ScienceDaily: Mind & Brain News

People adopt different social behavior depending on the context they're in. A deeply generous friend may be a cutthroat colleague, for example. Using a game theory framework, researchers find that context-dependent behavior doesn't stop cooperation from flourishing, especially when behavioral strategies can 'spillover' between social settings.

The way we experience the world occurs due to complex and intricate interactions between neurons in the brain. Now, a study suggests that astrocytes -- star-shaped, non-neuronal cells in the brain -- might also play an important role in processing information, and perhaps even memory.

Research involving more than 350,000 participants from over 50 countries and 6 continents has found that links between musical preferences and personality are universal. The findings suggest that music could play a greater role in overcoming social division, as well as offering currently untapped therapeutic benefits.