Research on the brain basis of thinking and attention. Covers games and attention, cognitive training platforms, adaptive AI frameworks, and brain-health research.
Children who begin reading for pleasure early in life tend to perform better at cognitive tests and have better mental health when they enter adolescence. Reading for pleasure is also associated with improved brain structure, which may help explain the findings.
Researchers from HSE Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience examine the brain's reaction to social norms violations and calculate a behavioral index to assess an individual's sensitivity to unfairness. This index can be used to develop personalized rehabilitation programs for patients with various types of behavioral disorders.
A new study examining brain tissue from 631 former football players found that the cumulative force of hits, not just the number of concussions, was the strongest predictor of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The study suggests that reducing the force and frequency of head impacts could help prevent CTE in athletes.
Research from Keck School of Medicine of USC found that everyday air pollution can alter brain development patterns in adolescents, linked to changes in brain connectivity over time. Exposure to fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide was associated with increased or decreased functional connectivity between brain regions.
A study found that social isolation is associated with a decrease in hippocampal volume, poorer cognitive performance, and an increased risk of developing conditions like Alzheimer's dementia. Conversely, maintaining a healthy social network can help preserve brain structure and function.
A McMaster University study found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for new mothers can lead to adaptive changes in infant brain functioning and reduce post-partum depression symptoms. The study tracked 73 pairs of mothers and babies undergoing PPD treatments between 2018 and 2020.
Researchers found a significant correlation between vitreous humor biomarkers and pathologically confirmed cases of Alzheimer's disease and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy. Biomarkers in the vitreous humor may serve as a proxy for neuropathological disease, offering potential early diagnosis and prognostication.
A neuroscientific team mapped the brain's response to changing conditions, revealing a critical role for sensory regions in decision-making. The study, published in Nature Communications, suggests that cognitive flexibility evolved early in the development of the brain, with similarities observed between humans and mice.
Researchers found that an older adult's performance on the phone menu test was associated with Alzheimer's disease pathology, including amyloid and tau depositions. The test detected clinically meaningful changes in daily functioning before pronounced symptoms of cognitive decline began.
A recent study found that cognitive enhancers, such as Ritalin and modafinil, may actually inhibit performance and productivity in neurotypical workers and students. Participants who performed well on a complex decision-making task showed decreased accuracy and efficiency when taking the drugs.
A multidisciplinary study found evidence of increased neuronal connectivity in the brains of serial entrepreneurs, suggesting they possess greater cognitive flexibility. This increased flexibility enables them to alternate between exploration and exploitation, crucial for entrepreneurial success.
A new study found that the serotonin booster prucalopride increased functional brain connectivity in healthy adults, particularly between cognitive networks. The results suggest that prucalopride may improve cognitive function and have therapeutic potential for depression patients.
Researchers have developed a technique to measure the effectiveness of clemastine in repairing myelin, allowing for future therapies to be assessed. Patients with MS treated with clemastine experienced modest increases in myelin water, indicating myelin repair.
A new study followed over 7,000 middle-aged and older Canadians for three years, finding that social participation was associated with successful aging. Those who engaged in volunteer work and recreational activities were more likely to maintain excellent health and less likely to develop physical or mental problems.
EPFL researchers used Chat-GPT to design a working robotic tomato harvester, showcasing the AI tool's potential for collaborating with humans in robotic design. The study highlights opportunities and risks of applying artificial intelligence to robotics, emphasizing the need for careful evaluation of LLMs' role in design.
A team of researchers used MRI and audio recordings to demonstrate the association between caregiver speech and infant brain development. Infants who heard more words had slower-developing white matter, but eventually showed better linguistic performance when they began to talk.
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.