Select Your Booking Option:

Towards sustainable AI knowledge-base assistants in computer science education: on-premise deployment and optimization with open educational resources

This study investigates the deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) knowledge-base assistants using open educational resources (OER) for computer science education, demonstrating the feasibility of providing AI-assisted technical support in resource-constrained environments. Our methodology combines structured knowledge extraction from 82 open-licensed Markdown documents, systematic benchmarking of Qwen-7B and DeepSeek-MoE on consumer-grade GPUs (NVIDIA RTX 3060, 12 GB VRAM), and a multi-criteria evaluation framework incorporating response accuracy, computational efficiency, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG)-specific metrics, and energy sustainability. Key results show that Qwen-7B (FP16) achieves 71.5% overall accuracy with 1.4 s average latency, while DeepSeek-MoE (FP16) achieves 79.8% overall accuracy and 82.3% accuracy on multi-hop reasoning tasks. NF4 4-bit quantization reduces VRAM usage by 38.7% for Qwen-7B (6.2 GB → 3.8 GB) and 37.9% for DeepSeek-MoE (5.8 GB → 3.6 GB). Our most energy-efficient configuration consumes 1.8 mWh per query (1.8 Wh per 1,000 queries), measured at the GPU device rail with idle power subtracted. This work makes four contributions: (1) systematic multi-dimensional benchmarks for on-premise, OER-aligned AI knowledge-base assistants in introductory computer science education; (2) hardware-specific deployment guidelines for consumer-grade GPUs without cloud dependency; (3) quantitative evidence that NF4 4-bit quantization-aware fine-tuning preserves educational response utility within 2 percentage points of accuracy degradation while reducing VRAM by 38.7%; and (4) a reproducible evaluation protocol serving as a reference design for future research. The system is characterized as a knowledge-base assistant rather than a validated intelligent tutor; comprehensive pedagogical validation with controlled learner studies remains a priority for future work.

Bridging the neuro-AI chasm: a framework for scalable, contextually adaptive training resources in large-scale brain data science

Despite the increasing availability of large-scale brain data tools, many researchers struggle to use them effectively alongside AI. This is not due to a lack of access, but because existing training resources emphasize proficiency with these tools over critical reasoning. AI accelerates workflows but also risks deepening skill disparities: researchers with strong foundational knowledge can integrate AI-generated insights, while others become dependent on automated outputs without fully understanding their limitations, inducing risks to competency acquisition. Conventional training approaches assume that exposure to AI tools naturally translates to expertise, overlooking the need for structured cognitive engagement. We propose five cognitive science-based principles to rethink neuroscience training, ensuring AI serves as a scaffold for deeper scientific reasoning rather than a passive automation tool. We demonstrate the applicability of these principles in neuroscience education through a case study of EBRAINS training resources.

From laboratory targets to experiential authenticity: reframing the study of veridicality in OBEs

Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) are altered states sometimes accompanied by reports of veridical perception—accurate information seemingly obtained from a vantage point outside the body and ostensibly without conventional sensory input. While case collections and early laboratory studies suggest this possibility, replication under conventional laboratory protocols has been challenging. This article reviews the evidentiary landscape and argues that standard target-identification paradigms—often conducted in sterile settings with inexperienced participants—misalign with the dynamics of the OBE state. We identify five key determinants that constrain laboratory outcomes: (1) the participant’s mental/emotional state, (2) the participant–researcher relationship, (3) researcher intention, (4) variability in participant skill, and (5) the intrinsic purpose of the experience. We propose reframing methodology around these determinants, complementing lab tasks with rigorously vetted spontaneous cases. Together, these adjustments can increase ecological validity while preserving falsifiability, offering a pathway toward more effective investigation of veridical perception in OBEs and the implications for models of consciousness, using structured case evaluation and independent verification criteria.

Questionable necessity effects on creativity in the workplace: a comment on Mercier and Lubart (2026)

Editorial: Bridging the gap between animal models and human addiction: exploring translational paradigms

The relationship between training intensity and training effort: the chain mediation of cognitive exhaustion and emotional blunting

IntroductionTraining control is an important component of competitive training management, but excessive control intensity may impose psychological costs on athletes and weaken their sustained engagement in training. Drawing on Self-Determination Theory, Self-Regulatory Resource Theory, and Emotion Processing Theory, this study examined the relational mechanism linking training control intensity, cognitive exhaustion, emotional blunting, and training engagement.MethodsCross-sectional questionnaire data were collected from 768 athletes. Confirmatory factor analysis, structural equation modeling, and multigroup analysis were used to test the proposed chain mediation model and examine whether the hypothesized pathways varied across gender and sport type.ResultsTraining control intensity was positively associated with cognitive exhaustion, which was further associated with higher levels of emotional blunting. Emotional blunting was negatively associated with training engagement. Cognitive exhaustion and emotional blunting together formed a significant chain-mediated pathway between training control intensity and training engagement. Multigroup analyses showed that gender moderated the path from training control intensity to cognitive exhaustion, whereas sport type moderated the paths from cognitive exhaustion to emotional blunting and from emotional blunting to training engagement.DiscussionThese findings suggest that training control should be understood not only in terms of management efficiency but also in relation to athletes' psychological resource depletion and emotional responsiveness. Excessive control intensity may undermine training engagement through a sequential process involving cognitive exhaustion and emotional blunting. In practice, coaches should avoid overly frequent corrective control, provide clearer explanatory feedback, and remain attentive to athletes' cognitive and emotional states in high-intensity training contexts.

Judicial assessment of testimonial reliability after EMDR therapy: a case-series analysis

IntroductionEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a first-line psychotherapy for post-traumatic stress disorder. Despite its established clinical efficacy, concerns have been raised regarding its potential effects on autobiographical memory and testimonial reliability in judicial contexts. Given the reconstructive nature of memory, this study aimed to examine how Italian courts address EMDR when evaluating witness credibility.MethodsA targeted jurisprudential analysis was conducted using the DeJure legal database. Final decisions of the Italian Supreme Court (Corte di Cassazione) issued up to January 2026 were retrieved and screened to identify rulings in which EMDR therapy was explicitly mentioned and played a forensically relevant role in the assessment of testimonial credibility, memory reliability, or evidentiary reasoning. Eligible cases were required to constitute final, non-appealable rulings and to include substantive judicial or expert discussion of EMDR. Two researchers independently screened, selected, and analyzed the decisions according to predefined inclusion criteria, applying a qualitative case-series approach.ResultsFive Supreme Court decisions met the inclusion criteria, all involving criminal proceedings with minor victims and credibility assessment. EMDR was primarily raised by the defense as a potential source of memory alteration. The Court consistently rejected categorical assumptions of reduced testimonial reliability. Instead, it required concrete, case-specific evidence of memory distortion. Where credibility was questioned, judicial criticism focused on procedural and methodological deficiencies, particularly inadequate documentation, and insufficient separation between therapeutic and investigative roles.DiscussionItalian Supreme Court jurisprudence reflects a cautious and context-sensitive approach to testimony following EMDR. The therapy is recognized as clinically legitimate and is not considered intrinsically suggestive. Judicial concerns are directed toward procedural safeguards and transparency rather than the therapeutic technique itself. These findings support a case-by-case evaluation model and highlight the importance of rigorous clinical documentation and role differentiation in forensic settings.

Participant versus informant reports of changes in social, emotional, and financial functioning after an exercise intervention with older adults: an actor-partner interdependence model analysis

Informant reports are potentially valuable, yet underutilized, measures for non-cognitive outcomes in older adults. Specifically, informant reports from close others may offer insights into changes in observable functional status and behavior beyond what participants report. In the context of an experimental exercise protocol in older adults, informant reports could potentially demonstrate changes in functional status and behavior that are unnoticed by participants but observable by others, based on the reliability of some informant report measures in this population. Given the interdependence of self-report and informant-report measures of a participant’s behavior, this study aimed to investigate the association between self-report and informant-report measures across an experimental exercise protocol by utilizing an Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) approach to concurrently analyze the report styles. A total of 273 participants (61.17% Female, 91.57% White, Mage = 67.92) and 117 informants (primarily spouses and/or family members) participated in the study. Participants completed a 16-week exercise program. Participants were asked to report on their life satisfaction, financial capacity, and problems with daily functioning at baseline and the end of the program, while informants were asked to report on their interpretation of the participant’s life satisfaction, financial capacity, and problems with daily functioning at the same timepoints. APIMs showed that higher informant-reported baseline life satisfaction was associated with higher participant self-reported life satisfaction following the 16-week experimental protocol. In contrast, there was divergence in self-reported and informant-reported financial capacity. Higher baseline informant reports were associated with lower informant follow-up reports but higher participant follow-up reports. Finally, daily functioning was more aligned. Participants saw an overall decrease in problems with daily functioning from baseline to follow-up, and higher participant baseline reports of problems with daily functioning were associated with lower follow-up reports in both participants and informants. The analysis shows that the APIM effectively captures concordance and discrepancy between report styles and suggests APIM may be an effective tool to most accurately interpret outcomes in older adults when both self-report and informant-report measures are collected.

Effect of perceived stress on sleep quality in Chinese graduate students: the chain mediating role of anxiety and sleep procrastination

BackgroundIn recent years, with the acceleration of the pace of modern life and the increase of life pressure, the prevalence of poor sleep quality has risen substantially among young people. Insufficient sleep and insomnia have emerged as a serious public issue in modern society. This study aimed to investigate the effect of perceived stress on sleep quality, with particular focus on the mediating roles of anxiety and sleep procrastination in the stress-sleep quality relationship.MethodsA total of 2,486 Chinese graduate students participated in the questionnaire survey, which used the Perceived Stress Scale, the Bedtime Procrastination Scale, the Pittsburgh sleep quality index, and the Self-rating Anxiety Scale. Descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and the bootstrap method were utilized for data analysis.ResultsThe findings revealed a 37.8% prevalence of sleep disturbances among the participants. Notably, the mediating effects of anxiety and sleep procrastination in the association between perceived stress and sleep quality were statistically significant (p 

The effects of negative life events on depression in middle-aged women: the mediating role of rumination and coping styles

BackgroundThe mental health of middle-aged women is a significant public health issue. Based on Response Styles Theory (RST), this study aims to investigate the associations between negative life events (NLEs), rumination, coping styles, and depression among middle-aged Chinese women, and to explore the chain mediation mechanism of rumination and positive coping styles.MethodsA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 327 middle-aged women aged 35–55 (case group: n = 157; control group: n = 170). Assessment tools included the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Life Events Scale (LES), Ruminative Response Scale (RRS), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Data were analyzed using SPSS 25.0, and the chain mediation effect was tested using the PROCESS macro.Results(1) The case group scored significantly higher than the control group on depression and sleep disturbance. (2) Correlation analysis showed that NLEs, rumination, and positive coping styles (negatively) were all significantly associated with depression and sleep quality (p 

AI-mediated environments and the reconfiguration of symbolic convergence: cognitive implications for shared meaning formation

Artificial intelligence is increasingly embedded in everyday communication, not only as a tool for generating or modifying messages, but as a condition that reshapes how meanings become available, circulated, and stabilized. Existing research has often focused on trust, anthropomorphism, or user attitudes toward AI. Less attention has been given to how AI-mediated environments may alter the process through which meanings become collectively shared. This article addresses that gap by using Symbolic Convergence Theory to examine how AI-mediated environments reshape the process through which meanings become shared, stabilized, and cognitively available. It treats fantasy themes, fantasy types, symbolic convergence, and rhetorical vision as linked levels in the formation of shared symbolic reality. Building on this framework, the article argues that AI-mediated environments reconfigure symbolic convergence in three ways: by accelerating the production of symbolic materials, expanding their circulation, and reinforcing their stabilization through repetition and prioritization. These changes matter not only at the level of communication, but also at the level of cognition. When meanings are increasingly encountered in prestructured, repeated, and personalized forms, interpretation may become narrower, more dependent on familiar cues, and more shaped by shifting cognitive authority. Rather than treating AI simply as an artificial social actor, the article proposes that AI should also be understood as part of a transformed symbolic environment within which human cognition operates. This perspective offers a conceptually grounded account of how AI reshapes shared meaning formation and, in doing so, alters the conditions under which human interpretation and judgment take shape.

Understanding psychological help-seeking attitudes among individuals with sports injuries: the role of psychological risk and protective factors

IntroductionThis study aimed to examine psychological help-seeking attitudes among individuals who had experienced sports injuries within the framework of psychological risk factors and protective psychological resources.MethodsA total of 409 participants with a history of sports injury were included in the study. Data were collected using measures of attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help, athlete burnout, psychological recovery in sport, mental health continuity, coping strategies, and injury anxiety. Hierarchical multiple regression and mediation analyses were conducted.ResultsThe findings showed that injury anxiety, coping strategies, psychological recovery, and mental health continuity positively predicted psychological help-seeking attitudes, whereas athlete burnout negatively predicted these attitudes. The mediation analysis further revealed that athlete burnout played a suppressing mediating role in the relationship between injury anxiety and psychological help-seeking attitudes. Specifically, injury anxiety directly increased psychological help-seeking attitudes but indirectly weakened them through athlete burnout.DiscussionOverall, the results suggest that psychological help-seeking after sports injury is not shaped solely by psychological distress, but by a multidimensional process involving psychological resources and burnout.

Night running and internet addiction among university students: a serial mediation model of stress/anxiety and rumination

BackgroundInternet addiction (IA) is prevalent among university students and is often linked to negative affect and maladaptive cognition. Time-specific physical activity such as night running may relate to IA, but the psychological mechanisms remain underexplored.ObjectiveThis study examined the association between night running and IA and tested whether stress/anxiety and rumination mediate this relationship in a serial pathway.MethodsA cross-sectional online survey was conducted among 1,138 undergraduates from two universities in Guangdong Province, China. Night running frequency (after 7:00 p.m.) was assessed using an adapted IPAQ-SF item. Stress/anxiety was measured with the DASS-21, rumination with the Ruminative Responses Scale, and IA with the Internet Addiction Test. Correlations were computed and a serial mediation model was tested using bootstrapping.ResultsNight running was negatively correlated with stress/anxiety (r = −0.48), rumination (r = −0.45), and IA (r = −0.52), while stress/anxiety and rumination were positively associated with IA (r = 0.42 and r = 0.50, respectively). Mediation analyses indicated a significant total effect of night running on IA (β = −0.52) and a remaining direct effect (β = −0.34). Significant indirect effects were observed via stress/anxiety (β = −0.05), via rumination (β = −0.07), and via the serial pathway (β = −0.06), with all bootstrap 95% CIs excluding zero.ConclusionNight running is associated with lower IA among university students, partly through reduced stress/anxiety and reduced rumination, supporting a partial serial mediation model.

Social functioning profiles, attention skills and learning: what relationships in early childhood?

BackgroundEarly learning emerges from the interplay between cognitive processes and social experiences. While attention is widely recognized as a core foundation of preschool learning, less is known about whether distinct aspects of attention contribute uniformly to learning outcomes or whether their functional relevance varies across children’s social functioning profiles.MethodsThe study involved 139 preschool children (4–5 years). Multiple aspects of attention (reaction times, simple and related to a choice; focused attention; short-term span of attention; divided and alternating attention) were assessed using a computerized battery. Learning abilities were evaluated through an observational questionnaire measuring general learning abilities, prerequisites for literacy and mathematics, and specific domains of learning performance. Social functioning profiles were assessed using an observational Q-sort procedure. Hierarchical regression models were estimated to examine independent associations between attentional aspects and learning outcomes, and moderation analyses tested whether social functioning conditioned these associations.ResultsVisual focused attention, visual–spatial focused attention, and short-term span showed consistent positive associations with global and domain-specific learning outcomes. Divided attention also contributed to learning performance, but its association varied systematically as a function of social functioning profiles, being significant at mean and high levels but not at low levels, consistently across general learning abilities and domain-specific prerequisites.ConclusionFindings suggest that early learning competence reflects not only the internal architecture of attention, but also the social contexts in which specific aspects of attention are concurrently expressed. While several components of attention show stable associations with learning outcomes regardless of relational context, the contribution of divided attention is contingent on children’s social functioning profiles within adult-child interactions.

Active success drives momentum, but late-stage errors destroy it: a real-time analysis of volleyball

IntroductionPsychological momentum is a dynamic system that characterizes the psychological states of individuals progressing toward or regressing from goal attainment. As research has largely relied on controlled laboratory settings or artificial scenarios, empirical evidence from actual athletic competitions remains limited. Therefore, this study aimed to comprehensively elucidate how play content, game stages, and player expertise interact to dictate the micro-dynamics of momentum among actors during a real match.MethodsReal-time measurements were conducted with 25 male high-school volleyball players during practice matches to ensure high ecological validity. Participants used voice recorders during natural intervals between rallies to verbally rate their momentum fluctuations. A dataset comprising 2,103 observations was analyzed using a linear mixed model to evaluate the fixed effects of expertise, game stage, play content (active success versus opponent error), and rally outcomes. Because the model did not include the lagged dependent variable, the first-order autoregressive [AR(1)] residual covariance structure was used only to address potential serial correlation in the residuals across adjacent rallies, rather than to model temporal carryover in psychological momentum itself.ResultsScoring through a team’s active success yielded significantly higher momentum improvements than scoring through an opponent’s error across all game stages. In the late stages of a set, conceding a point because of a self-induced error resulted in a significantly more severe deterioration of momentum than conceding a point through an opponent’s active success. Furthermore, advanced players exhibited a significantly greater decrease in momentum following lost points than intermediate players.DiscussionThese findings suggest that momentum fluctuations are highly sensitive to players’ internal attributions of events, particularly the high mutability and regret associated with late-stage errors. Advanced players’ acute sensitivity to conceded points highlights the phenomenon of proxy agency and the risk of proxy dilemmas among less experienced teammates. Practically, coaches can mitigate this overreliance and enhance self-agency by assigning specific, specialized roles, such as defensive pillars or high-set providers, to every player, ensuring that all participants can exercise personal agency and earn mutual trust within the team.

The impact of value-based leadership on employee innovative behavior: the mediating role of organizational identification and moderating role of person-organization matching

Drawing upon social exchange theory and self-determination theory, this study investigates the mechanisms through which value-based leadership is associated with employee innovative behavior. Specifically, this study examined organizational identification as a mediator and person-organization matching as a moderator in this relationship. Using a sample of 412 employees from various organizations in China, this study conducted hierarchical regression analyses to test our hypotheses. The results reveal that value-based leadership significantly and positively predicts employee innovative behavior, and this relationship is partially mediated by organizational identification. Furthermore, person-organization matching moderates the relationship between value-based leadership and organizational identification, such that the positive effect is stronger when person-organization matching is high. Additionally, person-organization matching moderates the indirect effect of value-based leadership on innovative behavior via organizational identification. These findings contribute to the leadership and innovation literature by elucidating the psychological mechanisms and boundary conditions of value-based leadership’s influence on employee innovation. Practical implications for organizations seeking to foster innovative behavior through value-based leadership are discussed.

The psychological mechanisms and behavioral determinants of academic integrity in the age of artificial intelligence

ObjectiveThis study aimed to examine the psychological and behavioral determinants of AI-assisted academic dishonesty among university students through an integrated model. Specifically, the study investigated whether academic procrastination, learned helplessness, and academic self-efficacy predict cheating tendency; whether cheating tendency predicts AI-assisted academic dishonesty; whether AI use moderates the relationship between cheating tendency and academic dishonesty; and whether social and contextual factors significantly predict AI-assisted academic dishonesty.MethodsThe study employed a quantitative, cross-sectional, correlational survey design. A total of 1,045 undergraduate students from different academic disciplines participated voluntarily in the study. Data were collected using seven measurement instruments and a personal information form. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analyses, multiple regression analyses, and Hayes' PROCESS Model 14 were used to test the proposed moderated mediation model. Bootstrap resampling with 5,000 samples was applied to estimate indirect effects and 95% confidence intervals.ResultsThe findings showed that academic procrastination and learned helplessness positively predicted cheating tendency, whereas academic self-efficacy negatively predicted it. Cheating tendency significantly predicted AI-assisted academic dishonesty, and the interaction term indicated that the association between cheating tendency and AI-assisted academic dishonesty was stronger at higher levels of AI use. Conditional indirect effect analyses further demonstrated that cheating tendency mediated the effects of academic procrastination, learned helplessness, and academic self-efficacy on AI-assisted academic dishonesty, and these indirect effects became stronger at higher levels of AI use. In addition, social norms, peer behaviors, family attitudes, insufficient sanctions, teacher attitude, high expectations, and adverse conditions significantly predicted AI-assisted academic dishonesty, whereas ethical and moral education emerged as a negative predictor.DiscussionThe findings indicate that AI-assisted academic dishonesty should be understood as a multilevel outcome shaped by the interaction of psychological vulnerabilities, cognitive tendencies, technological affordances, and socio-contextual influences. The study contributes to the academic integrity literature by showing that AI use does not merely accompany dishonest tendencies but amplifies their translation into behavior. These results highlight the need for psychologically informed, ethically grounded, and institutionally supported interventions to reduce academic dishonesty in AI-enhanced higher education environments.

The associations among motivation, self-efficacy, and anxiety of writing skills in primary school students: a mixed-methods approach

BackgroundThe aim was to understand the relationship between anxiety, self-efficacy and motivation in relation to students’ writing skills, which was achieved by collecting quantitative data from the students. Qualitative data was also collected from classroom teachers who observed and evaluated the students’ writing processes, in order to shed light on these relationships.MethodsThe quantitative phase was represented by a survey of 436 primary school students, conducted in the Turkish city of Mardin. Mediation analysis was employed to determine mediating role of anxiety via SPSS Process 4.0. The qualitative phase involved the analysis of interviews conducted with classroom teachers, which were used to interpret the quantitative findings.ResultsThe results confirmed that motivation can be the dominant factor in taking action in writing, supporting the notion that anxiety partially mediates the relationship between motivation and self-efficacy. In addition, the findings were illustrated by classroom teachers’ statements explaining that both motivation and self-efficacy decrease as students’ anxiety about writing increases.ConclusionAssessing students writing skills is crucial for policymakers, researchers, and families. The study’s key findings demonstrate the practical benefits for primary school students of providing opportunities to write on topics of interest to increase their writing motivation (WMO), addressing concerns about dissatisfaction with their writing, and providing activities to sustain writing activity at school and at home.

From neurobiological regulation to socio-ecological remodeling: a mini review of yoga interventions for adolescent smartphone addiction

Adolescent smartphone addiction has emerged as a pervasive public health crisis, which often stems from a developmental imbalance between hypersensitive reward circuitry and immature executive control. While conventional interventions such as cognitive-behavioral therapy remain the standard of care, they are often constrained by a lack of holistic focus, failing to address the multifaceted physiological dysregulation and environmental triggers associated with addictive behaviors. This review synthesizes the neurobiological mechanisms of yoga, positioning it not merely as physical exercise but as a form of “embodied cognitive training” that bridges the gap between physiological regulation and psychological recovery. We examine how yoga may facilitate psychophysiological homeostasis through a dual pathway: a potential “bottom-up” regulation that attenuates HPA axis hyperactivation and enhances vagal tone, and a proposed “top-down” reinforcement of prefrontal connectivity to inhibit impulsive reward-seeking. At the molecular level, we discuss evidence suggesting that yoga-induced upregulation of BDNF and GABA may provide a potential neuroplastic substrate helpful for repairing compromised neural networks and restoring reward prediction error processing. However, recognizing that neuroplasticity depends on environmental context, we argue that sustainable recovery necessitates extending beyond individual neuroadaptation to a “Home-School-Community” synergistic model. By combining targeted neurobiological regulation with broad environmental support, this framework offers clinicians a practical strategy to help adolescents build cognitive resilience and regain control over their digital habits.

Companion animals support human wellbeing and health: evolutionary, behavioral and physiological contexts

This review deals with the questions why humans want to live with other animals and how this is at all possible. In fact, it has become common sense that living and working with companion animals entails major benefits for human wellbeing and health, albeit with the caveat that the positive experience of private keepers and practitioners in pedagogy and therapy is not always backed by scientific scrutiny. The present focus is on relevant aspects of the “Darwinian continuum,” which provides humans and other animals with a shared social toolbox, including brain, physiology and behavioral organization. It is discussed why domesticated animals are particularly suitable companions, why dogs are a special case, and why anthropomorphizing other animals may be as much an asset as a burden. In fact, living with companion animals is a human universal, which seems basically motivated by biophilia (the human-typical interest in nature and animals), and by striving for social homoeostasis (for social contexts supporting wellbeing and health). Between-species socializing is possible because of common phylogeny and functional convergence, resulting in matching social mindsets and behavioral systems. It is based on shared principles of behavioral organization, of thinking and decision making, on shared neuronal, physiological and psychological mechanisms, on virtually identical basic affects, and on the shared stress and calming systems. Finally, the social toolbox shared between humans and other animals also suggests a relatively moderate socio-cognitive gap between humans and other animals.