Research on the brain basis of thinking and attention. Covers games and attention, cognitive training platforms, adaptive AI frameworks, and brain-health research.
A recent study published in Neurology found an association between long-term air pollution exposure and a steeper rate of cognitive decline in individuals living in urban areas. Participants who lived in areas with higher levels of air pollution scored lower on thinking and memory tests and experienced faster declines in cognitive skills.
A recent study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia found a strong association between mild behavioral impairment (MBI) and amyloid plaque deposits in the brains of elderly individuals. MBI may potentially serve as an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease, allowing for earlier diagnosis and intervention.
A new family of molecules with high affinity to join imidazoline I2 receptors has been discovered, improving cognitive skills and biomarkers in murine models. The study presents a novel structure-activity relation for these receptors.
A recent NIH study has identified a genetic mutation that improves cognitive flexibility in mice by modifying a protein regulating potassium channels. The mutation was found to enhance the ability of mice to adapt to changing situations, such as finding a relocated platform.
Researchers at Skoltech discovered that non-invasive magnetic stimulation of the brain can enhance human working memory. The effects of magnetic stimulation weaken as the brain works on a cognitive task under stimulation. Cognitive activity can even reduce the efficiency of TMS, suggesting new protocols may be needed for optimal results.
Researchers from UNIGE used a database of over 100,000 people to study the relationship between physical and cognitive abilities after 50 years of age. They found that cognitive decline precedes physical activity, suggesting prioritizing brain exercise may slow down an inevitable decline.
A standardized dementia test has been adapted for use in seven Indian languages, enabling accurate diagnosis and mild cognitive impairment detection. The study found high diagnostic accuracy, making it a valuable tool for future cross-national research studies.
A 12-week study found that daily avocado consumption improved attention in adults with overweight or obesity, as measured by the Flanker task. However, there was no significant impact on other cognitive tests or lutein levels
Researchers discovered a key molecular mechanism mediating GABAergic synaptic development and function, with somatostatin peptide found to regulate synaptic transmission between nerve cells.
The study validated the use of the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery in individuals with a mental age of 5 or above, measuring cognitive skills and executive function. The test proved to be feasible and reliable for a high percentage of participants, offering a standardized metric for assessing this population.
Researchers adapted the NIH Toolbox Cognitive Battery to assess cognitive ability in people with intellectual disabilities aged 5 years and above, providing objective measures. The validated battery produces reliable and valid results, paving the way for further research on its adaptation for lower mental ages and older adults.
Research in mice finds that targeting overactive immune cells can improve TBI recovery, reducing inflammation and neurodegeneration. Quelling chronic inflammation may offer a new treatment option for long-term recovery from traumatic brain injuries.
Researchers found that bumblebees can create mental images of objects using information from multiple senses and form sophisticated mental representations of their surrounding world. Bumblebees successfully recognized objects cross-modally in both directions, sight-to-touch and touch-to-sight.
Two studies from University of Miami researchers show that mindfulness training programs tailored for firefighters and soldiers improve attention, mood, and resilience. The Mindfulness-based Attention Training (MBAT) program provides tools to succeed under VUCA circumstances.
A pilot study found that the Spanish adaptation of the modified Story Memory Technique improved learning and life satisfaction in Mexicans with multiple sclerosis. The intervention, which teaches imagery and context to facilitate learning, may be an effective rehabilitative tool for Spanish-speaking populations with MS.
Researchers found that B cells migrate to multiple brain areas after a stroke, targeting regions critical for motor and cognitive recovery. The discovery could lead to new therapeutic avenues for stroke patients.
Researchers found that subtle differences in cognitive performance can predict the progression of Alzheimer's disease, even before abnormal levels of beta-amyloid plaques accumulate. Low-cost, non-invasive cognitive testing can identify at-risk individuals, making them ideal candidates for therapeutic intervention and clinical trials.
A functional MRI study found that social anxiety characterized by fear of making others uncomfortable is associated with weakened connectivity in the cognitive-empathy brain network. This suggests impaired cognitive processing during embarrassing situations may contribute to social anxiety.
A Japanese study found increased traffic injuries among older drivers who lost their licenses after undergoing cognitive tests, as they became unprotected road users. The research suggests that the policy may not adequately consider the dangers facing those who lose a main mode of transport.
A Tufts University team won a grand prize in the NSF Idea Machine Competition with their project 'From Thinking to Inventing,' focusing on what machines can invent and how. They aim to create resilient robots that can creatively solve problems, addressing pressing issues like climate change and wealth inequality.
A new study found that a single bout of intense cardiovascular exercise can improve video game performance. The research, led by Dr. Marc Roig, challenged the idea that video gaming and physical activity are antagonistic activities. Exercise was shown to benefit players regardless of their fitness level or emotional response.
Researchers at the University of Liège developed a novel algorithm based on neuromodulation, enabling intelligent agents to efficiently solve new tasks. The innovative architecture was successfully tested on navigation problems with variable wind directions, showcasing its potential for multi-tasking applications.
A new study by researchers at the University of Limerick found that men and women employ different strategies to solve spatial cognition tasks. The research used eye-tracking technology to investigate cognitive proficiency in individuals and gamers, with results showing no male advantage in mental rotation abilities.
Research finds that brain iron levels increase during childhood and adolescence, correlating with improved cognitive abilities. Decreased iron levels in certain brain regions are associated with impaired performance on cognitive tasks, highlighting the importance of iron for healthy brain development.
A University of Exeter study found that grey squirrels with strong left-right preferences performed poorly on a learning task, suggesting a negative relationship between laterality and cognitive performance. The researchers measured the speed of learning among over 30 squirrels to assess both learning and lateralization.
Research shows that children aged 3-6 consider dominant individuals to be boys, with a power-masculinity association observed in both boys and girls. However, in some situations, particularly when considering power relations with the opposite gender, girls do not significantly identify with the dominant character.
Researchers found that individuals with objective subtle cognitive difficulties accumulated amyloid protein faster than cognitively normal individuals, even before symptoms appeared. This suggests that sensitive neuropsychological measures can detect subtle cognitive changes earlier in the disease process.
Research found that high fat diets limit newborn and developing neurons in adult female mice, but not males, potentially linking metabolic disorders to brain disorders like Alzheimer's disease. The study may inspire metabolism-based preventions and treatments.
A new study suggests that individuals with psychotic disorders experience persistent cognitive impairment across all areas of ability measured. Cognitive decline in these individuals may exceed expected age-related changes in some areas, particularly those related to symptoms and employment.
The mind composes meanings from separate words through a dynamic interaction between brain regions, using multi-modal cues. Humans and artificial intelligence systems differ in representing meaning, with humans using contextual knowledge and emotional cues.
A Penn State study found that hydration levels among women are associated with lower scores on tests measuring motor speed, sustained attention, and working memory. The researchers suggest that being 'in the sweet spot' of hydration is best for cognitive function, particularly for tasks requiring sustained attention.
A recent study by University of California San Diego School of Medicine found that the presence of meaning in life is associated with better physical and mental well-being, while the search for meaning in life may be associated with worse mental well-being and cognitive functioning. The researchers also discovered an inverted U-shaped ...
Researchers identified key brain areas linked to limited sense of touch, including somatosensory cortex and prefrontal cortex. The study supports findings from previous research on body awareness and discovers new brain regions associated with touch perception.
Researchers used virtual reality to test how humans remember positions in space with distorted grid cell patterns. In trapezoidal environments, participants were worse at learning positions than in square environments, and their memories remained distorted even when no longer in the environment.
Researchers found measurable changes in brain regions after BCI training, which occurred within hours, not weeks. This suggests BCI could be used to stimulate specific brain areas for rehabilitation.
A study analyzing data from over 10,000 cadets found that noncognitive attributes like grit were better predictors of graduation than cognitive ability. Cognitive ability was strongly linked to academic and military grades, while physical ability predicted physical grades.
Research published in JNeurosci found that fetal brains possess adult-like networks by 20-40 weeks gestation. The study discovered a 61% overlap in motor, visual, auditory, and cognitive functions between fetal and adult connectomes.
Two new studies found that Gulf War Illness (GWI) and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) are distinct disorders with unique effects on the brain. GWI was associated with decreased activation in the cerebellum, while CFS had increased activation in this region after exercise.
A recent study found that risk factors for unemployment among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) differ by age group. Factors such as physical symptoms, psychological issues, and person-specific traits were identified as contributing to the high unemployment rate among MS patients, with younger and older adults experiencing diffe...
Research at MIT's Picower Institute has shown that stimulating a specific brain rhythm via light or sound can reduce amyloid buildup and improve memory in Alzheimer's model mice. The technique, called GENUS, also shows promise in reducing inflammation and improving blood vessel function.
A study by Georgia State University researchers found that monkeys were more willing to explore efficient options when solving problems, whereas humans tend to stick with familiar strategies. This cognitive bias can lead to inefficient decisions and missed opportunities.
Researchers propose novel treatment strategies that can help prevent opioid abuse by identifying vulnerable individuals through advances in brain science. These findings have implications for addressing the opioid epidemic, particularly in understanding the neurological response to opioids.
A new grant from the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers will allow researchers to investigate different types of exercise regimens in individuals with multiple sclerosis. The study aims to measure the effects of exercise on various aspects of MS-related symptoms, such as cognition, fatigue, and physical functioning.
A study from Stanford University School of Medicine has found that a combination of light therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy can increase teen sleep duration by 43 minutes per night. The treatment consists of brief flashes of bright light to reset the body clocks, followed by motivation techniques to encourage earlier bedtimes.
A new Stanford University study has found that a four-week combination therapy involving brief light flashes and cognitive behavioral therapy can increase teenagers' sleep duration by 43 minutes per night. The treatment helped teens adjust their body clocks and motivated them to try earlier bedtimes.
A new study finds that night sweats are associated with decreased attention and executive function in menopausal women, even as total sleep time increases. In contrast, daytime hot flashes have no impact on sleep duration.
A study by neuroscientists from HSE University found that brain signals in the striatum and parietal cortex influence price adjustments in competitive markets. The results provide insight into the brain mechanisms at work when determining prices in such conditions.
A new study suggests that measuring how quickly a person's pupils dilate during cognitive tests may be a viable method for detecting Alzheimer's disease risk before symptoms appear. The study links pupillary dilation responses to identified AD risk genes, providing proof-of-concept for this screening tool.
A new study reveals that listening to music involves activity in sensory regions, while recalling melodies activates frontal regions. The findings suggest a complex network of brain regions involved in music processing.
A large-scale study found no evidence that testosterone reduces cognitive empathy, challenging the 'extreme male brain' hypothesis of autism. The study, involving nearly 650 men, used randomized controlled trials and behavioral tasks to measure cognitive empathy.
A new study found that NFL players who experienced concussions had elevated risk for serious cognitive problems, depression, and anxiety, persisting even 20 years after injury. Players in high-impact positions like running backs, linebackers, and special teams faced greater risks compared to those in lower-risk positions.
Researchers say increasing evidence suggests age-related diseases, rather than age itself, may be the key cause of cognitive decline. This shift in thinking highlights the importance of addressing bodily changes that lead to diseases like dementia.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute have developed a new way to classify brain cells based on electrical signals. By analyzing data from nearly 2,500 neurons, they identified four distinct classes of cells with different properties and functions in various regions of the brain.
A new study has mapped the primate brain's visual system organization, revealing that distinct types of cells may work differently than previously thought. The research found that specific regions of the lateral geniculate nucleus and visual pulvinar share the same type of connectivity with the cortex.
A UCI-led study found that online brain game exercises can improve cognitive multitasking skills in people aged 70 and above. The research showed that consistent training can retain cognitive youth into old age, making it an increasingly valuable skill in today's information-rich environment.
Research in mice suggests that physical manifestations of negative memories in the hippocampus could underlie cognitive symptoms of depression. Inhibiting these manifestations could be a future treatment route for depression.
Human research published in JNeurosci identified a specific target of antibodies implicated in lupus' neuropsychiatric symptoms. Brain cytoplasmic RNAs are targeted by the immune system in people with lupus, hindering cellular signaling and leading to seizures and cognitive impairments.
A Johns Hopkins University study reveals that older adults with weaker brain connections experience interference, making it harder to access long-term memories. The research highlights the importance of suppressing irrelevant information for optimal cognitive function.
A new computer system called EmoNet can accurately categorize images into emotional categories, suggesting that the visual cortex plays a crucial role in emotion processing. The study found that EmoNet could recognize emotions with high accuracy, even for nuanced emotions like confusion and awe.
A study by UC Riverside researchers found that older adults who learned three to five classes simultaneously showed significant increases in cognitive abilities, similar to those of middle-aged adults. The study suggests that intense learning experiences can improve cognitive functioning in older populations.