Boaz M. Ben-David

As large language models (LLMs) increasingly serve as providers of companionship and emotional support, understanding how users relate to these systems becomes important. Existing measures of attachment to LLMs either assess attachment strength or directly adapt interpersonal attachment items without adequately reflecting the unique characteristics of human-LLM interactions. In the present research, we developed and validated the Experiences in Language Model Relationships scale (ELMR), a context-specific measure of attachment-related anxiety and avoidance toward LLMs. Across three independent studies involving frequent LLM users (N = 578), we generated and refined scale items, examined the factorial structure of the scale using exploratory and confirmatory analyses, evaluated its construct and incremental validity, and compared it with an existing measure of attachment strength toward artificial intelligence (AI). The resulting 11-item scale exhibited a stable two-factor structure and good psychometric properties across samples. Moreover, the ELMR-attachment-anxiety subscale was associated with greater dependence on LLMs, more problematic use, lower trust in AI, and higher levels of anxiety. The ELMR-attachment-avoidance subscale was associated with lower levels of the following variables: trust, perceived empathy, social reliance, and positive attitudes toward AI. In addition, the ELMR scale predicted unique variance in attitudes toward AI beyond attachment strength, demonstrating that attachment orientations capture aspects of human-LLM relationships not explained by emotional closeness alone. Together, these findings introduce a theoretically grounded framework for understanding individual differences in human-LLM relationships and validate a new scale for studying the attachment processes underlying interactions with conversational AI.

Sensory visual degradation is one of the most well-known implications of aging. Theories on compensation mechanisms in aging suggest that with sensory degradations, processing shifts to prioritize more preserved non-sensory sources of information such as semantic and contextual information. Therefore, it is unclear whether image size changes (evident in profound sensory changes to the retinal image) that significantly affect memory in young adults, would also affect memory in older ages. Here we directly tested this in a large cohort (n=294) covering a continuous age range (18–92 years). Participants freely viewed 160 3-15.5 visual degree sized pictures (of faces, people, indoor and outdoor scenes) without being notified about the memory aspect of the study (“naturalistic encoding”). Afterwards they were given a surprise old-new recognition memory test on these and on 160 additional new images. Image memory was not affected by age (as evident in accuracy, memory sensitivity (dprime), decision criterion and in area under the ROC curve (AUC)). Furthermore, larger images were better remembered across all age groups, and the extent of the image size-related memory benefit was also not affected by age. The findings suggest that even in older age, with sensory senescence, visual (sensory) information affects image memory during naturalist encoding to the same extent as in younger age. These findings may have important implications for understanding memory processes and for developing methods to improve information accessibility and interface design for older adults.

Appearance concerns are rarely studied in very old adults. We tested whether directing attention to the self (mirror) versus others (poster) differentially affects appearance self-evaluations among community-dwelling older adults ( N = 76; age 62–98, M = 81.41; 62% women). Participants completed questionnaires while seated facing a mirror (self-focus) or a poster depicting younger and older faces (other-focus). A 2 × 2 ANCOVA (Focus × Gender), controlling for age, education, relationship status, and self-rated health, showed a significant interaction. Men rated their appearance more positively in the mirror condition than in the poster condition. In contrast, women did not differ across conditions but rated their appearance lower than men under self-focus and higher than men under other-focus. These gendered patterns suggest that environmental cues in aging-service settings may shape how the oldest-old perceive their appearance and interact with staff. We discuss how to optimize environments to minimize gendered threats to self-image.

Studies have shown that engaging in playful social activities offers valuable opportunities for development throughout one’s lifespan and is associated with enhanced physical and psychological well-being in older age. However, research that examined playful interactions in the online setting is still scarce. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact of online playful interaction on emotional, social, and cognitive functions among the older population. Thirty-four older adults (aged 74–91, Mage = 85) participated in a within-group study design. Participants took part in two 15-minute online sessions of playful interaction and a control condition, personal conversation and an exercise class. Cognitive and subjective measures were taken before and after the sessions to assess socio-emotional and cognitive functions. A significant interaction (Time X Type of Activity) was found, validating the playful interaction’s positive effect on increasing Digit Span score (logarithmic scale). A significant increase was also found in the social measures (closeness and affiliation) following the playful interaction but not following the control condition. There was no significant interaction for the Stroop (selective-attention test) or for positive and negative affect. In sum, a short and focused online playful interaction with older adults had significant effects on cognitive and social functioning, even in an online platform. Healthcare providers working with older individuals can consider incorporating online playful activities into their daily routines to enhance cognitive functioning and social connectedness.

Speech perception, a daily task crucial for social interaction, is often performed after sleep deprivation (SD). However, there is only scant research on the effects of SD on real-life speech tasks. Speech-processing models (FUEL, ELU) suggest that challenging listening conditions require a greater allocation of cognitive resources, while ideal listening conditions (speech in quiet) require minimal resources. Therefore, SD, which reduces cognitive reserve, may adversely affect speech perception under challenging, but not ideal, conditions. The goal of this study was to test this, manipulating the extent of available resources (with/without SD) and task difficulty in three conditions: sentences presented in (a) quiet, (b) background noise, and (c) with emotional prosody, where participants identified the emotions conveyed by the speaker. The performance of young adults ( n = 41) was assessed twice, after nocturnal sleep and after a 24-hr SD in three tasks: (a) sentence repetition in quiet, and (b) noise, and (c) emotion identification of spoken sentences. Results partially supported our hypotheses. The perception of spoken sentences was impaired by SD, but noise-level did not interact with SD effect. Results suggest that 24-hr SD reduces cognitive resources, which in turn impairs listeners’ ability (or motivation) to perform daily functions of speech perception. Theoretically, findings directly relate SD to speech perception, supporting current theoretical speech models. Clinically, we suggest that SD should be considered in daily clinical settings, e.g., hearing tests. Finally, professions that require shift work, such as health care, should consider the negative effects of SD on spoken communication.

Background: Chewing involves jaw movements that propel cerumen along the ear canal. This mechanism may be reduced in dysphagia, especially for older individuals who are enterally fed. Those patients may be at a higher risk for cerumen impaction and may require longer hospital stays. Examining the relationship between diet type, cerumen impaction, and hospital stay duration was the focus of the present study.Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study (not registered) among 114 hospitalized older adults. Data were collected on diet type: (1) oral feeding (individuals fed a solid diet or a pureed diet) or (2) enteral feeding (individuals fed via a feeding tube). The results of an otoscopy that quantified cerumen were recorded, as well as hospital stay duration.Results: In a mediation analysis, a hospital stay of >1 month was associated with an increased risk of enteral feeding, which in turn, increased the risk of cerumen impaction. Analysis indicated that the link between longer hospitalization and a more severe level of cerumen impaction was fully mediated by diet type (enteral feeding).Conclusions: Enteral feeding seems to be a risk factor for cerumen impaction, rather than merely hospitalization length, in our sample of geriatric patients. These results highlight the importance of continuous monitoring by ear, nose, and throat specialists, as well as regular auditory assessments for patients who are enterally fed for early detection and treatment of cerumen impaction. Particular attention should be paid to cases of prolonged hospitalization, which is associated with the severity of dysphagia.

Introduction: On 13-14 April 2024, Iran launched ∼300 drones and missiles at Israel, in an unprecedented attack. As most studies examine the effects of trauma months or years later, less is known about its effects days later. To fill this gap, this study gauged the population response, five days after the attack. Specifically, we examined the prevalence and factors associated with two precursors for later development of PTSD, peritraumatic distress (PD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD).Methods: Five-hundred and fifty-three participants (M_age = 57.51, SD = 13.67 years, range [30-90], 48.3% females) reported their distal and proximal exposure to traumatic events, probable PTSD due to Israel-Hamas-War, sleeping troubles, and media information consumption during the event.Results: Logistic regressions indicated that, after adjusting for demographics, clinical levels of PD and GAD (respectively, using the accepted cutoffs) were significantly linked to probable PTSD due to the Israel-Hamas War (PD:OR = 4.066, 95%CI: 2.236-7.393, p < .001; GAD:OR = 2.397, 95%CI: 1.285-4.471, p = .006), sleeping troubles (PD:OR = 1.248, 95%CI: 1.186-1.314, p < .001; GAD:OR = 1.325, 95%CI: 1.242-1.413, p < .001) and media consumption (PD:OR = 1.442, 95%CI:1.17-1.777, p = .001; GAD:OR = 1.515, 95%CI: 1.144-2.007, p = .004), but not to previous trauma (life-long exposure or Israel-Hamas war).Discussion: Results suggest that previous psychopathology, stress-related reactions (sleeping) and actions (media consumption), rather than previous exposures to traumatic events are the primary indices related to PD and GAD in the first days after exposure to war-related traumatic events. Findings highlight the importance of early detection of reactions and symptoms following trauma exposure. The main limitation of the study is its cross-sectional design. Future longitudinal studies are needed to understand the developmental trajectory of these effects.