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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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...
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.
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.
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 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...
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 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.
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.
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.
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.
Dr. Nancy Chiaravalloti was awarded the 2017 Mitchell Rosenthal Memorial lecturer for her contributions to cognitive rehabilitation research and successful mentorship of postdoctoral fellows.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
A new study suggests that a quantum theory approach may be able to account for the complexity of humor, proposing that our ability to perceive multiple meanings simultaneously makes puns and jokes funny. The research provides an exciting first step towards developing a formal quantum theory model of humor.
Scientists at the University of Sussex have discovered concrete links between autism and synaesthesia, highlighting heightened sensory sensitivity in both groups. The study suggests that sensory traits often seen in autism are also present in synaesthetes.
A new study shows that cognitive-enhancing drugs like modafinil and methylphenidate can improve chess play by altering brain processing of complex information. The research found that players on these drugs showed an improvement in scores, even under less time pressure.
A new study published in Neuromodulation found that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with computer games significantly improved cognitive measures in patients with multiple sclerosis. The treatment showed greater gains in complex attention and response times compared to those who played computer games alone.
A new UCL study suggests that people's brain tricks them into believing the low-hanging fruit is ripest when it requires minimal effort. The researchers found that adding load to one of the handles made participants avoid the more effortful response, changing their perception without awareness.
A review of mindfulness research found that focused attention practices may benefit older adults by fostering a greater quality of life and improving cognitive functioning. However, the field is limited and would greatly benefit from larger randomized controlled trials to confirm results.
A new study from the Center for BrainHealth at UT Dallas reveals that a gist reasoning test is more sensitive than traditional tests in identifying cognitive deficits in TBI patients. The test, which requires participants to summarize complex texts, accurately identified 84.7% of chronic TBI cases.
New York University researchers LeDoux and Brown argue that emotions arise from a general cortical network of cognition, similar to conscious experiences. They propose a higher-order theory of emotional consciousness, challenging existing theories that consider emotions as innately programmed in the brain.
A genomic study identified over 200 genetic regions linked to male pattern baldness, including genes related to hair structure and development. The research provides a formula to predict the chance of severe hair loss based on genetic markers.
A recent study published in Journal of the American Geriatrics Society reveals that men are more susceptible to cognitive impairment following hip surgery. Cognitive limitations significantly increase the risk of dying within six months for both men and women, with men being up to five times more likely to die than unimpaired women.
Engaging in brain-stimulating activities like games, crafting, and socializing can lower the risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in older adults. A study of over 1,900 adults found a strong association between mentally stimulating activities and decreased MCI incidence.
Researchers found that cognitively normal people 70 and older who engaged in computer use, craft activities, social activities, or playing games had a decreased risk of developing mild cognitive impairment. The study's findings suggest that mentally stimulating activities can be beneficial even for those at genetic risk.
A recent study published in Nature Communications found that humans and primates both have an ability to distinguish between large and small quantities of objects. The research showed that this bias is strongest in humans and correlates with increasing age and math education, suggesting a possible evolutionary basis for number perception.
Researchers explore how emojis and emoticons aid in cross-cultural communication and provide insights into user personalities. Studies suggest that emoji use can be related to personality traits, such as agreeableness, and may impact social inclusion.
A study found that modafinil improves episodic and working memory functions in patients with remitted depression. The results suggest that modafinil may be a feasible option to tackle persistent cognitive problems in depression, improving cognition and motivation.