Publications by authors named "David Bryce Yaden"

Article Synopsis
  • - The study developed a shortened version of the Awe Experience Scale (AWE-SF) to make it easier for participants while keeping its accuracy intact, using data collected from psychedelic samples across five different studies.
  • - The AWE-SF kept the original six-factor structure of the longer AWE-S and was validated by showing strong connections to positive emotions, mystical experiences, and overall well-being.
  • - Specific elements of awe, like feelings of connection or vastness, were linked to positive feelings, while aspects like self-loss were tied to more challenging experiences; overall, the AWE-SF proved effective as a tool for measuring awe experiences.
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This paper provides a critical review of several possible mechanisms at different levels of analysis underlying the effects and therapeutic potential of psychedelics. At the (1) biochemical level, psychedelics primarily affect the 5-HT receptor, increase neuroplasticity, offer a critical period for social reward learning, and have anti-inflammatory properties. At the (2) neural level, psychedelics have been associated with reduced efficacy of thalamo-cortical filtering, the loosening of top-down predictive signaling and an increased sensitivity to bottom-up prediction errors, and activation of the claustro-cortical-circuit.

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While there is a growing literature on "dark traits" (i.e., socially aversive traits), there has been a lack of integration with the burgeoning research literature on positive traits and fulfilling and growth-oriented outcomes in life.

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Background: The availability of technological means to enhance and repair human cognitive function raises questions about the perceived morality of their use. However, we have limited knowledge about the public's intuitive attitudes toward uses of brain stimulation. Studies that enlighten us about the public's willingness to endorse specific uses of brain stimulation on themselves and others could provide a basis to understand the moral psychology guiding intuitions about neuromodulation and opportunities to inform public education and public policy.

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Using a large social media dataset and open-vocabulary methods from computational linguistics, we explored differences in language use across gender, affiliation, and assertiveness. In Study 1, we analyzed topics (groups of semantically similar words) across 10 million messages from over 52,000 Facebook users. Most language differed little across gender.

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