Articles tagged with Cognitive Neuroscience
Scientists have successfully reconstructed basic units, words, and complete sentences of continuous speech from brain waves. The 'Brain-to-Text' system combines neuroscience, medicine, and informatics to extract the most likely word sequence from cortical information and linguistic knowledge.
A study by researchers at the University of California - Davis Health found that children with ADHD who moved more intensely exhibited better cognitive performance. The study suggests that allowing movement during cognitive tasks may be beneficial for students with ADHD, rather than trying to keep them still.
A study found that stimulating cognitive activities improved cognitive performance but didn't affect brain markers of Alzheimer's. The findings suggest sustaining intellectual engagement helps preserve cognitive function in old age.
A new study suggests that having a stroke can reduce brain function by 8 years, affecting memory and thinking speed equally in black and white patients. The research analyzed data from over 4,900 seniors and found that strokes have serious consequences for cognitive health.
Research at UMass Amherst finds that despite concussion-related abnormalities in sleep and memory, sleep aids recall and benefits are comparable to those without TBI. Participants who slept showed better recall in word memorization tasks compared to those tested after an equal period awake.
Scientists identify protein MIM as a key player in initiating dendritic spines, which form the basis of neuronal connections. This discovery sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying brain diseases with altered dendritic spine density.
Researchers found that teaching students to sound out words sparks more optimal brain circuitry than instructing them to memorize whole words. This study provides evidence of a specific teaching strategy for reading having direct neural impact.
A study by the Center for BrainHealth found that strategy-based cognitive training improved cognitive areas critical to everyday life success, as well as reduced depressive and stress-related symptoms. The training also increased brain blood flow to key regions of the brain.
Research by Dr. Mel Goodale shows that blind echolocation experts recruit regions of the brain associated with visual perception when making echo-based assessments of objects. They can also perceive material properties such as hardness and density through auditory cues, an effective form of sensory substitution for vision.
A study found that consuming omega-3 fatty acids, such as DHA and EPA, improved cognitive flexibility and increased the size of the anterior cingulate cortex in older adults at risk of Alzheimer
A new study found that desegregated schooling is tied to better performance for certain cognitive abilities in older African American adults. The research suggests early differences in schooling affect starting cognitive performance levels but not rates of decline.
Traumatic brain injury affects millions worldwide, with little use of new scientific discoveries about brain workings. Researchers propose therapies targeting specific cognitive control processes, such as attention, memory, and thought.
New research from Brigham Young University suggests treadmill desks can increase physical activity in the workplace without significantly impacting cognitive performance. The study found that walkers showed slight decreases in processing speed and attention, but retained their learning and performed well on non-cognitive tasks.
Research reveals that children with ADHD must squirm to learn, as fidgety movements aid in remembering information and working out complex cognitive tasks. The study's findings challenge the conventional methods for helping children with ADHD, which often focus on reducing hyperactivity.
A subanalysis of the MEMREHAB trial found that deficits in processing speed negatively affect the benefits of the modified Story Memory Technique (mSMT) for individuals with MS. Processing speed may be an indicator of cognitive decline, which can impact the effectiveness of mSMT.
Leading cognitive scientists at Carnegie Mellon University question the lack of female contributors in a special issue of the journal Cognition. Despite having 11 women on its faculty roster, only one female author was listed among 19 authors for 12 articles.
A new reality substitution prototype unveiled at The Brain Forum 2015 aims to revolutionize virtual reality production and experience. By capturing real-world situations and playing them back in head-mounted displays, the system enables users to immerse themselves in authentic environments with real cognitive implications.
Research from University College London found that young adolescents (aged 12-14) were most influenced by their peers' opinions on risk, while older age groups adjusted their ratings more towards adults. The study suggests that targeting adolescent social norms may be key to public health interventions.
Research from Max Planck Institute finds that leaders' brain activity in left temporo-parietal junction synchronizes with followers', predicting leader emergence. The quality, not quantity, of communication determines leadership.
New research from University College London suggests that people with differing competence give each other's views equal weight, preventing optimal group decisions. This 'equality bias' affects decision-making processes in various contexts, including everyday situations and high-level policy decisions.
Researchers found that humans can flexibly combine and repurpose pre-existing computations to address new challenges, including online dating and social media. This adaptation allows for rapid deployment of neural resources in new contexts.
New York University faculty members Michael Halassa and Jennifer Jacquet have been awarded Sloan Foundation research fellowships to advance their groundbreaking research in neuroscience and environmental science. Their studies aim to crack the neural code of sensory input and explore large-scale cooperation dilemmas, with potential imp...
Researchers found that stimulating frontal lobes with low-level electricity increases mind wandering, which is associated with improved task performance. The study suggests that the frontal lobes play a causal role in mind wandering behavior and may contribute to behavioral outcomes like creativity and mood.
The discovery of newborn neurons in adulthood challenges dogma, but their role in behavior and cognition is unclear. Environmental factors influence the birth of new neurons, which may aid adaptation to changing environments.
The Kessler Foundation Neglect Assessment Process (KF-NAP) effectively assesses severity of spatial neglect during activities of daily living. Spatial neglect is a complication of stroke that contributes to poor rehabilitation outcomes.
A new study from the University of Waterloo found that type 2 diabetes is associated with worse performance on cognitive tests measuring executive functions. Researchers analyzed 60 studies involving over 80,000 individuals with type 2 diabetes and their counterparts without it.
A University of Miami study found that short-form mindfulness meditation training reduces attentional lapses and mind wandering, enhancing cognitive resilience in military personnel. This technique can be beneficial for civilians in demanding professions as well.
A major study by McGill University and the University of Edinburgh found that long-term smoking causes thinning of the brain's cortex, accelerating cognitive decline. Stopping smoking helps restore part of the cortex's thickness, but recovery is slow and incomplete.
Researchers found that people automatically conjure up words when presented with images and count letters in their minds. The study suggests the stream of consciousness is tightly linked to external stimuli, limiting individual control over thoughts.
SuperAgers, aged 80+, have distinct brain signatures with a thicker cortex, fewer tangles linked to Alzheimer's, and a higher supply of neurons related to social intelligence.
A new study reveals that individuals with TBI struggle with gist reasoning, a complex cognitive capacity. The Center for BrainHealth's assessment tool shows promise in predicting daily life functionality and estimating brain health.
Researchers identified a biological clock that measures individuals' lifespans by analyzing DNA changes. A faster-running biological clock is linked to earlier death, even after accounting for other factors.
Kessler Foundation researchers found that subjective and objective cognitive fatigue are independent factors, with increased time on task leading to higher levels of fatigue in MS individuals. Task length was the key factor associated with cognitive fatigue, supporting the Temporal Fatigue hypothesis.
A study found that humans tend to turn down sure rewards if they derive from an unfair distribution of resources, regardless of whether the individual themselves or others are affected. Brain imaging revealed differing brain circuits in these two conditions.
A recent study by University of Colorado Boulder researchers found that pain processing in the brain involves two separate pathways: one for physical pain and another for cognitive regulation. The latter pathway is involved in emotion and motivation, but also plays a key role in long-term pain and disability.
Researchers found that older adults' acquired financial knowledge and experience can compensate for declining fluid intelligence, leading to more efficient financial decision-making. The study used credit scores and cognitive tests to demonstrate the importance of crystallized intelligence in finance.
The University of Nevada, Reno has partnered with Renown Health to bring new functional MRI technology to northern Nevada. This partnership will enable researchers to study neural activity patterns in the brain, revolutionizing neuroscience and leading to new discoveries about brain function and its impact on injury or disease.
A study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that cognitive training can improve the brain performance of middle school students from poverty-stricken backgrounds. The program, called SMART, resulted in a 25% increase in gist reasoning and an 18% improvement in fact retention among students who received the training.
Oxford University Press is launching a new open-access journal, Neuroscience of Consciousness, to focus on consciousness science research. The journal will provide a platform for researchers to share their findings on the nature, function, and underlying mechanisms of consciousness.
Researchers found that subtle shifts in frontal and parietal lobes of the brain are linked to superior cognition. The frontoparietal network plays a key role in analysis, memory retrieval, abstract thinking, and problem-solving.
Stroke researchers found that patients with frontal lesions experienced greater improvement in spatial neglect after prism adaptation therapy. The study suggests that maintaining medial temporal structure integrity may support functional improvement in this subset of patients.
A recent Lumosity study analyzed over 60,000 participants to understand the effects of sleep, mood, and time of day on cognitive gameplay performance. The research found that memory, speed, and flexibility tasks peaked in the morning, while crystallized knowledge tasks such as arithmetic and verbal fluency peaked in the afternoon.
A study of 1,066 Scottish people found that those with complex jobs, such as social workers or architects, had better scores on memory and thinking tests. The results suggest that more stimulating work environments may help preserve cognitive function later in life.
A large-scale study on learning rates found that participants who operated closer to their performance threshold had faster learning rates, especially at higher levels of difficulty. The study analyzed game play performance from Lumosity's online population and provided evidence for optimizing cognitive task designs to improve learning.
Researchers at UT Arlington discovered that musicians outperform non-musicians in EEG-measured working memory tasks. However, the advantage in long-term memory was only found in picture recognition. The study used EEG technology to measure neural activity in the brains of 14 musicians and 15 non-musicians.
A systematic review found that computerized cognitive training (CCT) has a small overall effect on performance of cognitive tests, particularly for nonverbal and verbal skills. Training completed under supervision showed positive outcomes, while training alone was ineffective.
Several countries have launched brain research projects with big budgets and ambitious goals, aiming to make groundbreaking discoveries and develop new treatments for diseases. The initiatives are expected to drive rapid progress in the field of neuroscience, with a focus on global collaboration and interdisciplinary approaches.
A new study at Brown University found that reward overcomes retrieval-induced forgetting, a phenomenon where practicing certain facts suppresses recall of others. Volunteers who earned rewards during practice had improved recall of unpracticed fish category facts.
Researchers at McGill University found that infant experiences shape the unconscious brain, influencing adult development even after years of disuse. The study used functional MRI scans to compare brain activation patterns in girls with unilingual French-speaking families versus those adopted from Chinese-speaking families.
Researchers at IU School of Medicine are evaluating the advantages of physical exercise, cognitive exercise, or a combination of both on the aging brain. The five-year project aims to enhance cognitive abilities in older adults with mild memory loss and may lead to a delay in dementia onset.
A study published in PLOS Computational Biology proposes a theoretical framework for understanding memory formation and modification. The researchers suggest that large prediction errors lead to memory formation, while small errors result in memory modification. Damage to the hippocampus can impair the brain's ability to carve memories.
A study published in Anales de Psicología found that individuals with a higher vocabulary level had a lower risk of mild cognitive impairment. The research team measured vocabulary levels, years of schooling, and other factors in 326 subjects over 50 to explore the relationship between vocabulary and cognitive reserve.
Research shows that people associate specific facial traits with personality traits, leading to biased decisions. Studies have found that faces associated with competence, dominance, and friendliness influence social outcomes, such as election results and military rank attainment.
A study published in PLOS Computational Biology found that vegetative patients may have well-preserved brain networks similar to those of healthy adults, indicating possible covert awareness. This discovery could improve clinical assessment and help identify patients who might be aware despite being uncommunicative.
Dr. Lauren Strober will update the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) to improve its use in clinical settings for individuals with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). The updated test will more accurately assess processing speed changes over time, enabling better prediction of disease progression and outcomes.
A study confirmed that damage to the right frontal-subcortical network can cause ipsilateral spatial neglect in patients. Additionally, a greater proportion of patients with ipsilateral neglect had frontal subcortical damage than anticipated, resulting in 'where' errors rather than 'aiming' errors.
The Brain & Behavior Research Foundation recognized eight scientists with Outstanding Achievement Prizes for their work on psychiatric disorders, affecting one in four people. Recipients include Drs. David Braff and Patrick Sullivan, who pioneered schizophrenia and mood disorder research.
The International Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Alliance awarded a $30 million grant to researchers worldwide to tackle the devastating form of MS. Kessler Foundation's pilot study in rehabilitation addresses cognitive dysfunction, aiming to improve quality of life for individuals with progressive MS.
Researchers at Kessler Foundation found that working memory capacity explains the relationship between intellectual enrichment and long-term memory in individuals with MS. This suggests that interventions targeting working memory may help build cognitive reserve to protect against decline in long-term memory.
Children show stronger food craving than adolescents and adults but can use a cognitive strategy to reduce it by 16%, according to new research. The study's findings have implications for interventions to curb childhood obesity and suggest that brain areas involved in regulating craving differ depending on body mass.