Articles tagged with Cognitive Neuroscience
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
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.
Spatial cognition researchers will form a virtual institute to collaborate and advance the field of spatial intelligence and learning. The Thematic Network in Spatial Cognition aims to establish spatial cognition as a scientific discipline, with relevance to education in STEM fields and professional areas.
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.
Researchers at UCSB have made a significant discovery in the study of split-brain research, uncovering dynamic changes in brain coordination patterns between left and right hemispheres. The findings show that healthy test subjects respond less accurately when information is shown only to the right brain.
A new model of mindfulness proposes a framework of complex brain mechanisms, including self-awareness, regulation, and transcendence. The S-ART framework explains the neurobiological mechanisms underlying mindfulness practice, reducing biases and negative thoughts while enhancing positive relationships with oneself and others.
Researchers will administer prism adaptation therapy for 2 weeks and measure functional changes as well as home and community outcomes at 3 and 6 months later. The goal is to establish clinical guidelines, increase detection and management of spatial neglect, and optimize independence and engagement in the home and community for stroke...
A breakthrough study found that brainwave training enhances a cognitive-control network in just 30 minutes, leading to reduced mind-wandering. The study used neurofeedback to train participants' brains and showed significant changes in brain activity and behavior.
A study published in Neurology found that people over 70 who exercised regularly showed less brain shrinkage and had more grey matter than those who did little exercise. Regular physical activity was also linked to fewer damaged areas in the white matter of the brain.
A Mayo Clinic study found that people aged 70 and older who consume high amounts of carbohydrates have nearly four times the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment. In contrast, those with diets high in fat and protein relative to carbohydrates are less likely to experience cognitive decline.
Researchers found that humans tend to alter language to make it clearer and more concise, striking a balance between effort and clarity. This bias towards efficiency acts as a filter, introducing common patterns across languages.
A recent study published in Frontiers found that veterans who smoke are more likely to experience cognitive impairment and are at a higher risk of relapse. The research controlled for genetic variables and showed that smokers performed worse on measures of learning, memory, and processing speed compared to non-smokers.
A new study demonstrates that children's ability to delay gratification is influenced as much by their environment as by innate ability. Children who experienced reliable interactions waited on average four times longer than those in similar but unreliable situations.
The study suggests that languages develop word order rules to minimize miscommunication across a noisy channel. Researchers found a correlation between word order and case markings, with strongly case-marked languages like Japanese defaulting to SOV word order.
Abhijit Das, a postdoctoral fellow at Kessler Foundation, was named to the NIDRR-sponsored ARRT Young Investigators Panel for his research on cognitive fatigue in multiple sclerosis. His work aims to convert knowledge about brain networks underlying fatigue into treatment protocols using non-invasive brain stimulation.
A team of researchers has discovered a genetic defect in the RMND1 gene linked to severe neurodegenerative disorders. The study reveals mutations in this gene can lead to early death in infants and has implications for understanding later-onset neurological diseases.
Teachers can utilize specific behaviors to increase students' emotional and cognitive interest, leading to greater engagement. Research found that immediacy behaviors stimulate emotional arousal, while clarity behaviors enhance structural understanding of course content.
Researchers Todd Gureckis and Douglas Markant examine the benefits of self-directed learning from a cognitive and computational perspective. They argue that this approach optimizes educational experiences by focusing on useful information and exposing learners to new sources. By understanding these processes, researchers can develop as...
A study defines boredom as an aversive state caused by difficulty paying attention to internal or external information required for engaging satisfying activities. The researchers hope to develop new strategies to ease the problems of boredom and address potential dangers associated with cognitive errors.