Research & Expertise

Alexander Sorokin, Dean of the St Petersburg School of Social Sciences, presented the results of a joint Russian–Malaysian mirror laboratory project in social entrepreneurship at the second meeting of the Russian–Malaysian Working Group on Education, Science, and Technology at the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM).

The application of mathematical models to the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular diseases contributes to the effective detection of patient predispositions and supports the selection of best treatment strategies. The use of mathematical models helps create new diagnostic tools and train neural networks to assist clinicians. Researchers from HSE University and colleagues from Saratov State Medical University are engaged in this work as part of the Mirror Laboratories project. In this interview, Natalya Stankevich, Senior Research Fellow at the International Laboratory of Dynamical Systems and Applications of the HSE Campus in Nizhny Novgorod, talks about what the collaboration has achieved so far.

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.