Research on the brain basis of thinking and attention. Covers games and attention, cognitive training platforms, adaptive AI frameworks, and brain-health research.
Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center found that women accumulate more tau protein in their brains than men, leading to a faster spread of the protein and increased risk for Alzheimer's disease. This sex-specific difference in tau spread may require tailored approaches for prevention and treatment.
Dogs can be trained to respond to haptic vibration commands using a modified canine vest containing vibrating motors. The technology has promising results for human-canine communication in search and rescue and service animal applications.
A high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet improved brain function and memory in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The modified Atkins diet showed small but measurable improvements on standardized tests of memory compared to a low-fat diet.
Researchers propose two criteria for selecting optimal brain stimulation strategy, considering interactions between hemispheres and neuronal phenotype. This approach aims to improve effectiveness of non-invasive neuromodulation methods in stroke patients.
A study published in Journal of Neurotrauma found that younger age and higher intelligence are associated with greater cognitive recovery after TBI. Cognitive reserve also plays a significant role in the recovery process, suggesting that rehabilitation strategies should take these factors into account.
A recent study by Kessler Foundation researchers found evidence for differential effects of progressive MS on cognitive and affective Theory of Mind. The study used Virtual Assessment of Mentalising Ability (VAMA) to measure Theory of Mind in individuals with progressive MS, who showed poorer performance on the cognitive ToM subtest co...
Research in hypertensive rat models found impaired glymphatic transport and increased ventricles, suggesting hypertension's impact on brain clearance of waste molecules. Treatments targeting hypertension could reduce Alzheimer's disease buildup and delay onset.
A recent study from MIT has found that dendrites are nearly always active when the main cell body of a neuron is active, suggesting a larger role in neural computation. The researchers used calcium imaging to measure activity in both soma and dendrites of individual neurons in the visual cortex.
Researchers aim to identify cognitive deficits in individuals with spinal cord injury, enabling them to receive necessary care and achieve maximal independence. A multi-site study will develop and test an abbreviated cognitive screening tool using portions of well-regarded neuropsychological tests.
Researchers found that considering an end-user's feelings increases cognitive flexibility, leading to more creative and practical solutions. This technique can be used by companies to boost their generation of innovative product ideas.
A study published in JNeurosci reports that dysfunctional neurons in the hippocampus of adult mice modeling dementia can be repaired and reconnected to distant parts of the brain. The findings suggest potential new treatments for cognitive decline in the elderly.
A new review of OCD research by Adam Radomsky and colleagues found that cognitive science has drifted away from treating patients effectively. Instead, the study suggests focusing on individual beliefs about cognitive functioning, which can be worked with in therapy.
A NUS pilot study demonstrates the potential of CURATE.AI to create individualized profiles for customized training, leading to improved cognitive performance. The AI platform tailors training intensity and duration based on a person's unique response data.
The 2019 Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellows are announced, supporting innovative research in areas of importance to the DoD. The fellows will receive up to $3 million over five years to pursue their research.
A team of neuroethicists examined 41 wearable brain devices, identifying issues with claims made by companies about their products. The study highlights the need for more transparent communication about potential outcomes, as well as consideration of ethical implications and potential risks.
Researchers developed a new cognitive training game to improve road safety among elderly drivers, CTCD showed improved car driving skills and cognitive functions in older adults after six weeks of play.
A study published in AJOB Neuroscience found that the general public views cognitive enhancers as acceptable in the workplace when positively framed and used by non-students and athletes. However, misuse continues to rise among adolescents and adults, with limited evidence supporting their cognitive benefits.
Researchers have created a new dataset called BOLD5000, which comprises brain scans of four volunteers viewing 5,000 images. This dataset allows cognitive neuroscientists to leverage deep learning models that have improved artificial vision systems.
Paul Sajda, a professor at Columbia University, has been awarded the Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship for his research on cognitive neuroscience. The fellowship will support his project to develop a testable model of human brain dynamics governing rapid decision-making in natural environments.
A study published in Scientific Reports found that the human brain perceives women less humanity and more like an object when they are dressed in a swimsuit or underwear. This perception might trigger treatments typically observed in interactions with objects, leading to gender violence.
A morning bout of moderate-intensity exercise improves cognitive performance like decision-making across the day compared to prolonged sitting without exercise. Brief light-intensity walking breaks can also boost short-term memory by disrupting uninterrupted sitting.
The study identifies a distinct control architecture in brain networks, characterized by a distributed and overlapping control system that enables robustness against targeted attacks and high efficiency in switching between network states. This finding has broad implications for cognitive neuroscience and clinical applications.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that ICU patients with non-brain-related injuries often experience cognitive deficits, despite lack of brain injury. The study used online tests to detect cognitive impairments in 20 patients and revealed significant cognitive deficits in memory, attention, decision-making, and reasoning.
Researchers at the Center for BrainHealth found that combined cognitive training with Strategic Memory Advanced Reasoning Training (SMART) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) improved executive functions, episodic memory, and subjective memory satisfaction in adults with mild cognitive impairment. However, tDCS failed to...
A study by SISSA investigated the decision-making processes of healthy subjects with sub-clinical psychotic episodes, finding alterations similar to those in schizophrenia patients. The research highlights reduced motivation, emotional dysregulation, and delusions as possible indicators of vulnerability to psychosis.
Researchers explore how humans perceive robot responsibility and argue that key capacities, such as autonomy and appearance, can influence moral judgments. This understanding is crucial for real-world public policy decisions as robots become increasingly integrated into society.
A Vanderbilt University Medical Center study found that enlarged perivascular spaces are associated with compromised cognitive skills in older adults. This challenges the long-held belief that these areas are harmless imaging markers.
Researchers from UT Austin developed an LSTM-based language model that predicts brain activity with greater accuracy than ever before when listening to stories. The model incorporates context up to 20 words, improving predictions even with minimal context.
A study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings found that physical activity can significantly reduce mortality risk in older adults with cognitive frailty. The research, which followed 3,677 participants for 14 years, revealed that being physically active lowered the risk by 36% compared to inactive individuals.
A large study of over 8,200 adults found no association between midlife diet quality and later risk of dementia. The study followed participants for nearly 25 years, but repeated assessments of diet quality during midlife didn't show any significant link to subsequent risk for dementia.
Research presents findings on the role of social support and sense of purpose in preserving cognitive abilities with age among Hispanics/Latinos. Higher scores on ethnic identity, life engagement, and social support are associated with higher cognitive functioning, whereas loneliness and familism are linked to lower cognitive function.
A new study by the University of Waterloo found that green spaces and colourful urban design elements increase happiness, trust of strangers, and environmental stewardship. Simple interventions like adding greenery or rainbow crosswalks can enrich public spaces.
A recent study published in JNeurosci analyzed brain scans from over 600 children and adolescents, revealing genetically-mediated associations between brain region size and intelligence. The research suggests that evolutionary expansion of the human brain is largely under genetic control.
Research suggests a reciprocal relationship between obesity and self-control, with reduced prefrontal cortex activity leading to overeating and weight gain. Exercise and mindfulness can improve prefrontal cortex activity, promoting better dietary choices.
A new study finds that Parkinson's disease patients treated with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) do not exhibit increased impulsive decision-making when faced with immediate or delayed rewards. The research challenges existing notions about the technique's impact on behavior and cognitive processes.
Researchers found that split sleep schedules with short night duration but longer afternoon nap improved alertness, vigilance, working memory, and mood compared to continuous sleep. In contrast, continuous sleep schedules were better for glucose tolerance, but this doesn't necessarily mean a higher risk of diabetes later in life.
Phillip Shaver, a renowned psychologist at UC Davis, has received the Society for Personality and Social Psychology's Legacy Award for his pioneering work on attachment theory. His research has significantly expanded our understanding of human bonding and relationships.
Research from the Virginia Tech Transportation Institute found that drivers using hands-free electronic devices are less likely to get into a crash. The study analyzed data from over 3,400 drivers and found that hands-free cell phone use was associated with a lower crash rate in some cases.
Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute are developing a system that uses brain imaging and computer science to understand student emotions, thinking patterns, and learning behaviors. This project aims to create adaptive interventions in online learning platforms for better personalized education.
Researchers found that Hispanic patients with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease are less impaired on cognitive tests compared to non-Hispanic patients. The study suggests greater small blood vessel disease and increased amyloid angiopathy in Hispanic patients, highlighting the need for culturally adapted diagnostic protocols.
Researchers at MIT's Picower Institute have discovered a neural circuit in the locus coeruleus (LC) that helps moderate brain activity and maintain calm. The circuit involves connections between neurons releasing GABA and noradrenaline, which work together to regulate arousal levels.
New research reveals structural changes in lower and higher brain structures in individuals with dyslexia, including reduced connectivity between the thalamus and auditory cortex. This study broadens our understanding of dyslexia, a common learning disability, to include alterations in brain structure.
Researchers found that non-elective hospitalizations accelerate cognitive decline in older adults by 50% compared to pre-hospital rates. Elective hospitalizations did not have the same effect. The study involved 777 older adults and suggested that emergency hospitalizations carry a higher risk of long-term cognitive decline.
Researchers from Bielefeld University found that the Mona Lisa's gaze is not aimed at viewers, contrary to popular belief. The 'Mona Lisa Effect' is actually an illusion of being looked at, triggered by the viewer's perception of direction.
A mouse study reveals that abnormal brain development and maternal stress interact to produce schizophrenia, bipolar, and depressive disorders. Disrupting a specific molecule in the prefrontal cortex during embryonic development can lead to similar cognitive impairments.
A research team has identified the early neuropathology mechanism of structural characteristics of polyglutamine toxic protein on neurodegenerative brain disorders. The coiled-coil structure causes rapid deformation of neurons and leads to diseases like Huntington's chorea and spino-cerebellar ataxias.
A longitudinal neuroimaging study of over 600 healthy young people found positive associations between socioeconomic status and the size and surface area of brain regions involved in cognitive functions. Greater childhood SES was associated with larger volumes of subcortical regions, extending previous research on SES and cortical morp...
Researchers found persistent cognitive changes and altered brain activity in young adults who experienced repetitive concussions, affecting flexible thinking and information processing. This study provides insight into the long-term effects of concussions on young adults and may inform targeted treatment strategies.
Patients with type 1 diabetes exhibit altered brain connectivity patterns compared to healthy individuals, according to a new study published in PLOS ONE. The research, led by the University of Barcelona, employed fMRI techniques to investigate brain activity during working memory tasks.
A new study found a robust link between higher levels of several nutrient biomarkers in the blood and enhanced performance on specific cognitive tests. The analysis revealed that omega-3 fatty acids, carotenoids, lycopene, and vitamins B and D worked synergistically to improve brain health and cognition in older adults.
A study led by Indiana University psychologists found that internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy apps effectively alleviate depression symptoms in all stages. The analysis of 21 studies with over 4,700 participants showed that these apps can help a large number of people without severe mental health issues.
A new study shows that imagination can be a powerful tool in helping people with fear and anxiety-related disorders overcome them. Brain imaging studies suggest that imagination can alter the way threats are represented in the brain, leading to extinction of fear responses.
A large-scale study found a positive correlation between brain volume and cognitive test performance, with larger brains performing slightly better. However, the effect is relatively small, explaining only 2% of variability in test results.
A recent study found a direct link between the amount of stigma men with HIV report experiencing and their scores on cognitive tests, measuring abilities like memory and attention. The researchers suggest that addressing stigma may address cognitive impairment in this population by reducing anxiety and depression.
A new study from MIT has found that a region of the thalamus is key to switching between rules required for different contexts. The mediodorsal thalamus suppresses irrelevant representations, protecting them as short-term memory for reactivation. This process helps maintain neural representations and enables context-dependent actions.
A new study from Oregon State University found that older adults' daily stress reactions can impact their brain health. The researchers followed 111 participants aged 65-95 and discovered that those who experienced more negative emotions and reactivity to stressors showed greater cognitive decline.
A study by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and Pablo de Olavide University found that dynamic audiovisual editing increases attention by reducing blink rates and stimulating brain activity in the visual processing areas. In contrast, continuous editing stimulates cognitive processing activity in frontal lobe regions.
The 35th World Cultural Council Award Ceremony honored two scholars, Jean-Pierre Changeux and Malik Mâaza, for their exceptional contributions to science and education. The ceremony also recognized nine young researchers from CityU for their outstanding achievements in various fields.
An experimental compound has been shown to prevent and alleviate cognitive and mood problems in mice with Gulf War illness-like symptoms. Researchers found that the treatment can normalize dysregulation of glutamate in the brain, a potential contributor to the condition.
Non-cognitive skills such as attention, self-regulation, and perseverance play a significant role in determining academic achievement, cognitive ability, and language outcomes. However, the existing evidence base in this field is limited due to publication bias and methodological flaws, underscoring the need for further research.