Articles tagged with Cognitive Neuroscience
A new study by University of Illinois researchers found associations between dozens of features that promote brain and cognitive health in older adults. The analysis combined data on nutrient intake, brain structure, and cognitive function, revealing clusters of traits that work together to support healthy aging.
The new NIH Toolbox V3 iPad App allows doctors to quickly screen patients for cognitive functions such as memory, emotion, and vision. The app covers a wide range of tests spanning four domains, enabling clinicians to assess patients in under 30 minutes.
Researchers at Cedars-Sinai created computational models to bridge the gap between
A new study reveals an association between poor air quality in India and impaired cognition in infants under two. The study found that air quality was poorer in homes that used solid cooking materials like cow dung cake, and that reducing cooking emissions could have benefits to infants' emerging cognitive abilities.
A strong sense of purpose in life promotes greater connectivity within the brain's Default Mode Network, which may help protect against cognitive decline. Middle-aged adults with a higher purpose in life show lower levels of brain burden and better cognitive performance.
A recent study published in JAMA Psychiatry found that individuals with a family history of depression exhibit reduced cognitive abilities. The research highlights the potential impact of genetic and environmental factors on brain development and aging, as well as modifiable lifestyle factors.
Researchers found that enhancing NMDAR function via increased serine racemase expression improved attention and cognitive flexibility in middle-aged rats. Upregulating serine racemase in the medial prefrontal cortex also increased glutamatergic synaptic transmission, including NMDAR activity.
A recent Mayo Clinic study found that prescription opioid use is associated with declines in cognitive performance, particularly in memory and attention. Older adults who received at least one opioid prescription over 7.5 years had a 20% higher chance of developing mild cognitive impairment.
A new study found that emotion-focused therapy increased activation and connectivity of the amygdala in patients with bipolar disorder, leading to improved emotion processing. In contrast, cognitive-behavioral therapy showed increased activation of brain regions related to social function but not altered amygdala activity.
A recent study published in NeuroImage found that older adults with improved cognitive performance during dual-task walking had flexible neural resource allocation. This discovery suggests a potential method for tracking brain health and identifying individuals at risk of aging-related cognitive decline.
Researchers found that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can cause premature cognitive decline in middle-aged men, including poorer executive functioning and social cognition. The study suggests that OSA itself is sufficient to cause these deficits, rather than being solely attributed to co-morbidities.
A study found that bilingual readers process Latin and Chinese characters in different ways due to the formation of specialized cortical areas within the Visual Word Form Area (VWFA). In English-Chinese bilinguals, areas were only stimulated by recognition of Chinese logograms, while English-French bilinguals showed equal activation fo...
Researchers found that COVID-19 infection leads to rapidly progressive dementia, blurring the lines between different types of dementia. Cortical atrophy and inflammation were key indicators, suggesting previously compromised brains have limited defense against new insults.
A recent US study found that people living with HIV performed worse on cognitive tests after SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to those without HIV, but these differences were attributable to HIV rather than COVID-19. However, vaccinated individuals experienced declines in processing speed following COVID-19.
Researchers used functional MRI scanners to monitor brains of subjects watching real-life videos, finding that different parts of the brain work together to understand and remember situations. The study suggests the brain creates mental sketches of people that can be transposed from one location to another.
Researchers aim to assess the effectiveness of spinal cord transcutaneous stimulation and a cognitive training program in improving processing speed abilities and upper extremity function after spinal cord injury. The studies will test innovative approaches to enhance rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with spinal cord injuries.
Biyu J. He's groundbreaking research on perceptual cognition and subjective experience has challenged traditional views of consciousness. Her work explores how past experiences shape individual perception and understanding, using innovative techniques like fMRI and EEG.
Researchers debunk rock'n'roll myth, finding narcotics have no effect on inspiration. Instead, complex training programs, meditation, and cultural exposure boost creativity. Training that highlights mental techniques has long-term impacts, while mindfulness activities like meditation also improve imagination in the short term.
A review from UTHealth Houston identifies key benefits of telehealth in addressing health disparities among stroke survivors. The study suggests that telehealth can expand access to care and treatment while minimizing barriers related to digital literacy, physical limitations, and limited English proficiency.
A recent renaissance in psychedelic research investigates the cognitive effects of these drugs, shifting from mathematical modeling to behavioral and clinical studies. Studies have found that psychedelics can increase spontaneous creative insights while decreasing task-specific creativity, as well as affect memories in a malleable way.
Scientists have identified distinct mechanisms by which people remove information from their working memory and found that forgetting requires much effort. They also discovered four brain networks that activate when memories are maintained or purged through different mechanisms.
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found that food insecurity is associated with a decline in executive function among older adults. The research used data from 3,037 community-dwelling Medicare beneficiaries and suggests that interventions to increase healthy food access may be crucial in mitigating cognitive decline.
A new study by Cedars-Sinai investigators has determined that the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) plays a primary role in weighing value-based choices, such as choosing which book to read or which slot machine to play. The discovery could help understand neurological disorders like addiction and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
Two early-career cognitive neuroscientists, Anna Schapiro and Freek van Ede, have been awarded the prestigious Young Investigator Award by the Cognitive Neuroscience Society. Their research focuses on understanding human learning and working memory.
Researchers found that Tsimané and Mosetén adults experienced less brain atrophy and improved cardiovascular health compared to industrialized populations. These findings suggest an optimal lifestyle balance between daily exertion and food abundance may be key to healthy brain aging.
A new Boston University study suggests that repetitive blows to the head in tackle football may lead to less white matter in the brain, potentially causing impulsive behavior and other cognitive issues. Researchers found players who start playing at a young age or play for over 11 years are at greater risk.
A new study found evidence of a reverse 'Flynn effect' in the US, with declines in verbal reasoning, matrix reasoning, and letter/number series scores, but an increase in 3D rotation scores. The study suggests that changing values and motivation may be contributing factors.
A new national US study suggests that young children who are taught by a teacher of the same ethnicity as themselves develop better learning and problem-solving skills by the age of seven. The effect was most pronounced in Black and Latinx children, with improved working memory and reading achievement scores.
A new study has found that increased rumination is a predictor of greater severity of suicidal ideation in young people with major depressive disorder. The study, published in the Journal of Affective Disorders, suggests that elevated cognitive rumination is associated with lower cortical surface area and suicidal ideation.
A new study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that exercise was well-tolerated by patients with mental or physical illness and resulted in decreased suicide attempts. The research debunks the myth that these individuals are not motivated to participate in physical exercise regimes.
A study found that preterm infants do not habituate to repeated pain, unlike full-term infants. This lack of adaptation may affect their brain development and increase vulnerability to pain. The researchers' findings suggest that the ability to adapt to pain might develop during the third trimester of pregnancy.
Researchers found that humans achieve dynamic balance by taking turns, while monkeys use static strategies that often result in one player losing out over time. Monkeys can learn to coordinate dynamically with human partners but then compete with each other.
A new MIT study explains how the brain manages general and specific components of working memory, enabling flexibility in task demands. Spatial Computing theory proposes that distinct spaces in the cortex govern rule-based control, allowing for dynamic reshaping of memory representations.
A small study funded by the National Eye Institute found that a unique brain region called the occipital place area (OPA) supports visually guided navigation when walking, but fails to activate during crawling. This finding may help explain how children learn to navigate their surroundings and develop motor skills.
Researchers from Dartmouth and University Medicine Essen found that strong links between brain measures and traits can be obtained when machine learning algorithms are utilized. This approach allows for high-powered results from moderate sample sizes, opening up studies of many traits and clinical conditions previously inaccessible.
A Dartmouth study found that COVID-19 can cause 'prosopagnosia,' or face blindness, and impairments in navigational abilities. Researchers worked with a patient who experienced difficulty recognizing faces and navigating, leading to dissociation between face recognition and cognitive map representation.
A study by University of Birmingham's School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences found that mental fatigue impairs physical exercise performance. Researchers measured cognitive tasks on a group of 16 men and women, showing increased exertion during physical exercise among mentally fatigued participants.
Recent studies have identified key psychological processes, such as repetitive negative thinking and self-reflection, that may impact cognitive aging and dementia prevention. Researchers propose incorporating psychological elements to reduce dementia risk through cognitive-behavioral interventions.
Research shows that social learning significantly enhances a honey bee's ability to perform the complex waggle dance, which communicates food source location. Inexperienced bees who observed older bees learn from them and improve their dance accuracy over time.
A new study published in Scientific Reports found that individuals who synchronize their pupil dilation patterns to a simple rhythmic beat also exhibit higher levels of synchrony with other minds, such as attending to the same story. This suggests an underlying mechanism uniting different forms of synchrony.
A study found that gestational iron deficiency may contribute to cognitive impairments like autism, ADHD, and learning disabilities. Researchers identified a specific embryonic neuronal progenitor cell target for GID, which disrupts interneuron development.
A new study by MIT scholars reveals that sharing news on social media can lead to a decline in accuracy, as considering sharing impairs people's ability to discern truth. The study found that asking participants about sharing reduced their success rate at telling truths from falsehoods, with a 35% decrease in accuracy.
A study of over 350 former NFL players found that those who reported concussion symptoms performed worse on cognitive tests, particularly in episodic memory and sustained attention. Cognitive decline was not associated with diagnosed concussions or age, but rather with the presence of concussion symptoms.
Children with autism may not process visual illusions in the same way as their peers, indicating a potential issue with predicting and filling in missing visual information. This finding has implications for understanding and supporting individuals on the autism spectrum.
A new screening tool developed by Cleveland Clinic researchers can effectively detect mild cognitive impairment, early Alzheimer's disease, and other related dementias in older adults. The tool has been shown to identify 90% of patients with mild cognitive impairment, offering a potential solution for early detection and prevention.
A systematic review of Cognitive Functional Therapy found it to be no better than traditional therapies in reducing pain and disability in people with chronic low back pain. The researchers call for future trials featuring blinded participants and larger sample sizes to improve current evidence.
Researchers discovered that telomere shortening is associated with early subjective depressive symptoms and cognitive complaints among healthy elderly individuals. The study also found a link between telomere shortening and increased interleukin-6 levels.
Researchers found reduced brain oxygen levels in individuals with symptomatic COVID-19 illness, worse performance on cognitive tests, and increased psychiatric symptoms like depression and anxiety. Older women were more affected by the brain imaging outcomes.
A tiny worm called C. elegans is enabling scientists to explore the emerging theory that Parkinson’s disease starts in the gut, where a sticky protein causes neurons to die. The worms have a digestive tract and neurotransmitters similar to humans, making them a great model for studying cognitive problems associated with Parkinson's.
Researchers discovered a significant increase in serotonin transporter density in the midbrain of patients with PMDD during the periovulatory phase, which was associated with increased depressed mood. The study suggests that taking SSRIs at specific times during the menstrual cycle may help target these changes and alleviate symptoms.
A neuroimaging study of 8,900 children aged 9-11 reveals sex differences in brain connectivity and cognitive performance. The findings suggest that girls mature faster than boys, which may impact future development of brain developmental trajectory charts.
A long-term study found that regular leisure time physical activity at any age is associated with better brain function in later life. Maintaining an exercise routine throughout adulthood was particularly beneficial for preserving mental acuity and memory. The study, which included over 1,400 participants, showed that being physically ...
The ENIGMA Initiative aims to bridge knowledge gaps on brain aging factors in developing countries, particularly in India. The study will collect comprehensive data on risk and protective factors through clinical interviews, bloodwork, and brain MRI to identify universal and population-specific predictors of dementia.
Researchers found a significant link between chronic pain and dementia, with multisite chronic pain increasing the risk of neurocognitive abnormality by up to eight years.
Researchers found that fasudil reversed reduced pyramidal neuron density and cognitive dysfunction associated with methamphetamine treatment in mice with ARHGAP10 gene mutations. Fasudil also restored the density of pyramidal neurons, improving visual discrimination tests performance.
Researchers developed a testing model to understand cognitive challenges of superior semicircular canal dehiscence (SSCD), a rare condition causing sound-induced dizziness and hearing abnormalities. The Mongolian gerbil model shows promise for accelerating recovery with reversible diagnostic findings characteristic of patients with SSCD.
Kyoto University researchers have created a map comparing circuit structure with neural activity in mammals, revealing a new mechanism behind visual cortex activities. This discovery sheds light on the hidden connections between neurons and could provide directions for constructing power-efficient deep neural networks.
Research found that patients with poorer memory, concentration, anxiety, and depressive symptoms after a stroke are more likely to be fatigued and sleepy. This study highlights the importance of monitoring cognitive and emotional issues in stroke patients to prevent long-term fatigue and improved diagnostics and treatment.
A new study found that 59% of long COVID patients experienced persistent organ damage a year after initial symptoms, even among those not severely affected initially. The study also revealed significant impairment in multi-organ function and quality of life.
A study by Ohio State University found that children as young as 4 years old utilize a brain network, known as the multiple demand network, to tackle difficult cognitive problems. This network enables focus, memory management, and problem-solving skills, similar to those seen in adults.