Articles tagged with Cognitive Neuroscience
A team of researchers from MIT created a comprehensive atlas of cerebrovascular cells in human brain tissue, identifying 11 subtypes and their functions. The study reveals differences between healthy and diseased cells, potentially leading to new targets for treating Huntington's disease.
A new study on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) has found that group-level scores lack significance on an individual level. The normative study recommends a higher cut-off score for SDMT to accurately assess changes over time and predict disease progression.
Researchers will test the effectiveness of WeCAN, a group-based treatment designed to teach long-lasting management skills to individuals with traumatic brain injury and dementia. The study aims to identify behavioral, neuroimaging, and blood biomarkers that correlate with treatment efficacy.
Scientists demonstrate a definitive link between mitochondrial oxidative damage and cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease using a transgenic mouse model. The study found that Aβ1-42 aggregation in the hippocampus caused cognitive impairment, while oxidation led to mitochondrial dysfunction.
A new study by Tohoku University researchers found that brain training with neurofeedback enhances cognitive functions, particularly episodic memory and working memory. The study, published in Brain Sciences, suggests that increased brain activity during training is key to unlocking its benefits.
As people age, their brains allocate more space to accumulated knowledge, making memory retrieval challenging. However, this prior experience can also enhance creativity and decision-making skills.
Researchers developed a user-centered virtual reality system to engage stroke survivors with spatial neglect in intensive therapy, showing promising results. The system uses head-mounted displays and hand-tracking technology to deliver standardized treatment in an engaging environment.
Researchers at Lancaster University have identified a genetic change that impacts insulin signaling and glucose metabolism in the brain, which may lead to effective drug treatments for autism. The study found that individuals with a specific DNA deletion are more likely to develop neurodevelopmental disorders, including autism.
A Finnish twin study found that individuals with lower education are more susceptible to the negative effects of cardiovascular risk factors on late-life cognition. The study suggests that higher education can act as a cognitive reserve, helping to mitigate dementia risk.
A study from MIT and UC Berkeley found a relationship between Tsimane' individuals' counting ability and their success in matching tasks up to 25. The researchers suggest that representing exact quantities larger than four requires words for those numbers.
Researchers at Oregon Health & Science University have made a groundbreaking connection between the gut microbiome and cognitive decline in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease. Fecal implants induced significant behavioral and cognitive changes in mice, offering new avenues for treating or forestalling dementia.
Researchers at Osnabrück University observe chimpanzees applying insects to their own and others' wounds, sparking interest in potential anti-inflammatory or antiseptic properties. The team aims to investigate the social dimension of this behavior and its possible transmission through social learning.
Researchers are developing novel biomaterials to promote new blood vessel and axon formation after a stroke, aiming to improve neurological conditions. The project targets post-stroke immune response and aims to enhance the healing process.
The study establishes a link between real-life creativity and semantic memory structure, predicting individual differences in brain functional connectivity. Participants' creative activities and achievements were found to be related to the efficiency of their semantic memory networks.
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that reducing air pollution exposure can slow cognitive decline in older women, with benefits seen across various demographics. The research followed 2,232 women for up to 20 years, revealing a significant association between improved air quality and reduced cognitive decline.
Researchers found that participants who had a heart attack experienced significant cognitive decline several years later. The study suggests that managing risk factors to prevent a heart attack may also help slow cognitive decline.
Neurobiologists demonstrated that humans can unconsciously distinguish between even very similar sounds, but often don't recognize these differences. The study used EEG to measure brain responses to stimuli and found that the brain reacts differently to local and global irregularities in sound sequences.
A study examining national data of adults aged 60 and older found that smoking is strongly linked to poor brain health, independent of other medical conditions. Smoking was associated with lower cognitive test scores in this population.
A study published in Science Advances reveals that individuals with less memory loss in old age tend to gain more knowledge, contrary to the previously assumed compensatory power of crystallized abilities. The findings suggest a strong dependency between changes in fluid and crystallized abilities.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that women score higher on compassion-related items and self-reflection, whereas men score higher on cognitive-related items and emotional regulation. Both genders demonstrated an association with increased mental well-being and resilience.
A new study found that excess body fat is a risk factor for reduced cognitive function in adults, including processing speed. The association remained even after adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors. Maintaining healthy weight and physical activity may help preserve cognitive function and prevent dementia.
A new study found that daily physical activity increases executive function performance in people aged 50-74, while decreased activity leads to lower cognitive performance. The correlation held even after adjusting for various co-morbidities.
New research from Technische Universität Dresden aims to improve treatment for developmental dyslexia by targeting sensory pathways. The 'ReDyslexia' project combines basic neuroscience understanding with neurostimulation techniques to enhance therapeutic approaches.
The MIT team developed a computer model that can perform sound localization tasks as well as humans, and adapts to real-world environments. The model uses convolutional neural networks and was trained on over 400 sounds, including human voices and animal sounds.
Researchers found that rewarding cognitive effort increases willingness to take on more challenging tasks, even without external reward. This challenges the notion that people inherently want to avoid challenging work, suggesting individual learning histories may play a role in shaping motivation.
A virtual reality 'Shopping Task' has been developed to measure cognition and assess age-related decline. The study found that the immersive environment engaged key brain structures, including the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex.
New research reveals the brain's flexibility in multitasking while walking, improving stability and performance. The study uses a Mobile Brain/Body Imaging system to record brain activity while participants walk on a treadmill or perform cognitive tasks.
Researchers found that moderate aerobic cycling improved auditory verbal learning and processing speed, as well as increased volumes of the hippocampus and cerebellar cortex. The study suggests exercise interventions may be an attractive option for improving cognitive function in individuals with traumatic brain injury.
A study found that car owners place a higher value on green spaces in shared courtyards, with a twofold increase in attention to trees making the area 30% more attractive. This internal conflict highlights the need for architects and developers to prioritize green spaces in construction planning.
Young children and babies use saliva sharing as a cue to determine strong relationships and mutual obligations. Research found that babies expect people who share saliva to offer help when distressed, suggesting a vital skill for learning social relationships.
Researchers aim to expand an existing spinal cord injury intervention to improve self-efficacy, coping, and well-being in individuals with multiple sclerosis. The study will conduct focus groups and a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of the adapted intervention.
Researchers have created a compact and affordable device for recording brain activity, offering research-grade signal quality and customizable configuration. The device has the potential to help people with epilepsy detect impending seizures and those with limited mobility regain control over their limbs.
A landmark VA study found that prolonged exposure was statistically more effective than cognitive processing therapy in easing PTSD symptoms, with most Veterans showing meaningful improvement from both treatments. The researchers recommended shared decision-making between clinicians and patients to select their preferred treatment.
A new study demonstrates that playing a child-friendly action video game can improve reading skills, including speed, accuracy, and comprehension. Children who played the game showed significant long-term improvements in attentional control and literacy compared to those who played a coding game.
A ketogenic diet has been shown to improve spatial memory and visual memory, lower brain inflammation indices, and cause less neuronal death in individuals with traumatic brain injuries. The diet may also slow down the rate of cellular aging, offering hope for those suffering from this condition.
Researchers at West Virginia University are investigating the link between chronic stress and Alzheimer's disease using animal models. They aim to understand how xanthine oxidase may sabotage brain blood vessels in Alzheimer's patients, and explore whether a medication can block this pathway to keep the brain healthy.
UC researchers received a $1.2 million grant to examine the impact of stress hormone receptors on cell degeneration in Parkinson's disease. The study aims to develop a new model that better replicates the progression of the disease, which may lead to treatments targeting stress hormone blockers or next-generation therapeutics.
A new study published in Menopause journal reveals that severe depression and sexual dysfunction can impair a woman's cognitive skills, including orientation, registration, attention, recall, and language. The study suggests that these symptoms have a significant impact on women's overall cognitive performance.
A new study found that certain brain wave patterns during sleep can be used to diagnose dementia and other cognitive impairments. The study identified parameters for automated detection methods, which were linked to fluid intelligence and declined during early stages of dementia.
A team of researchers used neural network data to study grid cell activity in the brain, finding that collective neural activity is shaped like a torus, or doughnut. The study provides new insights into how large networks of neurons produce properties that cannot be inferred from individual cells.
New research published in JNeurosci reveals that impaired cognition can be part of normal aging, rather than an early sign of Alzheimer's. Cognitively frail adults showed brain structure and activity similar to healthy controls, suggesting lifestyle factors like physical activity and education may play a role.
Researchers have developed a promising treatment approach for chronic stroke patients using carefully tuned electrical stimulation of the neuromuscular system. This method has been shown to improve motor control, sensory capabilities, and body perception in patients with long-term disabilities.
The locus coeruleus, a tiny cell structure in the brainstem, regulates our brain's sensitivity to relevant information. Noradrenaline, produced by the blue spot, modulates alpha oscillations, allowing us to focus attention.
Researchers have discovered a new biomarker, microstate D, associated with increased sleep disturbance and inattention symptoms in adults with ADHD. The study, published in Biological Psychiatry: Cognitive Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, provides evidence for a more precise diagnosis of the disorder.
Researchers found that psilocybin doses of 10mg or 25mg administered simultaneously to up to six participants had no adverse effects. The study also showed promise for treating treatment-resistant depression and PTSD.
A study of 70 youth tackle football players aged 9-12 over four seasons found a significant association between head impacts and cognitive and behavioral outcomes. The research suggests that repeated head impacts in youth tackle football may lead to long-term consequences for young athletes.
Kids consider track record of accuracy and degree of access to knowledge when judging a communicator's trustworthiness. Children who received accurate non-verbal cues in the familiarization phase followed them in the test phase 83% of the time.
A study published in Nature finds that neurons in the primary olfactory cortex learn to encode spatial maps by associating odours with locations, allowing animals to navigate and remember valuable resources. This discovery sheds light on how our brains process smells and spaces.
A new study found that white matter structural tracts are relatively stable throughout typical development, but show increased instability in children with psychosis spectrum symptoms. The integrity of these tracts was lower in children with psychosis and associated with cognitive function.
Researchers found that astrocytes regulate cognitive flexibility by releasing D-serine and glutamate, which integrates synaptic plasticity. Heterosynaptic long-term depression is mediated by astrocytes, critical for memory modification.
Researchers found that distributed codes among larger populations of neurons in the prefrontal cortex make information more reliable and robust. This discovery could support advanced cognitive abilities and potentially treat disorders of memory and cognition.
Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum propose a new platform theory of consciousness, which links conscious states to complex cognitive operations. The model suggests that consciousness arises from the interaction of different neuronal networks and is essential for adaptive behavior in humans, animals, and artificial intelligence.
Research reveals that HIV-positive individuals with cocaine addiction struggle to withhold behavioral responses due to distinct brain activity patterns. This finding highlights the need for targeted interventions to address dual diagnosis in recovery programs.
Researchers at University of Rochester Medical Center found that the brain processes attended and unattended speech differently, converting attended speech into linguistic units for understanding. This study contributes to developing better wearable devices, such as hearing aids.
A pilot study of exercise and cognition in progressive multiple sclerosis found that cardiorespiratory fitness and free-living physical activity were not associated with improved cognitive performance. The study, which analyzed data from 240 individuals with progressive MS, suggests that other mechanisms may be at play.
A recent University of Cincinnati study investigated how mindfulness affects mind wandering and found that while it can be effective in reducing mind-wandering thoughts, the results differ depending on the research methodology. The study suggests using computer-based testing methods to measure mind wandering for more reliable findings.
Vanderbilt researchers discover how a protein may treat schizophrenia, including reversing working memory deficits. Enhancing the activity of mGlu1 selectively increases the activity of specific inhibitory interneurons, restoring their ability to inhibit neuronal circuits.
A recent study by SISSA and University of Padua shows that occupation influences the course of cognitive decline. Work activity is found to be a protective factor for cognitive reserve, contributing to brain's resistance to damage caused by illness or aging.
Researchers found a specific phase of sleep after falling asleep that triples the chances of finding creative solutions, making it a potential tool for stimulating creativity in everyday life. This discovery opens a new field of study on brain mechanisms of creativity and challenges the common view of sleep as a waste of time.
A study published in iScience reveals that distorted perception of bodily self-consciousness can be predicted by different kinds of memories. The researchers found that the recovery of body ownership was associated with a fast memory process, while agency recovery was mainly linked to a slow memory process.