When picturing a “typical” alcoholic, people tend to imagine a person drinking at home alone. But that focus overlooks the social origins of many serious alcohol problems, say the authors of a new review paper in the journal Current Directions in Psychological Science.

A new study led by students Adi Shapira and Hodaya Zadok, under the supervision of Prof. Tsachi Ein Dor and Prof. Anat Shoshani of the Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology at Reichman University, explores how the loss of a parent in childhood impacts biological and emotional mechanisms. These changes pave the way for resilience and personal growth through the regulation of the body systems involved in attachment and exploration. Focusing on the long-term effects of childhood parental loss, the study highlights the internal forces that enable people to grow from trauma. It demonstrates that while losing a parent is a painful and life-altering experience, it also presents an opportunity for profound changes in brain structures and emotional mechanisms that can lead to a process of recovery, social connection, and creativity.

An intriguing editorial in the Psychedelics journal announces an expanded focus beyond traditional psychedelic compounds to include the full spectrum of consciousness-altering substances. Editor-in-Chief Dr. Julio Licinio frames this approach as part of humanity's ongoing quest to transcend our inherent incompleteness.

A new study published in The American Naturalist links grazing halo patterns in coral reefs, as well as those in other patchy habitats, to the spatial patterns of the shelter habitat itself. The researchers found that grazing halos are distinct when the coral is clustered but merge into each other when the coral is dispersed. According to the lead author, "...gaining a better understanding of how halo patterns reflect reef community dynamics may be useful in reef conservation efforts."