Articles tagged with Cognitive Neuroscience
A new computational model of the brain based on biology and physiology learned a simple visual category learning task as well as lab animals, discovering counterintuitive activity in neurons. The model produced naturalistic dynamics and learning without training data, enabling researchers to identify new insights into brain function an...
A novel experimental framework captures natural complexity, revealing how human pairs settle into stable cooperative, intermediate, or competitive roles. The study integrates factors that mirror real-world behavior, predicting partners' decisions with high accuracy.
Research reveals cannabis use may promote deep, restorative sleep critical for physical restoration and immune function, but at the cost of reduced emotional regulation and memory integration. Chronic cannabis users experience diminishing benefits as use increases.
Researchers at UVA Health System discover how traumatic brain injury increases Alzheimer's risk and find a potential prevention strategy using a hollowed-out virus to deliver repair supplies. The approach could help limit neurodegeneration and potentially prevent other neurological diseases.
A recent study published in Nature Communications found that the human brain processes spoken language in a sequence mirroring advanced AI language models. The research suggests that artificial intelligence can offer insights into how the brain constructs meaning, challenging traditional rule-based theories.
The study used advanced neuroimaging methods to identify early, network-level changes in over 3,000 individuals at varying levels of risk for psychosis. Individuals at high clinical risk exhibited early disruptions in brain network organisation despite mild clinical symptoms.
A new review published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences highlights the effect of temperature on our awareness of our own bodies, improving our understanding of “skin-to-brain” signals. The study reveals a previously overlooked pathway through which the body communicates with the brain, contributing to emotion, identity, and mental health.
The EBRAINS Summit 2025 will bring together experts to assess how neuroscience can drive medical progress, digital innovation, and responsible data use. Preliminary results from the EPINOV clinical trial, integrating virtual brain technology for epilepsy surgery planning, will be presented.
Researchers identified a molecular mechanism linking early-life environments with memory by activating AP-1, which regulates genes involved in neuronal plasticity and learning. Early-life experiences produce long-lasting modulation of AP-1 activity, boosting gene networks that strengthen neuronal connections.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth have successfully used transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) to change the function of a deep region of the human brain, specifically the nucleus accumbens. This tiny element is triggered by enjoyable experiences and helps us learn behaviours that lead to rewards.
In a groundbreaking study, macaques were found to synchronize their taps with musical beats in real-time, even when presented with new songs. This ability to perceive and move to rhythm suggests that the roots of beat perception may be more widespread than previously thought.
A new study led by Concordia researchers found that individuals with coronary artery disease (CAD) have widespread structural changes in their white matter compared to healthy controls. The changes were particularly noticeable in regions critical for cognitive and motor functions.
Researchers developed a novel method to induce physiological responses similar to those experienced under psychological pressure. The approach, which involves aiming for consecutive successes, shows promise for studying the impact of pressure on human performance, including physical and intellectual tasks.
According to Miller, brain waves sculpt the flow of information in the cortex, enabling volitional control of thought. The cortex organizes itself through analog computation, leading to consciousness as a unified awareness of thought and experience.
Researchers suggest that becoming aware of unrecognized psychological and behavioral challenges can be a crucial mechanism in conversation-based psychotherapy. By framing introspection as a process of expanding one's cognitive map, therapists may help patients reframe their thoughts and change pathological ways of thinking.
John DeLuca, PhD, received the 2025 Reitan Clinical Excellence Award for his significant contributions to clinical practice in neuropsychology. He has shaped cognitive rehabilitation approaches and advanced understanding of brain function in populations affected by neurological injury and disease.
A global review of 71 studies found that short-term fasting has no meaningful difference in mental performance for most adults. However, children and adolescents performed poorly, emphasizing the importance of breakfast before school. Fasting also impaired tasks involving food-related cues.
A study led by Dr. Yasuyuki Fujii found that flavanols activate the brain's sensory nerves, inducing physiological responses similar to those induced by exercise, improving attention, arousal, and memory. Flavanol intake also boosted neurotransmitter activity, strengthened the noradrenergic system, and enhanced stress response regulation.
Researchers discovered that people master new physical skills like sports or driving by combining lessons from error feedback and rewards, even with cues removed. The brain uses both feedback types in a mixed learning pattern, not separate processes as previously thought.
The BrainHealthy competition offers real-world experience to talented young brain health researchers. The contest aims to advance new studies on age-related brain changes, brain health biomarkers, and Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers develop CRISPR-based tools to epigenetically silence or boost memory gene Arc, demonstrating its direct impact on memory expression and storage. This breakthrough offers new avenues for exploring memory processing disorders in humans.
A study at Johns Hopkins University found that students' brains activate logic areas when learning to code, even before taking a class. The researchers used fMRI to track brain activity and discovered that these neurons also fire when reading plain English descriptions of the coding programs.
Researchers at Virginia Tech found that adjusting molecular processes can improve memory in older subjects. They used CRISPR-dCas13 and CRISPR-dCas9 to target age-related changes in K63 polyubiquitination and IGF2, two genes linked to memory formation.
The team aims to build an anonymized database representative of the whole population by collecting two vivid memories from participants. The findings will inform new ways to help people remember in more detail and understand human memories across the lifespan.
Scientists at the German Primate Center discovered that the brain reorganizes itself to control motor prostheses in a virtual environment. The findings suggest that different regions of the brain jointly reflect corrected movement commands, rather than separate components for expected results and error signals.
A new MIT study found that a theta-frequency brain wave scans the mental image and a region of the cortex maps visual information. The researchers observed that performance depends on the phase of this wave when the changed square appears, and the vertical location on the screen of that target square.
A new study reveals that astrocytes, a type of glial cell, are responsible for stabilizing memories through repeated engagement. The researchers found that Fos activity in astrocytes only occurs during recall, and that these cells can be activated to produce stable memories.
Terrence Sejnowski, a renowned neuroscientist at Salk Institute, has been awarded the 2025 NIH Director's Pioneer Award to develop advanced computational techniques for analyzing working memory. His research aims to better understand and treat memory disorders in mental health conditions.
Researchers discovered that adults can better access their early memories after embodying a childlike version of their own face. Participants who viewed their childlike faces recalled significantly more episodic childhood memories than those who saw their adult faces.
Researchers at UCLA have identified a type of neuron in the orbital region of the frontal cortex that is most active when a decision outcome is unknown, suggesting these neurons play a crucial role in learning and mental flexibility. The discovery could aid the development of new treatments for rigid thought patterns such as anxiety an...
Researchers found a significant increase in AMPA receptors across Long COVID patients' brains, correlating with cognitive impairment severity. This discovery provides a direct biological explanation for brain fog symptoms and may lead to novel treatments.
Professor John O'Brien's research focuses on understanding the impact of electrical synapses and gap junction plasticity on the retina and other neurological functions. The study aims to identify proteins that control electrical synapse strength, shedding light on their role in human disorders such as autism and seizures.
Salk scientists pinpoint gracile nucleus as brain area responsible for differentiating between painful and non-painful touch, with dysfunction leading to chronic pain. Altered neuronal activity in the dorsal column nuclei drives mechanical allodynia, causing the brain to misinterpret innocuous light touch as painful.
Researchers found that zebra finches can accurately perceive and categorize their species' vocal signals, organizing them semantically. The birds exhibit a remarkable ability to distinguish between call types used in similar behavioral or social contexts.
Dr. Matthew Walker brings a multi-disciplinary approach to sleep research, focusing on the impact of sleep on human health and disease, and developing new tools and technologies to measure and improve sleep quality. The Sleep Innovation Laboratories will serve as a vital hub for discovery, innovation and public education.
Research found that cumulative exposure to factors like low education, childhood trauma, and financial stress negatively impacts brain structure and function. This has long-lasting effects on mental and brain health, even in healthy aging and dementia prevention.
Researchers discovered that humans treat a robotic hand as part of their body schema when working together on tasks, particularly when the robot's gestures are synchronized with those of humans. The study paves the way for better-designed robots that can interact more intuitively with humans.
The University of Carlos III of Madrid (UC3M) has received two prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants for groundbreaking neuroscience research. The ASTROCODE project aims to unravel the role of astrocytes in cognitive functions, while ActivEAR seeks to discover the energy source of mammalian hearing.
Researchers developed a new method to correct for variations in brain imaging measurements, reducing bias and increasing the accuracy of studies on ADHD. The traveling-subject method demonstrated reduced measurement bias while maintaining sampling bias, revealing decreased brain volume in critical regions for cognitive functions.
Researchers at Macquarie University discovered that listeners adapt to the characteristics of acoustic spaces to improve their understanding of speech. The 'Goldilocks' zone of reverberation, around 400 milliseconds, optimizes learning and adaptation.
A study published in Science Advances found that individuals with 'subjective cognitive decline' (SCD), a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, performed worse on navigation tasks compared to those without SCD. The researchers hope this could lead to more sensitive testing methods for early diagnosis and drug studies.
The Center for BrainHealth has welcomed 20 new advisory board members for 2025-2026, bolstering its depth of talent and expertise. The new board members will champion the center's mission to advance cognitive neuroscience research and promote brain health across the lifespan.
Hyperthymesics possess extraordinary control over memories of life events, organizing them within a mental space for vivid recall. This ability allows for intense mental travel through time, with some individuals recalling details from different points of view.
Aging populations exhibit a positivity bias in recognizing emotions, associated with observable changes in brain linked to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. The study correlates age-related positivity bias with poorer cognitive performance but not necessarily emotional decline.
Research by Christian Wood and colleagues reveals that brain area 46 regulates positive and negative emotions, impacting motivation and threat response. The study suggests personalized treatments for depression and anxiety may be effective by targeting this brain network.
Researchers identified measurable changes minutes before breakthroughs in expert mathematicians, offering a new window into the mechanics of human creativity. The study's method could help scientists predict creative insights and understand micro-dynamics.
A new UCLA study found that the optimal level of emotional response while listening to music influences memory, with too little or too much arousal having opposite effects. Music can become a powerful therapeutic tool for improving learning and memory in conditions like Alzheimer's disease and PTSD.
Researchers found that the primary somatosensory cortex, responsible for processing sensory information, has a layered structure that ages differently. The middle and upper layers remain stable or even thicken with age, while the lower layers show age-related degeneration, providing evidence for neuroplasticity.
SuperAgers, individuals with exceptional memory performance beyond their age, have been studied for 25 years. Their brains show a distinct neurobiological profile, linked to resistance and resilience mechanisms that may prevent Alzheimer's disease progression.
A study found that reward expectation modulates attention in humans, with distinct effects on sensory processing and decision-making. Sensitivity to visual stimuli was linked to sensory attention centers, while decision-making biases were linked to brain regions involved in impulsive decisions.
A new study by the University of Surrey investigates how our brains process face pareidolia and averted gazes, revealing differing mechanisms that influence attention. The researchers found that participants shifted their attention in response to both real faces and imagined face-like objects.
The largest neuroscience event will convene in San Diego from November 15-19, featuring over 10,000 presentations on various topics. Registered journalists will gain access to cutting-edge research, expert interviews, and press-only events.
The brain processes visual information in rapid snapshots roughly eight times per second, resolving competition through rhythmic switching between competing inputs. This 'attentional sampling' mechanism is a fundamental solution to the deep problem of cognition's neural implementation.
A study found that evaluators' musical experience influences the sight-over-sound effect, reducing its impact for those with auditory expertise. The study used Japanese high school brass band competitions and found no significant evidence of the effect in musicians, but a stronger presence in non-musicians.
A NUS-led global study reveals that 30-minute functional MRI scans deliver up to 22% in cost savings while retaining or improving prediction accuracy. This finding could reshape how researchers design neuroscience and mental health studies, especially for hard-to-recruit populations.
The Center for BrainHealth has received a new $1 million match gift from retired Admiral William McRaven to enhance its Optimal BrainHealth for Warfighters program. This program provides critical training for proactive brain health and introduces essential tools to measure and track change over time.
Researchers found that adults with autism perceive visual body information similarly to neurotypical adults, challenging long-standing assumptions about social difficulties in ASD. The study used fMRI to compare brain activity patterns in adults with autism and typically developing adults while viewing images of body parts.
Researchers recorded activity from hundreds of neurons simultaneously in flying bats, revealing insights into neural replay and theta sequences. This study sheds light on the formation and storage of long-term memories in humans, potentially leading to new treatments for neurological disorders.
A new study found that live contemporary dance performances trigger brainwave synchrony among audience members, signaling shared engagement. The researchers also discovered that the delta band of slow-frequency brainwaves was responsible for capturing this shared experience.
A new study from the University of Southern California reveals that just 30 days of guided mindfulness meditation can significantly enhance key aspects of attentional control. The study demonstrates that even short-term meditation can lead to measurable cognitive improvements, particularly in reaction speed.