Nature Human Behaviour

Mi, Qingtian; Summerfield, Christopher

doi: 10.1038/s41562-026-02452-1pmid: 42086732

Humans often learn better when problems are broken down into parts, but this phenomenon has eluded explanation at the computational level. Here we study how differing training curricula help or hinder learning in a classic probabilistic cue combination task. Training curricula that ‘divide and conquer’ by presenting one cue at a time facilitate later performance on test trials involving multiple cues. This effect is captured by a hybrid learning framework that arbitrates between two different learning strategies: a marginal updating process, which assigns credit to each cue independent of every other, and a joint updating process, which distributes credit across cues on the basis of their joint presence. We use this theory to generate new ‘skewed distribution’ multi-cue curricula that should and should not successfully promote human learning. It makes accurate predictions, demonstrating that we can use computational insights of learning to accelerate human probabilistic learning.

Hechtlinger, Shahar

doi: 10.1038/s41562-026-02484-7pmid: 42141091

The leaky pipeline is not only about hiring and promotion but also what happens in networking spaces where harassment goes unchecked. When careers depend on conferences and collaborations, institutions and research communities must stop leaving people to manage the risk alone, argues Shahar Hechtlinger.

Rehder, Johanna; Timm, Irina; Berretz, Gesa; Reinhard, Iris; Neubauer, Andreas B.; Güntürkün, Onur; Takano, Keisuke; Bierbauer, Walter; Cabrita, Miriam; Bourke, Matthew; Smyth, Joshua; Kim, Jinhyuk; Michalak, Johannes; Curtiss, Joshua; Pannicke, Björn; Gallagher, Jacob B.; Abrantes, Ana M.; Nakamura, Toru; Yamamoto, Yoshiharu;

Kennedy, James E.; Wiseman, Richard; Watt, Caroline

doi: 10.1038/s41562-026-02463-ypmid: 42067663

A retrospective meta-analysis is a post hoc methodology with substantial probability of bias and is appropriately viewed as exploratory. Well-powered confirmatory studies, prospective meta-analysis and best-evidence synthesis are alternative approaches that emphasize confirmatory research and can provide more reliable evidence.

doi: 10.1038/s41562-026-02483-8pmid: 42168372

We investigated memory for real-world navigational episodes across delays of up to three decades. Our data reveal that real-world spatial memory is continuously reshaped over the years through a shifting combination of episode-dependent spatial representations and episode-independent schematic knowledge that follow distinct trajectories over time.

Bower, Marlee; Filia, Kate; Lawrance, Emma L.; Card, Kiffer G.; Teesson, Lily; Smout, Scarlett; Gao, Caroline; Naderpajouh, Nader; Donohoe-Bales, Amarina; Lagi, Rosiana K.; Njeru, Mercy Wawira; Kim, Yoonhee; Yongabi, Kenneth Anchang; Misawa, Nana; Zhang, Ying; Spallek, Sophia;

doi: 10.1038/s41562-026-02460-1pmid: 42129330

In a population-based randomized clinical trial across 26 US colleges, we demonstrated that digital cognitive–behavioural therapy (CBT) guided self-help, delivered following universally offered mental health screening, reduced the prevalence of having anxiety, depression and/or an eating disorder through 2 years of follow up and substantially increased service utilization, including by students from marginalized groups.

doi: 10.1038/s41562-026-02450-3pmid: 42115748

In a fast-paced network game, groups of 5–8-year-old children rapidly learn to coordinate on a single choice using probabilistic ‘follow the majority’ behaviour and self-organized roles (‘leaders’, ‘debaters’ and ‘closers’). Their choices reveal a sharp developmental jump by the age of 6–7 years.

doi: 10.1038/s41562-026-02434-3pmid: 42209747

A global analysis of more than 3,800 studies that involved over 10 million people shows that contact with nature reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression while promoting relaxation. The findings strengthen the case for integrating natural environments into mental-health strategies and urban planning policies, although rigorous trials are needed to guide practice and policy.

Ramirez-Ruiz, Sebastian; Senninger, Roman

doi: 10.1038/s41562-026-02464-xpmid: 42098267

Evidence is widely acknowledged as essential for crafting effective public policies. Despite its critical role, we know surprisingly little about the specific sources that inform decisions around the world. This paper explores the sources of evidence in the policymaking arena by analysing evidence cited in over 1.2 million policy documents from 185 countries. Our analyses capture references to 3.5 million scholarly works and 740,000 policy sources, including contributions from government agencies, academic researchers, international organizations and think tanks. We map global patterns in citation practices, highlighting regional and policy domain variation, focusing on the documented, accessible and digitally visible evidence available to policymakers. Our findings reveal a pronounced concentration of attention: the vast majority of foreign evidence cited—both academic and policy—is produced in the Global North, even in documents authored by governments in the Global South. These patterns persist across policy areas, though with notable variation in the types of source commonly used. Overall, the findings reveal a highly concentrated evidence landscape, where a small number of countries disproportionately serve as global reference points, underscoring persistent asymmetries in visibility, access and influence within the international policy knowledge ecosystem.