Articles tagged with Cognitive Neuroscience
Researchers have discovered a novel molecular pathway that interacts with prion protein, triggering neuronal dysfunction and cognitive impairments in Parkinson's disease. The study provides new targets for therapeutic intervention.
A study published in JNeurosci found that sleep-deprived rats exhibited rapid transitions between wake- and sleep-like states, disrupting neural activity. The researchers suggest that one function of sleep is to reset the activity of neural networks for optimal information processing while awake.
A SISSA study finds that people of normal weight associate natural foods with their sensory characteristics, while overweight individuals link processed foods to context. The research also highlights differences in brain activity between underweight and overweight participants when consuming the same stimuli.
A recent study demonstrated that the prospect of monetary reward stimulates the fronto-striatal network, resulting in reduced cognitive fatigue in individuals with MS and healthy controls. This nonpharmacological approach shows promise for treating cognitive fatigue in multiple sclerosis.
A new $5.4 million grant to JAX will fund research on cognitive resilience to Alzheimer's disease. Understanding the genetic factors behind this resilience could lead to targets for treatment and prevention of Alzheimer's.
Research across over 100 languages reveals a consistent pattern of language divide towards warmer and cooler colors. The findings suggest that human languages prioritize labeling warm colors consistently due to their prevalence in foreground scenes.
Multilingual individuals face challenges when solving arithmetic tasks in a second language, relying on alternative thought processes and brain regions not observed in monolinguals. Functional magnetic resonance imaging revealed distinct brain activity patterns when using different languages.
A study by Ohio State University researchers found that customers who prefer a sense of structure and predictability react negatively to authentic-language menu labels. The study suggests that restaurants should consider their customers' individual needs for cognitive closure when deciding on menu language.
A new study published in Medical Education found that both cognitive and affective empathy of medical students improve over the course of their training, challenging the common perception that empathy declines during medical school. The study used a variety of measures to assess empathy and found that improvements in perspective-taking...
Researchers found overlap in activity of anterior cingulate cortex indicating pattern of self-regulation triggered by cognitive fatigue. The study broadens understanding of disease entities associated with lower threshold for cognitive fatigue.
Kessler researchers found that traumatic brain injury (TBI) causes cognitive fatigue by activating the caudate nucleus, a key brain region. This discovery has important implications for developing effective treatments.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham found that contagious yawning is triggered automatically by primitive reflexes in the primary motor cortex. Their study showed that individuals' propensity for contagious yawning is determined by cortical excitability and physiological inhibition, with limited ability to resist yawns.
A study led by University of California, Berkeley researchers found that higher levels of education are tied to better cognitive functioning later in life. The study analyzed data from around 196,000 Lumosity subscribers and found that education boosts performance more in areas such as reasoning than processing speed.
The University of Alberta has acquired a new optical brain-imaging tool called Imagent, which measures brain activity and blood flow non-invasively. This technology allows researchers to study brain function in real-time, with potential implications for job training, professional development, and artificial intelligence.
A recent literature review suggests that adolescent risk-taking behavior is not due to a brain development deficit, but rather exploration and learning. The review highlights that most adolescents pass through this period without significant problems, while a smaller subset is at higher risk of unhealthy outcomes.
Dr. John DeLuca has been awarded the Fred Foley Award for his outstanding contributions to advancing research in cognitive impairments in Multiple Sclerosis (MS). His work aims to improve quality of life by developing effective non-invasive treatments to minimize the effects of MS on cognitive performance.
A study published in eNeuro found that young rats with access to a running wheel showed improved memory later in life. The results suggest that early life interventions that increase physical activity may help build up cognitive reserve, potentially delaying the onset of neurodegenerative disorders.
Korean researchers have identified the early neuropathic mechanism of polyglutamine brain disease and suggested a way to restore. Dendritic-specific Golgi plays a core role in the early neuropathy of degenerative brain diseases.
Researchers have developed a new way to map differences in brain cells by analyzing chemical modifications in their DNA. The study identified 16 subtypes of neurons in mice and 21 in humans, offering new insights into the diversity of brain cell types and potential for understanding brain development and dysfunction.
Terrence Sejnowski will use advanced modeling techniques to understand how the brain stores information and how diseases like schizophrenia and Parkinson's affect it. The project aims to create a layered control system model of the brain, testing its accuracy with human tasks requiring fast reflexes and long-range planning.
Researchers at UTA are developing iWork, a robot-based system that assesses workers' physical, cognitive, and collaborative skills. The system uses advanced computational methods to identify human ability, intent, and potential, providing personalized training solutions for millions of people seeking retraining for manufacturing jobs.
Researchers discovered that older adults with a diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment or mild stage Alzheimer's disease dementia reported lower quality of life compared to those without a diagnosis. The study also found that awareness of worsening prognosis had a negative impact on daily life satisfaction.
Children who develop brain injury due to non-fatal drowning often suffer from severe motor deficits, while maintaining relatively intact perceptual and cognitive abilities. The study used resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging to assess brain integrity in 11 children with quadriplegia caused by drowning-induced brain injury.
A new study from York University reveals that parents who participate in cognitive therapy with their children with autism experience improvements in their own depression, emotion regulation, and mindful parenting. The research shows that co-therapy with parents alongside their child's therapist leads to positive outcomes for the family.
A University of California San Diego study found that moderate alcohol consumption is associated with reduced mortality and greater chances of remaining cognitively healthy into older age. Among men and women aged 85+, individuals who consumed 'moderate to heavy' amounts of alcohol were twice as likely to be cognitively healthy than no...
Research from Association for Psychological Science reveals that women living in gender-equal societies outperform men on cognitive tests later in life. The study also found that changes in gender-role attitudes within a country over time are associated with improvements in women's cognitive performance.
A comprehensive new study from University of Illinois researchers found that combining physical exercise and mild electric brain stimulation with computer-based cognitive training promotes skill learning significantly more than using cognitive training alone. The enhanced learning was skill-specific and did not translate to general int...
Researchers found that middle-aged participants with higher levels of lutein had neural responses more similar to those of younger individuals. This suggests that lutein may have cognitive benefits for early life stages. The study aimed to understand how diet impacts cognition throughout the lifespan.
A new therapy called 3MDR is being investigated for its effectiveness in treating British military veterans with treatment-resistant and combat-related PTSD. Researchers aim to help patients approach their traumatic memories through walking on a treadmill while interacting with self-selected images.
A study found that underdevelopment of brain networks underlying inhibition in adults over 30 is linked to self-reported psychological problems such as anxiety and depression. The researchers identified patterns of connectivity associated with inhibition that differ between early and middle adulthood.
A new study reveals humans are hardwired to lean to the right when kissing, with men more likely to initiate and women receiving a mirrored response to avoid discomfort. The researchers propose that this bias may be linked to differences in hormone levels and neurotransmitters between brain hemispheres.
Researchers Joe Kable and Caryn Lerman found that a 10-week Lumosity training session had no effect on cognitive function or brain activity among young adults. Meanwhile, playing non-adaptive video games showed similar improvements in standard cognitive assessments as the control group.
A new study examined the relationship between traumatic brain injury (TBI) and age-related cognitive change, finding no significant difference between participants with TBI and those without. The researchers suggest that future studies should collect more information on past TBIs to better understand their impact on cognitive decline.
Italian researchers found that cocoa flavanols can enhance working memory and visual information processing, and even counteract cognitive impairment in women after sleep deprivation. Long-term ingestion of cocoa flavanols improved cognitive performance in elderly individuals with starting memory decline or mild cognitive impairments.
Researchers propose adaptive capacity model to understand exercise-brain connection, suggesting physical activity impacts brain structure and function from evolutionary history as hunter-gatherers. Exercise may enhance cognitive abilities and prevent age-related decline or neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's.
Neurologists and neurotraumatologists review the science of concussions and outline areas where neuroscience and clinical research can help create consensus. They emphasize the importance of diagnosis in treatment and suggest using animal models to discover better treatment plans.
A large-scale study found that the evolution of word meanings in English metaphors follows a systematic and predictable pattern over the past 1100 years. The researchers identified key domains where word senses transitioned from literal to metaphorical meaning, including emotionality and embodiment.
Dr. Nancy Chiaravalloti was awarded the 2017 Mitchell Rosenthal Memorial lecturer for her contributions to cognitive rehabilitation research and successful mentorship of postdoctoral fellows.
A recent study found that even moderate drinking is associated with an increased risk of adverse brain outcomes and steeper decline in cognitive skills. Higher alcohol consumption over 30 years was linked to hippocampal atrophy, poorer white matter integrity, and faster decline in language fluency.
Researchers from IU and Regenstrief Institute are conducting a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a 12-week telemedicine program combining cognitive training and physical exercise for older ICU survivors. The study aims to decrease dementia, anxiety, and improve quality of life in this vulnerable population.
New research reveals the brain is a co-operative continuum for learning and memory, with different regions working together to reduce ambiguity. This understanding could lead to new treatments for cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's, where interference may be the cause of memory loss rather than forgetting.
A study at UT Southwestern Medical Center has identified over 100 genes linked to memory processing in the human brain. The researchers hope that these findings will lead to better understanding and treatment of conditions such as Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy.
Researchers discovered that gray matter density in the brain increases during adolescence, which may explain improved cognitive performance despite decreased brain volume and cortical thickness. The study found higher gray matter density in females compared to males, potentially contributing to comparable cognitive performance.
Researchers found that transcranial direct-current stimulation (tDCS) did not produce any additional benefit to working memory training, contradicting previous hype. The study suggests that tDCS may be more effective in specific areas of the brain and that its effects on cognitive abilities are still unclear.
A three-month contemplative training course improved participants' ability to identify and understand their own inner parts and those of others. The more negative inner parts identified, the better awareness of other people's frame of mind became.
Research suggests that humans and nonhuman animals can discriminate between quantities, but this ability is grounded in biology and culture. Nunez proposes that 'quantical skills' may be more universal than previously thought, offering a new approach to education and problem-solving.
Trevor Robbins is honored with the 2017 Gold Medal Award for his fundamental contributions to understanding cortico-striatal function and its role in psychiatric disorders. He has made significant advancements in bridging mechanisms of pathology to new treatments, including developing the CANTAB computerized neuropsychological assessment.
A randomized, double-blind study found that supplementation with lutein and zeaxanthin isomers improved psychological stress levels and measures of emotional and physical health. Chronic stress is linked to various health issues, making these findings promising for billions worldwide.
Researchers at UF will investigate how electrical stimulation can strengthen neuronal connections in the brain, with potential applications for military analysts and civilians alike.
Research from Sandia National Laboratories shows that brain stimulation combined with working memory training improves cognitive performance. Volunteers who received non-invasive brain stimulation while training showed significant improvements in verbal and spatial tasks, as well as problem-solving ability.
A review of eight studies found no link between low-dose aspirin and reduced cognitive decline. Researchers are calling for more research on the potential benefits of long-term aspirin use at younger ages.
A recent study by Philip Guo of older adults learning computer programming reveals a diverse range of motivations, including personal enrichment and connecting with younger family members. Despite frustrations with bad pedagogy and lack of real-world relevance, most respondents were eager to learn and saw the value in digital literacy.
Researchers found that college students perform better between 11 a.m. and 9:30 p.m., with a 2:1 majority identifying as evening people. This supports recent university moves to offer more evening classes.
Researchers found that people who saw 'the dress' in a shadow perceived it as gold and white, while those under artificial light saw it as black and blue. Lifestyle factors such as sleep schedule also influenced color perception.
Researchers found that cognitively average elderly adults experienced greater annual whole-brain cortical volume loss compared to SuperAgers. Despite this, SuperAgers showed signs of slower brain atrophy over an 18-month period, with potential implications for understanding cognitive decline and age-related brain changes.
Researchers at Princeton University found that the brain's hippocampus plays a broader role in memory and learning, involved in both spatial navigation and cognitive tasks. The study used rats to explore sound frequencies and showed similar neural activity patterns as those seen when navigating physical environments.
Research finds that incorporated business owners exhibit greater self-esteem, engage in illicit activities, and are more likely to come from high-earning families. In contrast, unincorporated business owners have manual skill requirements and lower salaries before entrepreneurship. Incorporated entrepreneurs earn significantly higher m...
A study published in PLOS Medicine found that six unsaturated fatty acids are associated with Alzheimer's disease cognitive symptoms and neuropathology. The researchers analyzed brain tissue samples from older individuals with healthy brains, those with tau or amyloid proteins but no memory problems, and those with Alzheimer's disease.
A new study suggests that the ability to assess group size is processed in the ancient brain structure of the subcortex, which is shared across humans, birds, and fish. This finding has implications for understanding mathematical thinking and education.
University of Pennsylvania researchers created a predictive indexing tool that identifies patients most in need of intensive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for depression. The study found that those with worse prognoses saw the strongest results from CBT, while others saw no differences between CBT and less-intensive treatments.