Articles tagged with Cognitive Neuroscience
A new MIT study found that children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds show less sensitivity to rewarding experiences, which can impact motivation and attention. The research suggests that the brain adapts to its environment by dampening its response to rewards, making it less responsive in low SES environments.
A NTU Singapore study found that ageing alters brain cells' communication, leading to weakening connections and poorer memory in middle-aged mice. The research suggests strengthening these connections through memory training may delay age-related working memory decline.
A new study using generative AI models simulated how the brain learns and remembers events, revealing how memories are re-constructed in our minds. The model showed how the hippocampus and neocortex work together to create efficient 'conceptual' representations of scenes, enabling us to both recall past experiences and imagine new ones.
A meta-analysis of 5,000 participants found that daily multivitamins showed benefits for memory and global cognition. The study suggests that taking a daily multivitamin can help prevent memory loss and slow down cognitive aging by the equivalent of two years compared to placebo.
Researchers analyzed 241 studies of CBT-I for chronic insomnia and found that cognitive restructuring, third-wave components, sleep restriction, stimulus control, and in-person delivery were the most effective strategies. In-person interaction with a therapist was more beneficial than self-help guides.
This special issue highlights promising research projects developing scalable digital technology solutions for improved heart and brain health. Smartphone-based assessments and point-of-care echocardiography have shown promise in diverse populations, including those with latent rheumatic heart disease and dementia.
A West Virginia University study found that teens' personality traits and social media platform use are linked to depressive symptoms. Teens with higher levels of extraversion tend to experience fewer depressive symptoms on Instagram, while those with lower extraversion may be at risk for more severe symptoms.
A new study will compare the effects of a single bout of cycling alone to two different cycling experiences enhanced with VR technology. The goal is to uncover the relationship between sensory demand and acute improvements in processing speed, informing future research on exercise training for long-term benefits.
A Eurac Research study conducted in the terraXcube simulator found that humans can perceive temperature differences as small as 0.92 degrees Celsius. This sensitivity suggests an inherent characteristic of human perception, influencing our thoughts and actions. The study's results have implications for energy sustainability in buildings.
A commonly used cognitive screening tool, MoCA, is found to be inaccurately assessing cognitive impairment in ethnically and linguistically diverse older adults. The study's findings underscore the importance of considering cultural factors when evaluating cognitive performance in traditionally underserved communities.
Researchers have discovered a brain circuit that mediates panic disorder, consisting of specialized neurons that send and receive the neuropeptide PACAP. Inhibiting PACAP signaling reduces panic symptoms, offering promising findings for future treatments.
A study of 526 people found that those with disrupted sleep in their 30s and 40s were more likely to experience cognitive decline a decade later. The quality of sleep rather than the quantity was key, suggesting that improving sleep habits could potentially prevent Alzheimer's disease.
A new study has identified a neural coding mechanism that allows for the transfer of information between perceptual and memory regions of the brain. This discovery challenges traditional understanding of brain organization and suggests that memory areas encode visual information in a 'photographic negative' format.
A study by Mass General Brigham found that daily learning tests can detect Alzheimer's disease-related changes in memory among cognitively normal older adults. The test, called BRANCH, was completed over seven days on a smartphone, revealing diminished learning curves associated with elevated amyloid levels.
Researchers found that baseline amyloid burden and brain health are stronger predictors of Alzheimer's progression than age alone. The study also showed that individuals with higher amyloid levels developed dementia two years earlier than those without.
Researchers investigated cognitive fatigue across multiple sclerosis, traumatic brain injury, and controls using two tasks, finding that fatigue was consistent across participants regardless of task. Cognitive fatigue correlated with longer response times and activation in the caudate nucleus and thalamus.
A growing number of studies have found that non-invasive sensory, electrical, or magnetic stimulation of gamma brain rhythms can reduce Alzheimer's pathology and its consequences. These studies have shown increases in gamma power, brain network connectivity, and improvements in memory, cognition, and sleep.
A new study found that people with Alzheimer's dementia who were treated with lipid-lowering statins showed slower cognitive decline compared to those not treated. The researchers emphasize caution due to the observational nature of the study and initial concerns about statins' effects on patients with dementia.
A recent study published in NeuroImage found that physically active individuals experienced less decline in entorhinal cortex thickness over a seven-year period. Cognitive reserve is also boosted through regular mental stimulation, suggesting that brains can be trained like muscles to counteract age-related decline.
A two-week yoga nidra intervention increased sleep efficiency and percentage of delta-waves in deep sleep, leading to improved cognitive abilities such as decision-making and abstraction. Cognitive tests revealed faster responses with no loss in accuracy.
A Rutgers study finds adults with cognitive disabilities report lower overall satisfaction with healthcare services and worse experiences in encounters. Poor patient-provider communication is a key contributing factor.
A simple EEG before surgery can detect a signal of cognitive vulnerability, predicting which patients are at risk of post-operative confusion and attention problems. Researchers found that this test successfully detected disordered arousal or attention in older adults, helping identify the degree to which they'd experience problems.
Researchers found that whole-word errors are influenced by egocentric position, while unilateral paralexias are not. A failure of selective attention also contributes to whole-word intrusion errors. The findings suggest different rehabilitative approaches are needed for each type of error.
A study found that prenatal discrimination and acculturation stress can alter the strength of infant brain circuits, potentially leading to increased risk for mental health disorders. The research suggests a critical role in treating individuals with kindness during pregnancy.
The study used various tests to analyze the memory performance of jackdaws, finding that their performance decreased when working memory demands increased. The researchers found that corvids, like humans, show reduced accuracy and biased representations when working memory demands are high.
A new study by University of Arizona psychologists investigated the possible scenarios leading to waning memory in older people. The researchers found that the hippocampus contributes to the difficulty in learning new environments and locations in some older adults.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that older adults with a fear of falling tend to be less physically active. The research tracked the physical activity and sedentary behavior of 90-year-olds, revealing an average daily step count of around 3,000.
Researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine found that controlling high blood pressure may not prevent cognitive declines due to immune protein IL-17. Increased levels of IL-17 in the brain suppressed blood flow and induced cognitive impairment in a preclinical model.
Researchers developed two models to evaluate personal learning performance, combining biometric responses with demographic data. The simplified forecast model showed higher accuracy and reduced overfitting than the full forecast model.
Researchers found 48% of Ojibwe tribal elders reported frequent visions of benevolent spiritual beings and/or ancestors. The study emphasizes the importance of cultural context in diagnosis to avoid misdiagnosis of neuropsychiatric disease.
A study found that immune cells in the meninges release IL-17, which activates inflammation and fights off infections, leading to cognitive decline. Targeting overactive T cells may be a new approach to treating hypertension-induced dementia.
Researchers found that combined use of alcohol and THC affects the prefrontal cortex, impairing synaptic plasticity in rats. The effects were more pronounced in females and were likely due to changes in gamma-aminobutyric acid signaling.
Researchers developed a machine learning model that accurately predicted improvements in brain health using neural biomarkers. The study achieved 90% accuracy and confirmed a functional relationship between the BrainHealth Index and neural markers.
A study will examine the cognitive function of older adults who were exposed to measles during childhood, shedding light on potential long-term benefits of routine childhood vaccinations. The research aims to better understand how childhood experiences shape health and well-being across the life course.
A new study finds that exposure and response prevention (EX/RP) therapy for OCD improves cognitive control by strengthening connections between brain networks. This breakthrough sheds light on the mechanisms underlying EX/RP's effectiveness in treating OCD, paving the way for targeted therapies.
A breakthrough study found that light exercise can improve cognitive health in adults with Down syndrome, leading to improved information processing and attention. After just eight weeks of walking, participants showed significant increases in physical fitness and reductions in errors during cognitive assessments.
A new study links soccer heading to a measurable decline in brain function and microstructure, with high levels of heading exposure associated with changes similar to mild traumatic brain injuries. The research used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to assess the impact of repetitive head impacts on verbal learning performance.
A study published in PLOS ONE found that individuals with higher cognitive ability were more likely to vote Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum. Additionally, people whose spouses had higher cognitive ability were also more likely to cast their ballots for Remain.
Researchers linked hearing loss to microstructural differences in auditory areas of the temporal lobe and frontal cortex. The study suggests that compensatory brain changes may lead to increased dementia risk, and interventions like subtitles or speech-to-text apps could protect against this.
A recent study at Eötvös Loránd University found that 'smarter' dogs process information similarly to humans, with object appearance mattering as much as its location. The researchers measured spatial bias in 82 dogs and found that those with better cognitive performance linked objects more easily to places.
A team of international experts is pushing for evidence-based policy making by investigating the neural mechanisms underlying social media usage. Current studies have shown that excessive use can affect brain systems related to motivation, emotion, and cognition.
Researchers analyzed contestant behavior on the British TV show 'Mastermind' to examine human physiology under conditions of stress. They found that blinking acts like a 'punctuation of thought,' reducing during periods of intense thinking, and increased blink rate in stressed contestants.
Researchers tested EMDR, a therapy proven to treat PTSD and depression, to reduce addiction cravings. The study found Addiction-focused EMDR was as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy for cravings, reducing symptoms by clinically significant amounts.
A recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that AI's deep convolutional neural networks can identify faces but struggle to capture other important information like emotional state and trustworthiness. Brain activity scans revealed a weak correlation between AI's codes and human brain represent...
Researchers found CBT reduced fatigue and physical limitations in nearly 1300 patients with ME/CFS, regardless of symptoms or diagnosis. Younger, less impaired patients benefited most from CBT.
A study from MIT found that Tsimane' speakers who learned Spanish as a second language began to use separate words for blue and green, which are not typically used in their native language. The researchers also found that the bilingual group became more precise in describing colors such as yellow and red.
Greater PTSD symptoms were associated with higher carotid atherosclerosis and brain small vessel disease among midlife women. Women carrying the APOEɛ4 gene showed poorer cognitive performance in response to PTSD.
A recent study published in Nutrients found that daily strawberry consumption can improve cognitive performance and reduce depressive symptoms in middle-aged adults. The research, led by Professor Robert Krikorian, suggests that strawberries contain antioxidants and micronutrients that may help mitigate the risk of dementia.
A new study in Nature Communications presents a large-scale chart of cognitive development in teens, revealing that executive function usually matures by 18 years old. The findings have significant implications for psychiatrists, neuroscientists, parents, educators, and the judicial system.
Older adults with a GED certificate have higher odds of cognitive impairment, hearing impairment, and limitations in daily activities compared to high school graduates. The study suggests that the cognitive reserve hypothesis may partially explain these disparities, as well as access to healthcare services.
A virtual, home-based exercise program using cognitively enriched tai ji quan improved global cognition and reduced walking interference associated with dual tasking in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. The intervention also showed favorable improvements in cognition, function, executive function, and working memory.
The 2023 Practitioner’s Toolkit for Managing Menopause offers updated guidance on assessing and treating women with menopausal health issues. The toolkit includes new advice on hormone therapies, bone health, and treatment guidelines, aiming to improve care for women globally.
A recent study from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and colleagues found that Rumination-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (RF-CBT) can reduce rumination in adolescents. The study also showed correlated shifts in brain connectivity, suggesting that RF-CBT can help young people break the painful mental loops that contribu...
Research from the University of East Anglia found that children who are too short for their age can suffer reduced cognitive ability due to differences in brain function as early as six months. The study discovered a link between stunted growth and disrupted visual working memory, making them more easily distracted.
Researchers used computational models to analyze thousands of hours of transcribed audio recordings of children and adults interacting. The findings suggest that adults' ability to make context-based interpretations provides crucial feedback for babies acquiring language. These interpretations are critical for understanding what small ...
Researchers investigated rooster mirror self-recognition, finding that their behavior indicates recognition despite failed traditional tests. The study's results provide new insights into the cognitive ecology of mirror self-recognition in birds.
Researchers are designing joint 3D solid-state learning machines inspired by the brain's hippocampus region. The project focuses on developing a hippocampal-aware framework for enhancing chip design and enabling online learning in resource-constrained environments.
Researchers found that working memory was the most significant predictor of writing ability among English learner students. Cognitive functions such as phonological awareness and oral language development were also important, but only working memory consistently predicted higher scores in writing.
Researchers found that hierarchical cortical organization is impaired in people with schizophrenia, leading to disruptions in processing stimuli from the external world. This disruption affects secondary processing of sensorimotor-visual gradients, explaining behavioral and clinical symptoms of the disease.
A new study finds that short and long-term blood pressure fluctuations increase the risk of dementia and vascular problems in older people. Higher systolic BP variations are also linked with stiffening of the arteries, a key factor in heart disease.