Research on the brain basis of thinking and attention. Covers games and attention, cognitive training platforms, adaptive AI frameworks, and brain-health research.
Researchers discovered that degeneration of the fornix, a structure carrying messages to and from the hippocampus, is a key predictor of future cognitive decline. Fornix variables were found to precede clinically relevant deterioration of cognitive function in cognitively normal elderly individuals.
The new center aims to better explain the brain and generate ideas for addressing disorders like autism. Brown University will establish a COBRE Center for Central Nervous System Function to study key questions in neuroscience of attention and related behaviors.
A study by McGill University and Oxford University found that learning a second language after infancy stimulates new neural growth and connections. The research suggests that the difficulty of learning a second language later in life may be due to structural changes in the brain.
Research suggests that poverty can impair cognitive functioning, leading to poor decision-making and perpetuating financial struggles. The study found that individuals with pressing financial concerns exhibit a significant drop in cognitive function, similar to a 13-point dip in IQ.
A Magdeburg neuroscientist has received a €1.3 million European Research Council grant to study spatial orientation changes in elderly humans. The five-year project aims to detect dementia at an early stage and develop measures to prevent or counteract it.
MacDonald, a University of Victoria associate professor, received the award for his research on cognitive aging and early identification of those at risk for cognitive decline. His work aims to detect early markers that can facilitate targeted intervention strategies.
A $3 million NIH grant will fund a longitudinal study tracking preterm children's cognitive development from preschool to grade school. Healthy preterm babies are at high risk for lower academic achievement, especially in math.
Research from Washington University in St. Louis suggests a 'flexible hub' theory of brain function, where the fronto-parietal network coordinates processing among specialized networks for novel cognitive tasks. This allows for rapid learning and adaptation, enabling humans to switch between different skills learned in different contexts.
A study by Christine A. Sinsky and David C. Dugdale found that Medicare reimburses physicians three to five times more for common procedural care than for cognitive care. This financial disparity contributes to the decline in primary care careers and may lead to an excess of expensive procedural care.
Novice and experienced drivers show distinct differences in lane keeping performance, with experienced drivers better controlling vehicle position. The study suggests that driving experience affects cognitive skills such as perception, decision, and memory.
Research from University of Luxembourg finds employment gaps during working life can decrease cognitive reserve, with training and maternity spells associated with slower cognitive decline. The study suggests cognitively stimulating activities during employment gaps may have beneficial effects on cognitive function.
Researchers found that mineralocorticoid receptors play a crucial role in enabling the brain to adapt to stressful situations. When these receptors are blocked, learning efficiency decreases and brain activity shifts from conscious to unconscious learning systems.
A nationwide study of Spanish adolescents reveals that girls who walk to school for over 15 minutes perform better in cognitive tests. The researchers argue that inactive adolescence could be missed out on a key stimulus to improve learning and cognitive function.
Dr. David Foster, an assistant professor of neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, has been awarded the 2013 Freedman Prize Honorable Mention for his exceptional basic research on the neural basis of memory. His work combines advanced electrophysiological, computational, and behavioral approaches to investigate th...
Research suggests that dance marking, or loosely practicing a routine by going through the motions, can improve dance performance by reducing mental strain. The study found that dancers who practiced with marking were judged more highly on their movements and sequences, indicating improved fluidity and memorization.
Recent studies have found chemotherapy-associated adverse neurological effects, including vascular complications and neuropathic pains. Chemotherapy triggers changes in ion channels on dorsal root ganglia, resulting in secondary changes that affect neurogenesis and plasticity.
Recent research questions the idea of discrete brain areas for specific cognitive functions like mind-wandering and attention reorienting. Instead, studies suggest that brain activation is due to the release of suppression rather than additional task-related processes.
Researchers found that patients with high educational levels show less impairment on a neuropsychological evaluation compared to those with low educational levels. Higher education was found to be protective against disease-associated cognitive impairment in multiple sclerosis patients.
Researchers at the University of California, Davis have made a groundbreaking discovery on how visual attention affects brain activity. By measuring signaling through single nerve connections in monkeys, they found that attention increases efficiency and boosts signal strength.
A new study suggests that student engagement, crucial for success in school, is malleable and can be enhanced by creating a supportive school environment. Researchers found that students who felt their work was meaningful and related to their goals were more emotionally and cognitively engaged.
The study examined how Lumosity's dataset can provide insights into the lifestyle correlates of cognitive performance. The second study found that performance on tasks that rely on fluid intelligence decreases with age at a faster rate than those that rely on crystallized intelligence.
A study by McGill University researchers found that blocking the activity of a specific receptor can reverse memory pathology and improve cerebrovascular function in mice with advanced Alzheimer's disease. The treatment also reduced toxic amyloid-beta peptide levels, which contribute to neuronal and vascular dysfunction.
Researchers found white-matter abnormalities in soccer players who headed the ball over 885-1,550 times a year, associated with cognitive impairment. Players with more than 1,800 headings per year showed poorer memory scores, suggesting frequent heading may cause brain injury.
Research published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine found that highly educated pre-Alzheimer's patients exhibit increased neural reserve and compensation, leading to better coping mechanisms. This suggests that education level plays a crucial role in determining cognitive reserve against the disease.
Researchers found that preterm children's cognitive performance deficits increase with task complexity and decrease with pregnancy duration. The study suggests that educational interventions could be developed to promote academic attainment in preterm children.
Researchers suggest that food addiction could explain the current global obesity epidemic, with high-fructose corn syrup causing behavioural reactions similar to those produced by cocaine. Dr. Leri's study found shared vulnerability to develop preferences for sweet foods and cocaine in laboratory animals.
Dr. Shayna Rosenbaum's research focuses on the neural bases of learning and memory, particularly in patients with memory impairment. Her work has provided a framework for understanding how memory is organized in the brain and the efficacy of intervention techniques when memory declines or fails.
A new study published in PLOS ONE found that women aged 70-80 who participated in cardio or weight training classes incurred fewer healthcare resources compared to those in balance and toning classes. This cost-effective approach may help improve cognitive health and reduce healthcare costs for seniors.
Breast cancer survivors who underwent cognitive training showed significant improvement in executive function, verbal fluency, and processing speed. The study suggests online cognitive training as an intervention for cognitive difficulties in breast cancer survivors.
A new study from UCL Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Ghent University found that different brain areas are activated when individuals choose to suppress an emotion compared to when they are instructed to do so. This discovery could have implications for therapies targeting mental health conditions.
A study from the University of Iowa found that playing a video game for ten hours can delay declines in cognitive skills by as many as seven years in older people. The game improved mental agility and sped up processing speed, preventing age-related cognitive decline.
A new study by MIT researchers shows that people make mental edits when processing confusing information and use specific strategies to make sense of language. They also adapt their approach when presented with increasingly nonsensical sentences, inferring lower amounts of 'noise' in the language.
A new study reveals that a particular style of thinking can be contagious and increase symptoms of depression. College freshmen who were assigned to roommates with high levels of cognitive vulnerability showed an increase in their own vulnerability and depressive symptoms six months later.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have developed a method to induce the sensation of having a phantom hand in non-amputated individuals. Participants experienced an invisible hand when touched, revealing that multisensory integration can lead to embodiment of empty space.
A $40,000 grant funded by The Consortium of MS Centers will support a 1-year pilot study investigating an emotional processing training program for individuals with multiple sclerosis. The study aims to improve emotional processing abilities and overall quality of life.
A study published in Neuron found that rats achieved optimal performance in less than 300 milliseconds, indicating that taking more time doesn't necessarily lead to better decisions. The researchers suggest that, for certain types of decisions, relying on intuition may be the most effective approach.
Dr. Nancy Chiaravalloti, a leading expert in cognitive rehabilitation research, has been awarded a $43,494 grant to study the efficacy of a new treatment for memory loss in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. The one-year pilot project aims to improve learning and memory skills of individuals with MS.
A new study found that people with higher levels of infection in their blood, including cold sores, were more likely to have cognitive problems than those with lower levels. The research suggested a link between infection and increased risk of low scores on cognition tests.
Many Ph.D. students are seeking jobs outside academia due to a tight job market and scarce tenure-track positions. The "Beyond Academia" conference aims to provide a platform for exploration and career development.
A study by Columbia University Medical Center researchers found that depression and cognitive status are independently associated with a more rapid decline in everyday living abilities. The findings suggest providing mental health treatment may slow the loss of independence.
Research found that playing action games improved capacity to track multiple objects, while hidden object and match three objects players showed improvement in visual search tasks. Video games improve specific skills, not overall mental abilities.
The ACEmobile app uses the latest version of the Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination (ACE-III) to provide a sensitive, reliable, and secure dementia assessment tool. The app will be made available free of charge via iTunes and Google Play, allowing clinicians around the world to access accurate diagnoses and aid in earlier treatment.
Research shows energy drinks containing caffeine can enhance physical performance in cyclists, with average cycling times improving by 3% after consumption. However, the impact on cognitive function is unclear and likely unrelated to the energy drink.
A study published in Neurology found that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) who experience memory and attention issues have significant damage to brain areas critical for cognitive functions. This discovery has important implications for the diagnosis and treatment of MS-related cognitive problems.
Researchers at BUSM found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can relieve pain for people with painful diabetic neuropathies. CBT, a psychological treatment approach, was compared to treatment as usual in a study of veterans with type II diabetes.
A tablet-based experiment found that subconcussive head impacts in soccer can cause changes in performance on certain cognitive tasks, particularly those requiring voluntary responses. High school female soccer players were significantly slower than non-players when pointing away from a target.
A study by Rutgers University behavioral neuroscientist Tracey Shors found that prolonged chemotherapy decreases the development of new brain cells, disrupting ongoing brain rhythms necessary for learning. This can lead to cognitive problems such as short-term memory loss and disordered thinking in cancer patients.
Researchers found that participants are conscious of substituting harder questions with easier ones, but still uncertain about their answers. This suggests they are not 'happy fools' who blindly answer incorrectly.
MIND Institute researchers will examine whether children and youth with fragile X syndrome can improve their working memory, cognition, and behavior using an online computer-based cognitive training program. The four-year study aims to determine the efficacy of this intervention in improving working memory skills and potentially behavior.
Researchers tracked observer eye movements during video clips of the 'Cups and Balls' trick to illuminate how our brains can be misdirected. This study advances our understanding of human cognition and perception, shedding light on how magicians manipulate attention.
A new study found that consumers systematically underestimate the selling price of others' items and overestimate their own willingness to pay. This bias can lead to reduced satisfaction in transactions and economic losses for both buyers and sellers.
A study published in The Journal of Neuroscience found that lifelong bilinguals perform a cognitive flexibility task faster and with less energy than monolingual peers. This suggests that lifelong bilingualism may exert its strongest benefits on the functioning of frontal brain regions in aging.
A new study found that cognitive reappraisal can decrease negative intergroup emotions and increase support for conciliatory policies in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Reappraisal training reduced anger towards Palestinians, increased support for peaceful solutions, and decreased support for aggressive policies.
Cognitive enhancement medications, used to treat attention deficit disorder (ADD), may not be suitable for healthy individuals due to limited evidence and potential risks. Physicians in Canada are advised to prioritize their professional integrity and limit healthcare resources by refusing prescription requests.
A new study reveals that mini-strokes result in prolonged periods of brain damage and cognitive impairment, with neurons being lost due to delayed processes. The research suggests a longer therapeutic window to protect cells after these tiny strokes, potentially extending to days and weeks after the initial injury.
Researchers aim to build cognitive reserve in MS patients by engaging in intellectually stimulating activities, such as reading and puzzle-solving, using iPads. The one-year pilot project will examine improvements in cognitive performance and correlations with changes in neural networks.
A new study using Pokemon experts and non-experts found that a more generalized system processes faces and expert objects, supporting the expertise hypothesis. Brain signals in the fusiform face area were stronger in experts when looking at Pokemon characters.
Research by Pia Aravena and colleagues found that hearing action-related verbs can induce unconscious physical responses, such as increased grip force. The study used sentence structures with positive or negative verbs to explore language-induced motor activity in the human brain.
A study by Temple University found a significant association between decreased kidney function and reduced global cognitive ability, abstract reasoning, and verbal memory. Researchers tracked 590 individuals over five years to examine the longitudinal impact of renal decline on cognitive functioning.
Researchers discovered that desynchronised brain activity during sleep could trigger some of schizophrenia's symptoms. The study suggests poor sleep might be a cause, not just a consequence of the disorder's effects.