Research on the brain basis of thinking and attention. Covers games and attention, cognitive training platforms, adaptive AI frameworks, and brain-health research.
A $2.7 million grant will fund research on veterans with traumatic brain injuries using a virtual technology platform to improve cognitive and functional deficits. The project aims to train strategies for complex real-life tasks, including money management and time planning.
Researchers at MIT used a modified MRI scanner to scan the brains of awake babies while watching movies, finding that brain regions responding to faces and scenes in adults are also active in infants. The study suggests that there may be a stronger biological predisposition for specific cortical regions to end up with specific functions.
Researchers observed that brain cell powerhouses, called mitochondria, can quickly become dysfunctional after injury like stroke or trauma. However, they often resume their normal shape once blood and oxygen are restored, suggesting a potential new avenue for improving recovery from such injuries.
Research reveals that 70% of respondents prefer a collaborative and supportive work environment, yet only 26% want a nurturing manager. Managers are often seen as missing the human touch in their approach to performance management.
Researchers found that cell phones distract individuals with lower internet usage, impairing attention and judgment. Heavy internet users, however, use mobile phones as spatial cues to enhance visual search.
A large study found that 45% more women with breast cancer experience cognitive impairment compared to healthy individuals. Factors like anxiety, younger age, and black race contribute to cognitive decline.
Researchers found that a mobile, tablet-based game called Project: EVO improved cognitive benefits and mood in people with late-life depression. A second study showed similar results, with improvements seen in all groups, including the placebo.
Researchers aim to identify effective treatments for cognitive deficits in spinal cord injury (SCI) patients. Dr. Chiaravalloti's project seeks to improve everyday functioning and quality of life for individuals with SCI.
Research reveals that individuals with dyslexia have a fundamental brain difference in sensory perception, leading to difficulties in processing speech and written words. Brain activity remains high in both cases, suggesting that they do not adapt as much, while those with better reading skills show greater adaptation levels.
Researchers at the University of California San Diego have discovered neurons in the subiculum area of the brain that encode an animal's current axis of travel. These 'axis-tuned' cells fire when the animal travels in either direction along a single line, allowing it to mentally group different locations and navigate complex routes.
Brain connections critical for complex thinking skills deteriorate with age, while movement and hearing connections remain relatively well-preserved. Researchers analyzed brain scans from over 3,500 people aged 45-75 to understand aging's effects on the brain.
New research shows that when focused, information is processed continuously, while ignoring stimuli is perceived in waves. This study provides insights into how the brain prioritizes attention and processing of time and space.
A recent study published by the Acoustical Society of America found that listening to meaningful sounds, such as music or conversation, can decrease performance on cognitive tasks. In contrast, meaningless noises have a less significant impact on cognitive performance and subjective annoyance.
Researchers at University of East Anglia developed guidelines to make scientific graphics more accessible and understandable. The new guidelines, published in Nature Climate Change, provide recommendations on how to design graphics that are easy to comprehend by both experts and non-experts.
ARSACS affects brain movement coordination due to gene alterations, leading to uncoordinated movements and muscle stiffness. Researchers will generate stem cells from skin biopsies to create neurons for new insights into cellular defects underlying the disease.
A combination of methylphenidate and cognitive-behavioral rehabilitation has been shown to improve attention, episodic memory, working memory, and executive functioning in adults with traumatic brain injuries. The study compared the effectiveness of two forms of cognitive therapy with and without the use of methylphenidate.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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 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 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.