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Spring-cleaning the mind?

A Concordia University study reveals that a cluttered brain can hinder memory, with older individuals struggling to recall and process information. The research suggests that reducing mental clutter and engaging in mentally stimulating activities may help improve memory and cognitive function.

SourceConcordia University·JournalQuarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology·DateApr 19, 2011

Great apes know they could be wrong

Non-human animals, including gorillas and chimpanzees, exhibit knowledge about what they have seen in experiments. The apes reduce checking before choosing when provided with auditory information about the food's location, suggesting metacognitive abilities.

SourceSpringer·JournalAnimal Cognition·DateMar 24, 2010

Uncorrelated activity in the brain

Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that adjacent neurons in the brain do not synchronize their action potentials, contrary to previous beliefs. This finding provides insight into how the brain processes information efficiently by introducing a 'decorrelated state' that allows for uncorrelated activity.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalScience·DateJan 28, 2010

New models question old assumptions about how many molecules it takes to control cell division

Researchers at Virginia Tech have created a mathematical model to explore the roles of noise in controlling DNA replication and cell division. The study reveals flaws in two accepted notions about information processing in single cells, suggesting that the average number of mRNA molecules must be much larger than previously thought.

SourceVirginia Tech·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 24, 2009

Web site design affects how children process information

A recent study investigates the influence of website design on children's information processing and finds that age significantly affects this relationship. Younger children (ages 7-9) prefer a map to promote search accuracy, while older children (ages 10-13) use a content list more effectively.

SourceWiley·JournalPsychology and Marketing·DateJan 14, 2009

Sight, sound processed together and earlier than previously thought

Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have discovered that auditory and visual information are integrated in the brain before being sent to the cortex. The findings suggest that hearing and vision may be more closely linked than previously believed, with implications for understanding how we perceive the world around us.

SourceDuke University Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 29, 2007

Hearing changes how we perceive gender

A Northwestern University study found that tones of voices can alter visual processing, suggesting a direct input from early auditory processing to visual perception. Researchers used pure tones to test whether sounds can influence perception of face gender, with results showing bias towards male or female faces based on tone frequency.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateOct 24, 2007

Associative memory -- learning at all levels

Scientists have successfully traced associative learning to early stages of the visual processing pathway, suggesting a more general property of the brain. By training monkeys to associate objects with specific signals, researchers found that neurons in the middle temporal area responded to both the original stimulus and the associated...

SourceSalk Institute·JournalNeuron·DateMar 14, 2007

Folic acid supplementation may improve cognitive performance

A new study published in The Lancet found that folic acid supplementation can improve memory and information processing speed in older adults. Researchers randomly assigned participants to receive either 800 micrograms of folic acid daily or a placebo for 3 years, with significant improvements observed in those receiving the supplement.

SourceThe Lancet_DELETED·JournalThe Lancet·DateJan 18, 2007

Evidence that subliminal is not so 'sub'

Researchers found that subliminal words can produce a priming effect, where subjects respond faster on tasks related to either the visual or auditory word. TMS applied to specific brain areas disrupted this priming effect, demonstrating top-down processing of subliminal information.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateNov 8, 2006

Good information? It's not all about the brain

A new study by Olaf Sporns and Max Lungarella provides insight into how the brain operates and sheds light on its evolution. The researchers created a mathematical framework that quantifies the relationship between neural and behavioral processes, revealing that the brain and body are interconnected.

SourceIndiana University·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateOct 26, 2006

Consumer, meet brand. Brand, meet consumer.

A new study explores the role of relationships between people and products, finding that communal relationships lead to faster recognition of broad features, while exchange relationships facilitate more accurate recognition of detailed features. The research highlights the importance of highlighting expected features in a relationship ...

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateNov 14, 2005

Out of sight, out of mind? Not necessarily

A study published in PNAS found that even when the primary visual cortex is temporarily shut down, the brain can still process visual information unconsciously. Researchers used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to induce temporary blindness in nine volunteers with normal vision.

SourceRice University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 31, 2005