Research on the brain basis of thinking and attention. Covers games and attention, cognitive training platforms, adaptive AI frameworks, and brain-health research.
Researchers found a direct association between cognitive engagement and lower levels of β-amyloid protein, which is associated with Alzheimer's disease. Participants who engaged in cognitively stimulating activities had reduced β-amyloid uptake, while those with the lowest activity had higher uptake comparable to patients with AD.
A new study reveals that people with no symptoms of Alzheimer's who engaged in cognitively stimulating activities throughout their lives had fewer deposits of beta-amyloid, a destructive protein that is the hallmark of the disease. Lifelong cognitive engagement may affect a primary pathological process in the disease, suggesting potent...
Researchers found conservatives react more strongly to unpleasant images and focus on negative stimuli, while liberals respond more to positive stimuli. This study provides insights into the growing notion that political leanings are partially products of biology.
Research suggests that estrogen can improve mood in women, particularly during the premenstrual phase. Studies have shown a significant increase in activity in brain areas related to emotional processing premenstrually, and estrogen has been linked to reduced symptoms of depression and anxiety in postmenopausal women.
A team of MIT cognitive scientists found that ambiguity in language allows for the reuse of short, efficient sounds that listeners can easily disambiguate with context. This theory contradicts previous arguments that ambiguity is a problem for communication, suggesting it's actually a key to making language more efficient.
A new study by Kessler Foundation found that memory retraining using the modified Story Memory Technique (mSMT) increases cerebral activation in patients with multiple sclerosis. This suggests that behavioral interventions can positively affect brain function in MS, validating the clinical utility of cognitive rehabilitation.
A new study found that virtual-reality enhanced interactive exercise, such as exergames, yields greater cognitive benefits than traditional exercise for older adults, with a 23% reduction in progression to mild cognitive impairment. Interactive features like competition and 3D scenery may contribute to these benefits.
A study found that messiness can lead consumers to prefer simpler products and think more clearly, particularly for conservative individuals. This effect is attributed to heuristic information processing, which simplifies product representations.
A recent study published in Neuron reveals that rare genetic mutations, specifically copy number variants, contribute significantly to the risk of early onset bipolar disorder. These findings suggest that de novo mutations play a crucial role in the development of the disease, which appears in childhood or early adulthood.
Researchers at UCLA's Laboratory of Integrative Neuroimaging Technology use functional MRI brain scans to study mental activity patterns. They employ computerized machine learning methods to identify cognitive states and anticipate neurocognitive changes similar to predictive text-entry for cell phones and Internet search engines.
Jordan Grafman, director of traumatic brain injury research, has received the prestigious Humboldt Research Award for his significant contributions to understanding brain function and behavior. The award recognizes his work on cognitive neuroplasticity and its applications in medicine, rehabilitation, and psychology.
Two University of Pittsburgh professors, Anthony Grace and Christian Schunn, have been recognized as AAAS Fellows for their groundbreaking work in cognition and STEM fields. Their research focuses on understanding the mechanisms of schizophrenia and bridging cognitive science research on reasoning and learning in STEM.
Researchers at Kessler Foundation will investigate the impact of cognitive reserve on thinking, learning, and memory after traumatic brain injury. The study aims to develop strategies that reduce risk for cognitive problems in individuals with TBI.
Researchers found that once a word is learned, it is stored in a purely visual dictionary in the brain, allowing for fast and efficient recognition. This concept may help explain why people with dyslexia struggle with reading due to difficulties forming a finely tuned visual representation of words.
Studies suggest that physical activity, hormone therapy, and social engagement can boost brain health in older adults, reducing memory loss and decision-making problems.
A new study published in Neurology found that a person's stroke risk profile can also predict their risk of developing memory and thinking problems later in life. The researchers followed 23,752 people with an average age of 64 and found that those with higher stroke risk profiles were more likely to develop cognitive problems.
A recent study by the National Institutes of Health has discovered a correlation between high blood pressure and stroke risk factors with cognitive impairment. The research, which followed over 30,000 participants, found that age, left ventricular hypertrophy, and high blood pressure were independent predictors of cognitive decline.
The cerebellum contributes to creating a cognitive map of the environment through altering chemical communication between its neurons. Inactivation of this ability impairs navigation, as seen in transgenic mice lacking long-term depression in cerebellar neurons.
Research by University of Bristol neuroscientists found that cannabis disrupts coordinated brain waves, leading to impaired decision-making and memory. The study suggests that 'disorchestrated brains' may contribute to psychiatric diseases like schizophrenia.
Researchers find that the brain's responses to movies reveal a detailed code that is the same for all individuals. A new method called hyperalignment allows activity patterns in one individual's brain to be decoded by comparing them to patterns in other people's brains.
A new field is taking shape, studying scientific thought and behavior, with applications in education and understanding human interest in science. Researchers examine brain correlations, cognitive processes, and developmental aspects of scientific inquiry.
This emerging technology uses diffusion tractography to visualize white matter in the brain, offering a new window into human brain anatomy. Recent developments may tackle limitations and challenges, revealing the architecture of the human brain and its breakdown in disease.
A FSU researcher suggests that video games may not boost cognition as claimed by previous studies. The researcher critiques the methodological flaws in these studies and argues that there is little solid evidence to support the benefits of video game play.
Researchers found that memory complaints in older adults are associated with poorer cognitive functioning. The study suggests clinicians should differentiate between types of memory complaints to identify those related to normal aging versus potential cognitive decline.
A Montreal-led international team identified the mutated gene POLR3A as responsible for three forms of leukodystrophies, a group of childhood-onset neurodegenerative disorders. The findings provide crucial insights into diagnostic tests and genetic counseling, as well as potential therapeutic strategies to replace defective genes.
The MacArthur Foundation Research Network on Law and Neuroscience, led by Vanderbilt professor Owen Jones, aims to make neuroscience accessible in America's courtrooms. The network explores effects of modern neuroscience on criminal law, including assessing mental states, capacity, and evidence.
A new RAND Corporation study found that older women who live in lower socioeconomic status neighborhoods exhibit lower cognitive functioning compared to those in more affluent areas. The study analyzed data from over 6,000 women and found that neighborhood socioeconomic status was significantly associated with cognitive function.
A new cognitive neuroscientific study challenges traditional models of working memory, introducing a 'multiple-component framework' that considers different capacities operating simultaneously. This framework has practical implications for education and interventions for aging or brain damage.
A team of researchers led by Ayse Pinar Saygin found that the human brain responds with a mismatch in perception when an android's appearance and motion are at odds. This phenomenon, known as the 'uncanny valley,' occurs when an artificial agent becomes too human-like, causing discomfort and unease.
Gray's research focuses on cognitive strategies and decision-making under uncertainty. He will spend six months at the Max Planck Institute Center for Adaptive Behavior and Cognition (ABC) in Berlin to advance his work on heuristics and cognitive control.
A study at McMaster University found that practice can lead to precise and long-lasting changes in the brain's ability to retain information about visual patterns. Researchers observed significant improvements in accuracy rates over time, even when participants were shown new images closely resembling those they had seen previously.
Researchers found that BPA-exposed male deer mice are less desirable to females, perform poorly on spatial navigation tasks, and exhibit random trial-and-error strategies. The study suggests that exposure to BPA during human development could be damaging to behavioral and cognitive traits unique to each sex.
A study by MIT neuroscientists found that humans have two independent capacities for working memory, rather than one general capacity of four objects. This discovery resolves a long-standing debate in the field and has significant implications for designing more effective cognitive therapy, brain games, and visual displays.
A University of Missouri researcher found that TANF requirements create stress on families, negatively affecting three-year-old children's cognitive scores. In contrast, social programs based in the tax system show no such negative effects.
Researchers investigated problem-solving abilities and innovative capacities of kea and New Caledonian crow. The studies revealed that both species employ various tools to achieve food rewards, with the kea mastering compact object tools and the crow using elongated objects like sticks to probe for grubs.
Researchers found that syntax rules, which govern word order in language, also apply to mathematical equations and may be universally applicable. The study used structural priming, a cognitive process where past structures influence future ones, to demonstrate this connection.
A USC study has identified the brain region responsible for rapid scene comprehension, which enables humans to quickly grasp unfamiliar scenes. The lateral occipital cortex is found to play a key role in this process, with no significant contribution from the intraparietal sulcus.
A new international study found that countries like Japan, Korea, and Singapore have strong social norms and low tolerance for deviation, while nations like Ukraine, Israel, and the US have weak social norms and high tolerance. Understanding these cultural differences can foster greater cross-cultural tolerance and understanding.
Researchers at Penn have found that sleep deprivation affects the hippocampus, a part of the brain associated with memory function. The study identified adenosine as the source of memory loss and attention deficits caused by sleep deprivation.
A groundbreaking JHU study reveals that human brains are wired to recognize unlikely word orders in languages, confirming a long-held theory by Noam Chomsky. The research shows that learners' inherent biases influence what they will learn, and that knowledge of certain grammatical rules is hardwired into the brain from birth.
Research by Dr. Wei Ji Ma and colleagues found that the brain can perform visual search tasks near optimally, even in complex environments. By weighing different pieces of visual information based on reliability, humans can quickly integrate data to detect targets.
Researchers found that the amygdala is active when listening to improvised melodies and sensitive to fluctuations in loudness and timing. A network of areas also shows increased activity when detecting spontaneous behavior.
The invention of optogenetics enables scientists to control and observe brain circuits using genetically encoded molecules targeted by light. This technique reveals how entire neural circuits operate, allowing researchers to determine the roles of specific neurons in various behaviors and brain functions.
Early-onset Alzheimer's disease can be identified through PET-CT examinations, which reveal a 'cognitive reserve' that slows symptom expression. This discovery supports earlier diagnosis and education to improve patient outcomes.
A study found that older individuals who played a musical instrument throughout life performed better on cognitive tests than non-musicians. The study suggests that musical activity may serve as a challenging cognitive exercise, making the brain fitter and more capable of accommodating aging challenges.
A study found that childhood musical experience can provide lifelong cognitive benefits, with musicians outperforming non-musicians on tests of visuospatial memory and cognitive flexibility. The research suggests that the duration of musical practice is more important than continued playing at an advanced age.
A study by University of Rochester researchers found that toddlers use their parents' disfluencies to learn language more efficiently. When a parent says 'um' or 'uh,' the child instinctively looks at unfamiliar objects on a screen, indicating they're paying attention to potential new words.
A study by the American Academy of Neurology found that speaking multiple languages can protect against memory decline in seniors. Researchers discovered that individuals who spoke four or more languages were significantly less likely to experience cognitive problems compared to those with limited language proficiency.
Research suggests that bilingual speakers outperform monolinguals in certain mental abilities, such as editing out irrelevant information and prioritizing tasks. This 'mental juggling' skill allows bilinguals to better navigate between languages and enhances their cognitive flexibility.
Researchers investigate how temporal patterns in languages influence phonological, semantic, and syntactic information processing. Bilinguals' brains store fundamental regularities of speech, enhancing language efficiency.
Swiss researchers employ virtual reality and brain imaging techniques to investigate the science behind self-consciousness. By immersing subjects in avatar environments, they explore how the brain integrates touch and vision to create a coherent perception of the body.
A large-scale study has found that ecstasy users show no signs of cognitive impairment attributable to drug use. The research, funded by $1.8 million from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, aimed to minimize methodological limitations of earlier studies and compared 52 ecstasy users with 59 non-users.
Researchers found that viewing a person's hand reduces pain levels due to its size. Participants who saw an enlarged hand tolerated greater heat before reporting pain, while those seeing a smaller hand reported lower temperatures.
A new colonoscopy skills assessment tool, MCSAT, was developed to evaluate cognitive and motor skills in trainees. The tool provides a standardized method to assess individual progress and establish normal learning curves.
A one-year study on seniors' strength training reveals sustained cognitive benefits and cost savings. The once-weekly strength training group showed better maintenance of physical activity and fewer falls than the twice-weekly balance and tone group.
Researchers found that acetylcholine facilitates NMDA receptors by inhibiting SK channels, allowing for enhanced learning and memory. The discovery provides new insight into the mechanisms underlying learning and memory, with potential therapeutic applications for Alzheimer's disease and other cognitive disorders.
Research reveals that architecture can influence people's ability to navigate buildings, with some designs favoring spatial skills over others. A study suggests strategies for improving wayfinding in complex environments.
Studies show that mild sensory stimulation can protect against brain damage and restore function after stroke, while aerobic exercise may help treat or prevent drug addiction. Additionally, physical fitness prior to injury can alleviate traumatic brain injury effects in mice.
A brain scan can predict which children with anxiety disorder will respond to talk therapy, potentially avoiding psychiatric medication. The study found that children who show fear when looking at happy faces on a screen have the least success with cognitive behavioral therapy.
Dr. Mortimer Mishkin, chief of NIMH's Section on Cognitive Neuroscience, is the first NIMH intramural scientist to receive the National Medal of Science for his pioneering work on brain processing and memory. His research has greatly advanced our understanding of how learning and memory are processed in the primate brain.