Research & Expertise News at HSE University

The expansion of ‘happycracy’ into everyday life unfolds against the backdrop of a diktat of positive thinking, mindfulness, and self-improvement. Yet researchers point to the hidden traps in the pursuit of happiness. Why can being happy sometimes be dangerous? Maria Kucheryavaya, sociologist and visiting lecturer at the HSE School of Communication, reflects on this in her column for IQ Media.

Russian scientists have discovered how the brain makes purchasing decisions. Using electroencephalography (EEG) and magnetoencephalography (MEG), researchers found that the brain responds almost instantly when a product's price deviates from expectations. This response engages brain regions involved in evaluating rewards and learning from past decisions. Thus, perceiving a product's value is not merely a conscious choice but also a function of automatic cognitive mechanisms. The results have been published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience.

Vladimir Dimidov specialises in positive psychology and investigates the issue of time perspective. In this interview with the HSE Young Scientists project, he discusses the importance of thinking about the future, strategies for preventing burnout, and the best places to visit on Lake Baikal.

The 25th Yasin (April) International Academic Conference on Economic and Social Development brought together leading Russian and Western scientists. Among the guests was Jose Luis Cordeiro, PhD, international fellow of the World Academy of Art and Science, Chair of the Millennium Project's Venezuela node, former professor at MIPT and HSE University, and author of The Death of Death.

HSE University–St Petersburg has held the first 'Studies of Oman in Russia: New Directions for Scientific Research' international research seminar. The event gathered researchers from Russia, Oman, and Europe and served as a platform for an open academic dialogue.

Scientists from HSE University, in collaboration with researchers from the University of Southern California, have developed an algorithm that rapidly and accurately predicts the behaviour of quantum systems, from quantum computers to solar panels. This methodology enabled the simulation of processes in the MoS₂ semiconductor and revealed that the movement of charged particles is influenced not only by the number of defects but also by their location. These defects can either slow down or accelerate charge transport, leading to effects that were previously difficult to account for with standard methods. The study has been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).

A team of researchers at HSE University, in collaboration with scientists from Russian and foreign universities, has investigated the impact of electrical brain stimulation on learning new words. The experiment shows that direct current stimulation of language centres—Broca's and Wernicke's areas—can improve and speed up the memorisation of new words. The findings have been published in Neurobiology of Learning and Memory.

Under decoupling conditions, Russia has become the ‘centre of gravity’ for the Eurasian integration process and has the potential to play a unifying role in the emerging multipolar world. These were the main points discussed by participants and guests at the International Scientific and Practical Conference ‘Dimensions of Eurasian Integration: Transport and Logistics, Energy, and Food Security’ held by the HSE University Institute for Public Administration and Governance (IPAG).