1
|
Dawson C, Julku H, Pihlajamäki M, Kaakinen JK, Schooler JW, Simola J. Evidence-based scientific thinking and decision-making in everyday life. Cogn Res Princ Implic 2024; 9:50. [PMID: 39110276 PMCID: PMC11306497 DOI: 10.1186/s41235-024-00578-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
In today's knowledge economy, it is critical to make decisions based on high-quality evidence. Science-related decision-making is thought to rely on a complex interplay of reasoning skills, cognitive styles, attitudes, and motivations toward information. By investigating the relationship between individual differences and behaviors related to evidence-based decision-making, our aim was to better understand how adults engage with scientific information in everyday life. First, we used a data-driven exploratory approach to identify four latent factors in a large set of measures related to cognitive skills and epistemic attitudes. The resulting structure suggests that key factors include curiosity and positive attitudes toward science, prosociality, cognitive skills, and openmindedness to new information. Second, we investigated whether these factors predicted behavior in a naturalistic decision-making task. In the task, participants were introduced to a real science-related petition and were asked to read six online articles related to the petition, which varied in scientific quality, while deciding how to vote. We demonstrate that curiosity and positive science attitudes, cognitive flexibility, prosociality and emotional states, were related to engaging with information and discernment of evidence reliability. We further found that that social authority is a powerful cue for source credibility, even above the actual quality and relevance of the sources. Our results highlight that individual motivating factors toward information engagement, like curiosity, and social factors such as social authority are important drivers of how adults judge the credibility of everyday sources of scientific information.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin Dawson
- Department of Education, University of Helsinki, Siltavuorenpenger 3A, 00170, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Hanna Julku
- Department of Education, University of Helsinki, Siltavuorenpenger 3A, 00170, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Milla Pihlajamäki
- Department of Education, University of Helsinki, Siltavuorenpenger 3A, 00170, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Johanna K Kaakinen
- Department of Psychology and Speech-Language Pathology, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
- INVEST Research Flagship Center, University of Turku, 20014, Turku, Finland
| | - Jonathan W Schooler
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California Santa Barbara, Building 251, Santa Barbara, 93106, USA
| | - Jaana Simola
- Department of Education, University of Helsinki, Siltavuorenpenger 3A, 00170, Helsinki, Finland
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang Z, Li Y, Zeng Y, Deng J, Xing Q, Luo J. The involvement of decomposition and composition processes in restructuring during problem solving. Conscious Cogn 2024; 121:103685. [PMID: 38598896 DOI: 10.1016/j.concog.2024.103685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Decomposition of chunks has been widely accepted as a critical proxy of restructuring, but the role of composition in forming new representations has been largely neglected. This study aims to investigate the roles of both decomposition and composition processes in chunk restructuring, as well as their relationships with "aha" experiences during problem-solving. Participants were asked to move a part of a character to another character to create two new characters. Across three experiments, the characters to be decomposed or composed were varied in terms of tight or loose chunks. The results showed that decomposition or composition of tight chunks led to lower success rates, longer response times, and significantly stronger "Aha!" emotional experiences (mainly in terms of surprise and suddenness). This study provides evidence for the contribution of both decomposition and composition processes to restructuring in creative insight.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhonglu Zhang
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Guangzhou University, China.
| | - Yizhu Li
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Guangzhou University, China.
| | - Yuxin Zeng
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Guangzhou University, China.
| | - Jiamin Deng
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Guangzhou University, China.
| | - Qiang Xing
- Department of Psychology, School of Education, Guangzhou University, China.
| | - Jing Luo
- School of Psychology, Capital Normal University, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Armstrong M, Castellanos J, Christie D. Chronic pain as an emergent property of a complex system and the potential roles of psychedelic therapies. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2024; 5:1346053. [PMID: 38706873 PMCID: PMC11066302 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2024.1346053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite research advances and urgent calls by national and global health organizations, clinical outcomes for millions of people suffering with chronic pain remain poor. We suggest bringing the lens of complexity science to this problem, conceptualizing chronic pain as an emergent property of a complex biopsychosocial system. We frame pain-related physiology, neuroscience, developmental psychology, learning, and epigenetics as components and mini-systems that interact together and with changing socioenvironmental conditions, as an overarching complex system that gives rise to the emergent phenomenon of chronic pain. We postulate that the behavior of complex systems may help to explain persistence of chronic pain despite current treatments. From this perspective, chronic pain may benefit from therapies that can be both disruptive and adaptive at higher orders within the complex system. We explore psychedelic-assisted therapies and how these may overlap with and complement mindfulness-based approaches to this end. Both mindfulness and psychedelic therapies have been shown to have transdiagnostic value, due in part to disruptive effects on rigid cognitive, emotional, and behavioral patterns as well their ability to promote neuroplasticity. Psychedelic therapies may hold unique promise for the management of chronic pain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maya Armstrong
- Department of Family & Community Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Joel Castellanos
- Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Devon Christie
- Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kabrel M, Tulver K, Aru J. The journey within: mental navigation as a novel framework for understanding psychotherapeutic transformation. BMC Psychiatry 2024; 24:91. [PMID: 38302927 PMCID: PMC10835954 DOI: 10.1186/s12888-024-05522-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the demonstrated efficacy of psychotherapy, the precise mechanisms that drive therapeutic transformations have posed a challenge and still remain unresolved. Here, we suggest a potential solution to this problem by introducing a framework based on the concept of mental navigation. It refers to our ability to navigate our cognitive space of thoughts, ideas, concepts, and memories, similar to how we navigate physical space. We start by analyzing the neural, cognitive, and experiential constituents intrinsic to mental navigation. Subsequently, we posit that the metaphoric spatial language we employ to articulate introspective experiences (e.g., "unexplored territory" or "going in circles") serves as a robust marker of mental navigation. METHODS Using large text corpora, we compared the utilization of spatial language between transcripts of psychotherapy sessions (≈ 12 M. words), casual everyday conversations (≈ 12 M. words), and fictional dialogues in movies (≈ 14 M. words). We also examined 110 psychotherapy transcripts qualitatively to discern patterns and dynamics associated with mental navigation. RESULTS We found a notable increase in the utilization of spatial metaphors during psychotherapy compared to casual everyday dialogues (U = 192.0, p = .001, d = 0.549) and fictional conversations (U = 211, p < .001, d = 0.792). In turn, analyzing the usage of non-spatial metaphors, we did not find significant differences between the three datasets (H = 0.682, p = 0.710). The qualitative analysis highlighted specific examples of mental navigation at play. CONCLUSION Mental navigation might underlie the psychotherapy process and serve as a robust framework for understanding the transformative changes it brings about.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mykyta Kabrel
- Institute of Philosophy and Semiotics, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Kadi Tulver
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jaan Aru
- Institute of Computer Science, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Laukkonen RE, Webb M, Salvi C, Tangen JM, Slagter HA, Schooler JW. Insight and the selection of ideas. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 153:105363. [PMID: 37598874 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Perhaps it is no accident that insight moments accompany some of humanity's most important discoveries in science, medicine, and art. Here we propose that feelings of insight play a central role in (heuristically) selecting an idea from the stream of consciousness by capturing attention and eliciting a sense of intuitive confidence permitting fast action under uncertainty. The mechanisms underlying this Eureka heuristic are explained within an active inference framework. First, implicit restructuring via Bayesian reduction leads to a higher-order prediction error (i.e., the content of insight). Second, dopaminergic precision-weighting of the prediction error accounts for the intuitive confidence, pleasure, and attentional capture (i.e., the feeling of insight). This insight as precision account is consistent with the phenomenology, accuracy, and neural unfolding of insight, as well as its effects on belief and decision-making. We conclude by reflecting on dangers of the Eureka Heuristic, including the arising and entrenchment of false beliefs and the vulnerability of insights under psychoactive substances and misinformation.
Collapse
|
6
|
Dourron HM, Copes H, Vedre-Kyanam A, Reyes DD, Gossage M, Sweat NW, Hendricks PS. A Qualitative Analysis of First-Hand Accounts of Diphenhydramine Misuse Available on YouTube. J Psychoactive Drugs 2023:1-9. [PMID: 37650682 DOI: 10.1080/02791072.2023.2251985] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Deliriants are the least studied class of hallucinogens and display noticeable subjective effects, including dysphoria, hallucinations, and substantial alterations in thought. High doses of diphenhydramine (DPH), an over-the-counter antihistamine medication, can produce deliriant effects due to secondary anticholinergic activity. We sought to characterize the subjective experiences produced by DPH misuse to better understand deliriants more broadly and the context under which DPH misuse occurs. To conduct our analysis, 32 first-hand accounts of DPH misuse publicly available in YouTube videos were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Video makers discussed alterations in most sensory modalities, confusion, and a tendency for strongly unpleasant experiences. Occasionally, video makers reported positive effects, although these were rare and often overshadowed by negative aspects of the experience. Video makers frequently warned against misusing DPH, and these individuals occasionally reported adverse post-acute effects. Despite the prevalence of adverse experiences, patterns of repeated misuse were sometimes discussed. Motives for misusing DPH, when mentioned, included accessibility, affordability, and legality. Overall, findings suggest DPH misuse can produce substantial psychoactive effects that are often distressing and share some phenomenological overlap with experiences produced by psychosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haley Maria Dourron
- Drug Use & Behavior Lab, Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Heith Copes
- Department of Criminal Justice, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Agasthya Vedre-Kyanam
- Drug Use & Behavior Lab, Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Daniel D Reyes
- Drug Use & Behavior Lab, Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Maggie Gossage
- Drug Use & Behavior Lab, Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Noah Wiles Sweat
- Drug Use & Behavior Lab, Department of Health Behavior, School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Peter S Hendricks
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurobiology, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| |
Collapse
|