Articles tagged with Cognitive Neuroscience
Researchers at UCLA have identified a type of neuron in the orbital region of the frontal cortex that is most active when a decision outcome is unknown, suggesting these neurons play a crucial role in learning and mental flexibility. The discovery could aid the development of new treatments for rigid thought patterns such as anxiety an...
Researchers found a significant increase in AMPA receptors across Long COVID patients' brains, correlating with cognitive impairment severity. This discovery provides a direct biological explanation for brain fog symptoms and may lead to novel treatments.
Professor John O'Brien's research focuses on understanding the impact of electrical synapses and gap junction plasticity on the retina and other neurological functions. The study aims to identify proteins that control electrical synapse strength, shedding light on their role in human disorders such as autism and seizures.
Salk scientists pinpoint gracile nucleus as brain area responsible for differentiating between painful and non-painful touch, with dysfunction leading to chronic pain. Altered neuronal activity in the dorsal column nuclei drives mechanical allodynia, causing the brain to misinterpret innocuous light touch as painful.
Researchers found that zebra finches can accurately perceive and categorize their species' vocal signals, organizing them semantically. The birds exhibit a remarkable ability to distinguish between call types used in similar behavioral or social contexts.
Dr. Matthew Walker brings a multi-disciplinary approach to sleep research, focusing on the impact of sleep on human health and disease, and developing new tools and technologies to measure and improve sleep quality. The Sleep Innovation Laboratories will serve as a vital hub for discovery, innovation and public education.
Research found that cumulative exposure to factors like low education, childhood trauma, and financial stress negatively impacts brain structure and function. This has long-lasting effects on mental and brain health, even in healthy aging and dementia prevention.
Researchers discovered that humans treat a robotic hand as part of their body schema when working together on tasks, particularly when the robot's gestures are synchronized with those of humans. The study paves the way for better-designed robots that can interact more intuitively with humans.
The University of Carlos III of Madrid (UC3M) has received two prestigious European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grants for groundbreaking neuroscience research. The ASTROCODE project aims to unravel the role of astrocytes in cognitive functions, while ActivEAR seeks to discover the energy source of mammalian hearing.
Researchers developed a new method to correct for variations in brain imaging measurements, reducing bias and increasing the accuracy of studies on ADHD. The traveling-subject method demonstrated reduced measurement bias while maintaining sampling bias, revealing decreased brain volume in critical regions for cognitive functions.
A study published in Science Advances found that individuals with 'subjective cognitive decline' (SCD), a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, performed worse on navigation tasks compared to those without SCD. The researchers hope this could lead to more sensitive testing methods for early diagnosis and drug studies.
Researchers at Macquarie University discovered that listeners adapt to the characteristics of acoustic spaces to improve their understanding of speech. The 'Goldilocks' zone of reverberation, around 400 milliseconds, optimizes learning and adaptation.
The Center for BrainHealth has welcomed 20 new advisory board members for 2025-2026, bolstering its depth of talent and expertise. The new board members will champion the center's mission to advance cognitive neuroscience research and promote brain health across the lifespan.
Hyperthymesics possess extraordinary control over memories of life events, organizing them within a mental space for vivid recall. This ability allows for intense mental travel through time, with some individuals recalling details from different points of view.
Aging populations exhibit a positivity bias in recognizing emotions, associated with observable changes in brain linked to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. The study correlates age-related positivity bias with poorer cognitive performance but not necessarily emotional decline.
Research by Christian Wood and colleagues reveals that brain area 46 regulates positive and negative emotions, impacting motivation and threat response. The study suggests personalized treatments for depression and anxiety may be effective by targeting this brain network.
Researchers identified measurable changes minutes before breakthroughs in expert mathematicians, offering a new window into the mechanics of human creativity. The study's method could help scientists predict creative insights and understand micro-dynamics.
A new UCLA study found that the optimal level of emotional response while listening to music influences memory, with too little or too much arousal having opposite effects. Music can become a powerful therapeutic tool for improving learning and memory in conditions like Alzheimer's disease and PTSD.
Researchers found that the primary somatosensory cortex, responsible for processing sensory information, has a layered structure that ages differently. The middle and upper layers remain stable or even thicken with age, while the lower layers show age-related degeneration, providing evidence for neuroplasticity.
SuperAgers, individuals with exceptional memory performance beyond their age, have been studied for 25 years. Their brains show a distinct neurobiological profile, linked to resistance and resilience mechanisms that may prevent Alzheimer's disease progression.
A study found that reward expectation modulates attention in humans, with distinct effects on sensory processing and decision-making. Sensitivity to visual stimuli was linked to sensory attention centers, while decision-making biases were linked to brain regions involved in impulsive decisions.
A new study by the University of Surrey investigates how our brains process face pareidolia and averted gazes, revealing differing mechanisms that influence attention. The researchers found that participants shifted their attention in response to both real faces and imagined face-like objects.
The largest neuroscience event will convene in San Diego from November 15-19, featuring over 10,000 presentations on various topics. Registered journalists will gain access to cutting-edge research, expert interviews, and press-only events.
The brain processes visual information in rapid snapshots roughly eight times per second, resolving competition through rhythmic switching between competing inputs. This 'attentional sampling' mechanism is a fundamental solution to the deep problem of cognition's neural implementation.
The Center for BrainHealth has received a new $1 million match gift from retired Admiral William McRaven to enhance its Optimal BrainHealth for Warfighters program. This program provides critical training for proactive brain health and introduces essential tools to measure and track change over time.
A study found that evaluators' musical experience influences the sight-over-sound effect, reducing its impact for those with auditory expertise. The study used Japanese high school brass band competitions and found no significant evidence of the effect in musicians, but a stronger presence in non-musicians.
A NUS-led global study reveals that 30-minute functional MRI scans deliver up to 22% in cost savings while retaining or improving prediction accuracy. This finding could reshape how researchers design neuroscience and mental health studies, especially for hard-to-recruit populations.
Researchers found that adults with autism perceive visual body information similarly to neurotypical adults, challenging long-standing assumptions about social difficulties in ASD. The study used fMRI to compare brain activity patterns in adults with autism and typically developing adults while viewing images of body parts.
A new study found that live contemporary dance performances trigger brainwave synchrony among audience members, signaling shared engagement. The researchers also discovered that the delta band of slow-frequency brainwaves was responsible for capturing this shared experience.
Researchers recorded activity from hundreds of neurons simultaneously in flying bats, revealing insights into neural replay and theta sequences. This study sheds light on the formation and storage of long-term memories in humans, potentially leading to new treatments for neurological disorders.
A new study from the University of Southern California reveals that just 30 days of guided mindfulness meditation can significantly enhance key aspects of attentional control. The study demonstrates that even short-term meditation can lead to measurable cognitive improvements, particularly in reaction speed.
The brain segments and organizes events into experiences by placing unique bookmarks on them, allowing us to revisit and learn from our lives. The lateral entorhinal cortex creates a signal that constantly drifts in a pattern never repeating itself, marking the beginning and end of an experience.
A study by Brown University researchers found that people tend to gossip less with friends of the subject and more with popular yet distantly connected individuals. The researchers used a computational model to simulate how brains predict gossip movement through social networks, revealing the sophistication of human gossiping abilities.
The study identifies the brain circuit controlling associations between stimuli and allows for indirect associations. The amygdala plays a crucial role in linking olfactory and taste stimuli.
A new study explores the connection between grip strength and psychosis, finding that impaired grip strength and well-being share common patterns of brain connectivity. The research provides a unifying brain circuit explanation for psychosis and identifies potential brain targets for new treatments.
Researchers analyzed single-cell transcriptomes from early, middle, and late stages of AD to identify subtle shifts in cellular activity. They found that mitochondria in vulnerable brain areas began to fail early in the disease, even before amyloid plaque buildup. The study also identified a gene called MEG3 involved in regulating mito...
Researchers suggest that brains reach a critical state to learn, remember, and think, which can be measured using fMRI technology. This framework offers a new perspective on neurological diseases like Alzheimer's, which disrupt the brain's ability to maintain criticality.
A study found that children whose mothers experienced Superstorm Sandy during pregnancy showed distinct brain differences that could affect their emotional development. Prenatal exposure to extreme heat and climate events rewrote critical emotion regulation centers in the developing brain.
A study analyzing over 700,000 Reddit posts on autism reveals recurring topics such as music and social life, showcasing a supportive community that values differences. The research offers a new approach to understanding autism, shifting focus from disability to neurodiversity.
A new study uses preserved plants and animals from natural history museums to track pollution trends over two centuries. Researchers found significant changes in pollutant levels between specimens collected in the 19th and 20th centuries, highlighting the impact of industrial activity on human health.
A recent study by Western University neuroscientists found that nostalgic songs elicited a higher desire to dance than familiar songs, with popular hits from the late 2000s scoring high for both familiarity and nostalgia. The researchers used a controlled online experiment to test participants' responses to different types of music.
Researchers at Aarhus University and University of Oxford used a novel neuroimaging method to show that the brain dynamically reconfigures its organization in response to auditory stimulation. This discovery opens new possibilities for studying brain responses to music, consciousness, and other phenomena.
A recent study found that caffeine increases brain signal complexity and enhances criticality during sleep, with effects more pronounced in young adults. This can lead to a state where the brain is neither fully awake nor relaxed, potentially interfering with restful recovery.
Researchers are still puzzled by the complex interplay of factors involved in tickling, including motor, social, neurological, developmental, and evolutionary aspects. Studies have shown that people with autism spectrum disorder respond differently to ticklish stimuli, offering insights into brain development and differences in autism.
Moleculera Biosciences, a precision medicine company, is attracting investors with its technology developed by the University of Oklahoma. The company's diagnostic tests have helped properly diagnose over 16,000 patients and have shown remarkable recoveries in those affected by autoimmune disorders.
Research reveals that mouse whiskers can 'hear' the world by generating sounds that are encoded in the auditory cortex. The study shows that mice use these sounds to recognize objects, even when touch sensation is abolished.
Researchers at UC San Francisco have identified potential protein markers for frontotemporal dementia (FTD), a form of dementia affecting middle age. The study found changes in RNA regulation and brain connections that could lead to early diagnosis and targeted treatments.
Research at Duke University found that insight triggers a burst of activity in the hippocampus, leading to better memory retention. Participants who experienced 'aha!' moments recalled solutions far better than those without, with conviction levels doubling long-term memory.
Brazilian researchers found that hevin, a glycoprotein produced by astrocytes, increases connections between neurons and improves cognitive function in aged rodents. The study provides insight into the role of astrocytes in Alzheimer's disease and offers potential new treatment strategies.
Researchers developed MuSICCA, a music therapy tool that uses musical stimulation to assess levels of consciousness in children with brain injuries. The study found high agreement among participants that the tool is suitable for use with children, providing guidance for caregivers and supporting clinical teams.
A study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia found that learning one's Alzheimer's risk can decrease negative emotions like depression and anxiety, but also leads to decreased motivation for maintaining healthy lifestyle changes. Researchers emphasize the importance of personalized disclosure processes to sustain healthy behaviors.
A study at Emory University revealed that five-year-olds have the brain system that supports map-based navigation, challenging the assumption that this cognitive ability develops until age 12. Children can recognize landmarks and navigate through a virtual town with remarkable accuracy.
Mind blanking is a common experience characterized by lapses in attention, memory issues, and cessation of inner speech. Studies have shown that it's associated with specific neural signatures and changes in arousal levels, leading to malfunctions in key cognitive mechanisms like memory and language.
The Simons Collaboration on Ecological Neuroscience (SCENE) is a 10-year program that will support projects aiming to uncover how the world shapes representations in the mind and brain. By integrating sensory and motor information, researchers hope to discover fundamental principles of cognition applicable across species.
Researchers used a virtual reality game to investigate how brief anxiety impacts spatial learning and threat recognition. Participants who learned to distinguish between safe and dangerous areas showed better spatial memory and lower anxiety.
A large-scale study published in JNeurosci reveals distinct brain activity patterns during lucid dreaming compared to rapid eye movement sleep and wakefulness. The findings suggest shifts in brain region activation and communication that may be linked to changes in perception, memory processing, self-awareness, and cognitive control.
Researchers found that different dendritic segments of a single neuron follow distinct learning strategies, with apical dendrites strengthened by local interactions and basal dendrites linked to the neuron's overall output.
Researchers studied active and passive touch tasks using virtual reality and EEG to better understand how people with autism process touch. The study found that individuals with autism showed little variation in brain response to active and passive touch, suggesting difficulty predicting consequences of actions.
A new study by Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg found that brain stimulation can influence decisions, making choices faster with anodal stimulation and slower with cathodal stimulation. The research used transcranial direct current stimulation to activate or inhibit specific brain regions.
Research finds that letting the mind wander during low-focus tasks can improve performance and learning, exhibiting sleep-like brain activity linked to enhanced task learning. Spontaneous mind wandering is more beneficial than deliberate mind wandering in these situations.