Articles tagged with Cognitive Neuroscience
A team of cognitive scientists created a computational model to understand the factors affecting decision-making and planning depth. They found that better planning is driven by the ability to recognize patterns more accurately and in less time, pointing to the benefits of practice and experience.
A recent study published in JAMA Neurology found that heart attacks are associated with a faster decline in cognitive function over time. The research analyzed data from six large studies and showed that individuals who had a heart attack experienced a decline in global cognition equivalent to about six to 13 years of aging.
A new MIT study shows that lawyers prefer plain English contracts, which they find easier to understand and more appealing than traditional legal documents. The researchers found that while lawyers excel at reading and writing complex legalese, the style can be a barrier for non-lawyers.
A study by Japanese researchers identifies the involvement of angiotensin II-AT1 and prostaglandin E2-EP1 systems in high-salt-induced hypertension and emotional/cognitive impairment, offering potential therapeutic targets for dementia prevention.
Researchers found that a combination of amyloid burden and blood markers of abnormal astrocyte activation can predict Alzheimer's disease progression. Testing for these biomarkers may help identify patients at risk, enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment.
Repetitive manual dexterity training for 12 weeks improves executive function and boosts cognitive load patterns in older adults. Daily training has a positive correlation with active blood hemoglobin levels in the prefrontal cortex.
A University of Maryland study found that walking strengthened brain connectivity and improved memory in older adults with normal brain function and those diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment. The research adds to the growing evidence that exercise slows cognitive decline and may delay Alzheimer's disease.
A study by Florida Atlantic University and CINVESTAV found that long-term running maintains the connectivity of adult-born hippocampal neurons, which contribute to memory function during aging. Exercise may prevent or delay age-related memory decline by increasing the survival and modifying the network of these neurons.
A recent study found that young people engaging in online anti-social behavior do so for recreation, reward, and to seek social approval. The researchers also discovered that those who exhibit such behavior tend to have lower cognitive empathy scores.
A UCI-led study reveals that the oldest-old, those living up to 90 years old, exhibit similar levels of brain pathology as Alzheimer's patients but with lower levels of pathology from other neurodegenerative diseases. This finding suggests these individuals may be resistant to these age-related cognitive decline.
A new study challenges the long-standing view that our ability to see the unexpected is impaired when our attention is directed elsewhere. Researchers found that people are more likely to spot unexpected objects moving quickly, but less adept at noticing them when they move slowly.
A study by Lund University researchers reveals that visual perspective taking, a crucial social skill, originated in the dinosaur lineage around 60 million years ago. This finding challenges the prevailing view that mammals drove the evolution of complex cognition.
A study found that expert mammogram radiologists exhibit visual hindsight bias, leading to improved performance on blurry images after prior clear images were viewed. This bias can impact the detection of lesions and has implications for negligence lawsuits and patient outcomes.
A study by Ohio State University researchers found that college students were less consistent in their decision making during the 2020 fall semester compared to previous years. Students were more likely to cycle between relying on gut instincts and thoroughly evaluating information depending on how scenarios were described.
A study by University of California, Riverside found that older adults are less likely to ignore distractors in their surroundings while engaging in a cognitive task and an effortful physical task. This decline is greater when simultaneously performing a physical task, such as driving or carrying grocery bags.
Researchers found that people who perceived cognitive difficulties during COVID were more likely to experience physical symptoms of long COVID. The study suggests a psychological component for lingering SARS-CoV-2 symptoms in some patients.
A study by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona finds that a hypocaloric diet attenuates brain changes associated with age-associated memory loss. The results show improved spatial object recognition test scores and reduced neuronal loss and inflammatory activity in the hippocampus.
The National Science Foundation has awarded Columbia University a $20 million grant to establish the AI Institute for Artificial and Natural Intelligence (ARNI), an interdisciplinary center focused on connecting AI systems to brain research. ARNI will bring together top researchers from across the U.S. to advance neuroscience, cognitiv...
New research shows that people with bipolar disorder or depression are more likely to be hospitalized if their verbal memory is poor. The study found an approximately 84% increased risk of admission to a psychiatric ward due to impaired verbal memory.
A pilot study found that remote aerobic walking exercise training improved cognitive processing speed in fully ambulatory persons with MS. The study, which showed high adherence rates, supports the design of a large-scale randomized controlled trial.
New research from UC Berkeley suggests that deep sleep can act as a protective factor against memory decline in individuals with existing high amounts of Alzheimer's disease pathology. This study provides hope for alleviating some of dementia's most devastating outcomes.
Researchers discovered that sleep spindles can alleviate anxiety in people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), contradicting recent findings. The study found that spindle rate frequency was higher during a stressful visit than a control visit, suggesting non-invasive ways to harness the benefits of this sleep stage for symptom ...
A study found that high school quality is linked to better late-life cognition, particularly for those with more experienced teachers. Attending higher-quality schools may influence life trajectory and lead to better cognitive outcomes.
A new study published by Edith Cowan University found that boxing programs can improve symptoms of Parkinson's Disease, including fatigue and sleep, in early-stage patients. The program combined elements of exercise, computerized cognitive training, and socialization into a single activity.
A study published by the University of Barcelona found that problem-solving abilities are linked to social exclusion. Dromedaries and goats, which are less integrated into their social groups, demonstrated greater innovation skills.
Researchers found that older children can learn visual tasks and exhibit increased white matter plasticity after surgery to remove congenital cataracts. This suggests that the window of brain plasticity extends beyond childhood and that all children may benefit from treatment.
More than half of stroke survivors develop cognitive impairment within a year, with 1 in 3 at risk for dementia. Early screening and comprehensive care are advised to support stroke survivors with cognitive impairment.
A new study by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital found that children with supportive environments fared better than those living in neighborhoods with economic hardship. Higher EHI scores were associated with lower cognitive abilities and greater decline after treatment, especially in math skills.
A global study found that tonal language speakers are better able to discern between subtly different melodies, while non-tonal speakers are better able to tell whether a rhythm is beating in time with the music. Tonal speakers actually perform worse on rhythm perception tasks.
A Mayo Clinic study found that menopause symptoms significantly affect women's quality of life and productivity in the workplace. The study estimated an annual loss of $26.6 billion, including lost work time and medical expenses, highlighting a critical need for employers to address this issue.
Researchers at Temple University Health System found that carbonic anhydrase inhibitors reduce inflammation, restore cell function and prevent cognitive impairment in mice with amyloid buildup. CAIs also improved cerebrovascular health and enhanced amyloid-clearing capacity.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.