Articles tagged with Cognitive Neuroscience
Researchers found that older adults can outperform younger counterparts on certain problem-solving tasks by broadening their attention more easily. This study challenges the common assumption that aging brains require high cognitive control and highlights the potential benefits of reduced focus.
A daily dose of probiotic Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium bacteria taken over 12 weeks significantly improved the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score in Alzheimer's patients, indicating a moderate but significant improvement in cognitive function. This is the first study to show that probiotics can benefit human cognition.
A large-scale 'Phase III' trial will investigate the connection between exercise and brain health in older adults, exploring cognitive, brain, and physical changes. The study, led by Pitt professor Kirk Erickson, aims to understand how individual differences such as age and genetics affect the results.
Higher cortical amyloid levels associated with greater loneliness, particularly in APOE4 carriers. Participants with higher amyloid levels were 7.5 times more likely to be classified as lonely than non-lonely individuals.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation honored nine scientists with its 2016 Outstanding Achievement Prizes for their work in schizophrenia, mood disorders, child and adolescent psychiatry, and cognitive neuroscience. The award recognizes groundbreaking research that aims to improve the lives of people with mental illness.
A new study suggests that a widely available web-based program can help cancer survivors reporting cognitive symptoms. The 15-week program improved self-reported cognitive function, lowered anxiety and depression, and improved fatigue. Objective neuropsychological function test results were not different between the two groups.
A new study published in Cognitive Systems Research found that moderate exercise like running improves memory retention for students who have just learned new information. The researchers suggest that physical stress activates the brain's 'memory storage mode', retaining the information.
Researchers propose a new model predicting voter choice that prioritizes identity over policy issues. This approach aims to improve election outcomes predictions by considering how voters' personal identities influence their voting decisions.
A new theory proposes that social identity and policy positions compete to shape voter choice. This model explains why voters often select candidates whose policies contradict their own interests, as people prioritize their self-image and social media signals over the practical benefits of voting.
Scientists discovered that female brain structures change monthly in response to hormonal fluctuations, particularly the hippocampus which plays a crucial role in memories and emotions. The study aims to better understand premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) by examining the brain's monthly rhythm.
Researchers found that infants as young as 8 months use the same circuits as adults when learning simple hierarchical rules. Their brains are properly adapted to handle essential elements in their world, suggesting a more mature prefrontal cortex than previously thought.
Research by University of Basel found that older people do not necessarily take fewer risks than younger people, but rather their risk-taking behavior depends on the type and complexity of tasks. The study used both self-report and behavioral measures to investigate age-related changes in risk-taking propensity.
Researchers found two brain regions, RSC and OPA, involved in creating panoramic memories. Participants performed better identifying linked images through immersive virtual reality headsets.
Researchers found that similarities between contact calls of female rhesus macaques were predicted by familiarity, not kinship. Call structure was similar among females with similar age or matrilineal membership, suggesting experience has a greater impact on acoustic similarity than genetic background.
Researchers found that rats' memories of reaching a reward play forward and backward in their hippocampus. The number of reverse replays rose with the size of the reward, while forward replays remained constant, suggesting different roles for each form of fast-motion simulation.
A recent study analyzing 12 peer-reviewed epidemiologic studies found a substantial benefit of late-in-life cognitive activities in reducing the incidence of Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia. The bias analysis suggested that potential confounding factors may not account for the observed associations, lending support to a...
Researchers found that THC increases laziness in rats, making them less willing to perform challenging tasks, but CBD had no effect. The study's findings highlight the importance of understanding cannabis' impact on cognitive effort and decision-making.
Researchers explore the role of 'cognitive offloading' in managing information and retention, finding that people use physical actions to reduce mental effort when performing tasks. This strategy can have both benefits, such as increased confidence and ability, and drawbacks, including reduced memory for stored information.
Researchers at Drexel University used functional near-infrared spectroscopy to measure brain activity while participants navigated a college campus with Google Glass. They found that users had higher situation awareness and lower mental workload than those using an iPhone, but also experienced cognitive tunneling.
A new MIT study reveals that brain regions dedicated to reading already exist with pre-existing connections even before children learn to read. These connections can predict the precise location where each child's word recognition area develops.
Researchers found that a sea lion named Ronan can keep the beat better than any other non-human animal, suggesting that beat-keeping abilities may be more ancient and widespread than thought. The study used mathematical equations to analyze Ronan's brain activity while she moved to different rhythms.
Cognitive scientists at Johns Hopkins University found two distinct brain regions responding to visual boundaries and obstacles. The parahippocampal place area reacts to visual structures like curbs and walls, while the retrosplenial complex responds to taller, more imposing boundaries.
A study comparing SRS alone to SRS combined with WBRT found that SRS alone resulted in less cognitive deterioration at 3 months, with higher quality of life. The findings suggest that SRS alone may be a preferred strategy for patients with 1-3 brain metastases.
Researchers found that people's expected performance ratings were influenced by the performance of others, particularly in cooperative situations. The brain imaging data revealed two distinct regions involved in estimating one's own abilities and those of others.
Neuroscientists found specific brain regions active when using prototype and exemplar strategies for categorization. These strategies help reduce information load by applying different cognitive processes.
Researchers investigate whether fiction can broaden minds, promote empathy, and improve mental well-being. Studies show that engaging with narratives can simulate social worlds, prompting understanding and empathy.
A new study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that cognitive training improves executive function and memory, while aerobic exercise increases global brain flow. The study also showed that both mental and physical exercises produce observable benefits for brain health.
A new study describes a scalable solution for transforming health-care delivery in primary care into the PCMH model. A simplified form of cognitive task analysis (CTA) was used to analyze how doctors' office staff thought about and delivered care, advising them on improvements.
A new study published in Nature found that musical preferences depend on exposure to Western musical culture, not innate brain wiring. In a remote Amazonian tribe with limited exposure to Western music, dissonant chords were rated as likeable as consonant chords.
A group of researchers warns against DIY use of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) due to its unpredictability and potential for unintended consequences. The study highlights the need for caution when applying tDCS outside a lab setting, as it can affect brain function in unforeseen ways.
Researchers caution against DIY tDCS use due to unpredictable effects and potential unintended consequences on brain function. The 'Open Letter' highlights concerns over frequency, cumulative dose, and individual variability in response to tDCS.
Researchers have found a brief, simple test to effectively screen for cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD), including mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD dementia. The King-Devick test can accurately distinguish between cognitively healthy individuals and those with cognitive impairment over 90% of the time.
A Clemson University psychology professor found that incorporating light physical activity into work or study improves mood, motivation, and morale, while maintaining cognitive performance. The study suggests that sedentary work may not be harmful in the short term, but long-term effects could lead to chronic disease and physical frailty.
A new study suggests that higher late-life cognitive reserve is linked to lower incidence and severity of delirium in older surgical patients. Participating in cognitively stimulating activities such as reading, singing, or playing computer games may help protect against delirium.
Adolescents outperform adults in choosing rewards but struggle with punishment, leading to the development of a new model for learning during adolescence. The study suggests that incentive systems based on reward rather than punishment may be more effective for this age group.
A new study from Ohio State University found that unemployed individuals who use skills commonly taught as part of cognitive therapy for depression are more likely to receive a job offer. These skills include identifying negative thoughts, countering them with positive responses, and planning enjoyable activities to improve mood.
A new study at CU-Boulder found that empathy for others' pain is rooted in cognitive neural processes rather than sensory ones. The research suggests that empathy involves mentalizing and taking another person's perspective, distinct from experiencing physical pain.
A study by the Center for BrainHealth found that strategy-based reasoning training can improve executive function and memory span in individuals with mild cognitive impairment. The training focused on higher-level brain functions such as strategic attention, integrated reasoning, and innovation.
Researchers at Simon Fraser University developed the mySleepButton app using a 'cognitive shuffle' technique called Serial Diverse Imagining (SDI). The method helps reduce pre-sleep arousal and improves sleep quality by keeping the mind off issues that disrupt sleep.
Research finds that skilled readers don't need to 'sound out' words they know, with a separate area for visual dictionary-like recognition. A different region processes sounds, explaining why people with dyslexia struggle with reading.
A landmark study by Australian Catholic University found that teenage boys high in cognitive empathy attracted an average of 1.8 more girl friendships than low empathy counterparts. Girls were also more likely to nominate empathic boys as friends, while empathetic girls didn
The Journal of Cognitive Enhancement will investigate how social cognitive processes can be enhanced through various methods, including meditation, video games, and cognitive training. Research in this area aims to delay cognitive decline in the elderly, reducing welfare costs and improving overall quality of life.
A study by MIT neuroscientists reveals that the Shank gene plays a crucial role in the formation and maturation of synapses. In fruit flies lacking this gene, researchers found reduced functional synapses and improper development, which could impair neural circuit development and contribute to autism symptoms.
A recent study by York University researchers found that children and adolescents with a history of concussion experience prolonged difficulty in cognitive-motor integration. This impaired function can last for up to two years before they can perform tasks as skillfully as their peers without a concussion history.
Researchers investigate how expectations influence pain perception, with results showing men's pain tolerance altered by sex-based expectations. The study highlights the importance of considering non-explicit expectation processes in psychology and therapy.
A study by the University of Houston found that drivers' natural ability to correct themselves while driving is more effective than previously thought. When drivers are distracted or upset, their brain's automatic error correction system helps them stay on course, but texting significantly disrupts this process.
A new UCL study found that bad experiences are strongly remembered, but surrounding context is weakly recalled due to reduced activity in the hippocampus. This imbalance can lead to strong but fragmented memory for traumatic content, contributing to post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms.
Research on neural network interactions and related brain activity patterns provides insights into thought processes that make people vulnerable to depression. The study identifies increased activity in one important brain network, called the default mode network, which may contribute to maladaptive rumination.
Experiments at Cornell University and Beijing University found that retweeting creates cognitive overload, leading to poor comprehension and recall of information. The study suggests that web interfaces should be designed to promote rather than interfere with cognitive processing.
A recent study examined the relationship between empathy and understanding others' mental states. The findings suggest that people who tend to be empathic do not necessarily understand other people well at a cognitive level. Social skills seem to be based on multiple abilities that are independent of each other.
In a study, MS patients showed more severe moral judgments than average, even in neutral conditions, attributing negative emotions to external causes. This 'externally oriented thinking' helps them minimize damage but also leads to an inability to reflect on emotions and identify real causes of their negative emotional state.
A new study found that bi-dialectal children exhibited similar cognitive advantages as multilingual children, including improved memory, attention, and cognitive flexibility. The research suggests that the ability to switch between two dialects of the same language provides mental stimulation and leads to higher cognitive performance.
Alexandre Pouget, a renowned expert in neural coding and spatial representations, will receive the prize for his work on probabilistic inference and its applications. Pouget's research focuses on general theories of representation and computation in neural circuits, with a strong emphasis on neural theories of probabilistic inference.
A study published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences suggests that our visual perception may be limited to the 'big picture', capturing details but not specifics. This challenge to the notion of rich visual experience highlights the complexities of consciousness and perception.
A new study found that at-home cognitive remediation training using a computer program can significantly improve cognitive test scores in people with multiple sclerosis. Participants who used the program for 12 weeks showed a 29% improvement, compared to a 15% improvement in the placebo group.
A new study by Bielefeld University's CITEC researchers reveals that the human brain can be fooled into perceiving a larger displacement of the index finger when it actually remains stationary, due to changes in contact area with the skin. This finding has implications for developing virtual sense of touch technologies.
A new study by researchers from the University of South Florida found that certain types of training can improve driving skills in older adults. The training, known as SPT, improved mental quickness and attention, leading to increased driving frequency among participants.
A systematic review of studies found associations between poor oral health and increased risk of cognitive decline, particularly among those with dementia. However, more research is needed to confirm these findings and explore the potential causal link between oral health and cognitive status.
Researchers found that bats exposed to prolonged loud noise showed minimal sensitivity loss, with only a slight decrease of 0.6 decibels over 24 hours. This natural resiliency may hold clues for developing devices or implants to help humans cope with loud noises.
Researchers propose a new theory that pain is a complex interaction of multiple elements, including sensory processes and emotional responses. A study found that the brain processes both general and specific components of pain in parallel, allowing for efficient processing of unpleasant experiences.