Frontier mental health research: psychedelics & drug studies

Each month our editorial team sifts through hundreds of papers and curates notable findings—for practitioners and informed readers who want to stay current with the evidence. Subscribe to the monthly Research Digest for expert analysis and concise summaries of key papers.

3 papers

Effects of different natural soundscapes on human psychophysiology in national forest park

Zhengkang Bai, Shuangquan Zhang
Scientific Reports Summary & key facts 2024 29 citations

Researchers studied visitors at Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in China. They measured brain signals (EEG) and used a short mood scale (POMS). Listening to natural sounds led to clear, positive changes in both psychological and physiological measures (p = 0.001). A combined multi-element natural soundscape worked best overall, outperforming single-element…

Noise Effects and Management Urban Green Space and Health Urban Heat Island Mitigation

Natural soundscapes enhance mood recovery amid anthropogenic noise pollution

Lia R. V. Gilmour, Isabelle Bray, Chris Alford, Paul R. Lintott
PLoS ONE Summary & key facts 2024 6 citations

Researchers played three 3‑minute sound recordings to 68 university students: a natural dawn chorus of birds, that same recording with added traffic noise recorded at a 20 mi/h road, and the recording with traffic from a 40 mi/h road. Participants reported the lowest anxiety and stress and the most positive…

Multisensory perception and integration Noise Effects and Management Urban Green Space and Health

Empty nest syndrome: A concept analysis

Maryam Ahmadi Khatir, Mahnaz Modanloo, Ali Dadgari, Leila Teymouri Yeganeh, Homeira Khoddam

This study reviewed research and interviewed parents to define empty nest syndrome (ENS). The authors say ENS is a personal reaction parents have when their children leave home. They describe it as a process that usually starts when the last child leaves and can last up to two years. The…

Adolescent and Pediatric Healthcare Child Nutrition and Feeding Issues Family Support in Illness
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