key differences in the Mevalonate Pathway (MVA) and (Methylerythritol Phosphate Pathway) MEP pathways, with minimal expression of GST-specific genes linked to artemisinin biosynthesis. These findings underline the broader metabolic impact of GST defects and underscore their importance in secondary metabolite synthesis. The study demonstrates how multi-omics approaches can decipher complex metabolic interactions, enhancing our understanding of plant metabolism.

Dr. Ling Li, one of the study's researchers, stated, "This research unravels the complex metabolic network within Artemisia annua, spotlighting the vital role of glandular secretory trichomes. Identifying specific genes responsible for artemisinin deficiency in the tdd1 mutant lays a crucial foundation for future studies aimed at boosting antimalarial drug production."

The insights from this study hold significant potential for enhancing antimalarial drug production by targeting specific metabolic pathways in Artemisia annua. Deciphering the genetic and metabolic framework of GSTs can lead to refined cultivation techniques and genetic modifications that enhance artemisinin yields.

Additionally, this research opens avenues for exploring other valuable secondary metabolites in A. annua, potentially leading to the discovery of new medicinal compounds beyond artemisinin.

More information: Wei Qin et al, Integrated multi-omics profiling reveals a landscape of dramatic metabolic defect in Artemisia annua, Horticulture Research (2024). DOI: 10.1093/hr/uhae174

Journal information: Horticulture Research

Provided by TranSpreadUnlocking artemisinin production secrets in Artemisia annua: The role of DBR2-like gene variations

When Einstein and Kafka Met

Imagining a conversation between the two great minds.

By Ken Krimstein
September 18, 2024

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In Body Image — * Berta Fanta, 1865–1918. First woman graduate of Karl University in Prague, at that time called the Charles-Ferdinand University.

* And write the first ever sci-fi novel!

Ken Krimstein
Posted on September 18, 2024
Ken Krimstein has published cartoons in The New Yorker, Punch, the Wall Street Journal, and more. He is the author of The Three Escapes of Hannah Arendt, which won the Bernard J. Brommel Award for Biography and Memoir, and was a finalist for the Jewish Book Award and the Chautauqua Prize, and also of Kvetch as Kvetch Can. He lives and writes and draws in Evanston, Illinois.

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