Scientists discovered that brain activity increases when viewing same-race and other-race faces, but only predicts whether an other-race face will be remembered. The study suggests that individuation process is fragile for other-race faces due to lack of practice and social categorization.
Researchers at The University of Western Ontario used fMRI to decode action intentions from brain activity, predicting which action a person was planning seconds before execution. This breakthrough understanding of brain planning could lead to controlling prosthetic limbs for movement-impaired patients.
A University of Toronto study found that formerly depressed patients' brain activity responses to sadness can predict future depression relapse. The research suggests that a frontal brain region's analysis and interpretation of sadness may perpetuate depression.
Researchers at Vanderbilt University discovered that impairments in the posterior superior temporal sulcus (STS) brain area contribute to difficulties in reading social cues. This abnormal brain activation leads to misconstruing human actions and intentions in individuals with schizophrenia.
A recent study published in Brain Connectivity suggests that ongoing, intrinsic brain activity accounts for the majority of human brain energy usage. This finding challenges previous assumptions and highlights the complexity of brain function and structure.
A new study found that people with higher social status respond more strongly to information about others of higher status, while those with lower status respond more strongly to information about others of lower status. This effect is linked to the brain's value system and has important implications for social behavior and interactions.
A study published in Psychological Science found that disbelief in free will impairs brain activity before conscious intention, while belief in self-mastery enhances readiness to act. This suggests that believing in one's ability to control their actions may lead to better performance and motivation.
A recent brain imaging study has identified the neural patterns that enable some individuals to perceive two colors at once while reading. The research, published in Cortex, suggests that the same areas of the brain responsible for processing color also support synesthetic experiences.
Researchers at the University of Oregon used fMRI scans to study brain activity in depressed mothers responding to their infants' cries. The findings suggest that depression can blunt a mother's response to her infant's emotional cues, affecting their relationship.
Researchers found that prior information enables faster recognition and reduces the delay between visual impression and conscious perception. The study suggests that the brain processes stimuli flexibly, accelerating conscious awareness when expectations align.
Researchers used fMRI scans to measure brain activity in response to pro-health messages, finding a positive correlation between neural reactions and successful quitting. The study suggests that brain activity can provide valuable information for behavior change, potentially leading to more effective interventions.
Researchers found that anaesthetizing an arm impairs the ability to distinguish between right and left hands, leading to false sensations and altered body perception. The study aimed to understand how neuronal circuits are reorganized during anesthesia, which could lead to new therapeutic tools for treating phantom limb pain.
A new study suggests that regular exercise can improve brain function and reduce cognitive decline risk in people carrying a high-risk gene for Alzheimer's disease. Participants who exercised showed greater brain activity in memory-related regions compared to sedentary counterparts.
A new study shows that bihemispheric transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) coupled with physical and occupational therapy significantly improves motor function in stroke patients. The therapy rebalances brain activity on both sides of the brain, enhancing recovery.
Researchers found that nerve cell activity regulates balance between stem cells and mature nerve cells in the developing brain. The study suggests that abnormal brain activity may have long-lasting effects on brain development and could lead to new therapies for neurodegenerative diseases.
MIT neuroscientists identify a 'chain reaction' of brain activity that controls the timing of song in birds, with individual neurons firing at precise intervals to produce a stereotypical song. The study's findings support the 'synfire chain' model, where each neuron triggers the next, like falling dominos.
Researchers developed a novel 'brush optrode' that threads fibers through hair to improve functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) signal levels 3-5 fold. The device increases scalp contact, enhances brain imaging, and is more comfortable for patients compared to conventional fiber ends.
A new brain-imaging study by Caltech researchers found that the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is linked to how well subjects believe they performed on tasks, regardless of actual performance. This suggests that optimistic and pessimistic brains show different patterns of neural activity when planning movements.
A study published in the Journal of Neurophysiology found that rejection by a romantic partner activates brain areas associated with motivation, reward, and addiction. This can lead to extreme behaviors like stalking, homicide, and suicide during break-ups.
Researchers found that when people agree with our opinions, the 'reward' area of the brain is activated, indicating a satisfying experience. The study used fMRI to examine brain activity in response to expert opinions on music preferences, finding that agreement tends to increase brain reward activity.
Researchers found significant patterns in discarded brain wave data, revealing connections between low-frequency and high-frequency brain waves. These connections suggest important aspects of brain architecture and function, potentially shedding light on the brain's organizational structure.
Scientists from the University of Zurich have discovered the physiological mechanisms in the brain that underlie broken promises. Patterns of brain activity can even predict whether someone will break a promise, shedding light on the neural basis of pro-social and antisocial behavior.
Researchers have found that specific waves in EEG signals can reliably predict neural activity in the brain. By combining EEG and direct neuron recordings, scientists identified a link between 'frequency band coupling' and cell firing rates.
Scientists at Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics develop new method to interpret EEG signals, providing insights into neural activity. By combining EEG and neuron recordings, researchers can accurately predict brain cell activity, shedding light on abnormal EEG waveforms in neurological disorders.
Researchers found that the conscious mind kicks in about 300-400 milliseconds after exposure to a stimulus, with complexity affecting timing. The study aims to map unconscious perception and its role in understanding consciousness.
Researchers found that the first association between a smell and an experience leaves a lasting impression in the brain. After one week, they could predict which associations would be remembered based on brain activity alone.
Researchers discovered that learning a new task alters the brain's spontaneous activity patterns, particularly in regions involved in attention and visual processing. This 'anti-correlation' between brain areas improves task performance and facilitates future skill retrieval.
Researchers at University of California - Irvine found that brain activity during an event is comparable to the first experience, even if specifics are forgotten. This discovery may shed light on memories of traumatic events and provide insight into memory loss with age.
A new University of Toronto research links academic performance to neural signals, with students having larger error-related negativity (ERN) signals scoring better in school. The study suggests that ERN signals can be improved through self-regulation and attention to mistakes.
Researchers found that abstinent long-term alcoholics showed decreased and abnormal brain activity in the amygdala and hippocampus areas when looking at facial expressions. These findings support clinical reports of interpersonal difficulties in this population, suggesting brain abnormalities in emotional perception and memory.
Scientists at Rutgers University and UCLA have developed a highly accurate way to peer into the brain to uncover a person's mental state. They found that specific mental functions do not correspond directly with certain brain areas but rather a unique pattern of neural connections.
A new study found that high-quality foster care can improve brain activity in children raised in institutions. Institutionalized children showed reduced brain activity when processing faces, but those in foster care demonstrated normalized brain activity.
A new study found that a specific gene, DRD4, is linked to children's temperament and brain activity, with those having the long version of the gene exhibiting more soothable behavior. However, when this gene was combined with increased right frontal cortex activity, it led to attention problems in children.
A new neuroimaging study finds that honest people show no additional neural activity when telling the truth, implying that extra cognitive processes are not necessary to choose honesty. In contrast, dishonest individuals exhibit increased activity in control-related brain regions when tempted to lie.
Research in PLOS ONE identifies early interactions between vision and language domains during reading, with the speech motor areas active simultaneously as words are processed. This finding has potential clinical applications for individuals with developmental dyslexia and acquired reading disabilities.
A new study by scientists from Imperial College London and University of Oxford found that young adults with a genetic variant associated with Alzheimer's Disease exhibit changes in brain activity decades before any symptoms appear. The researchers used functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) to compare the brains of healthy young...
Researchers found brain activity in a patient who experienced a supernumerary phantom limb (SPL) that could be felt, seen, and moved intentionally. The study suggests multiple areas of the brain may be involved in SPLs, potentially offering insights into how the brain constructs normal bodily awareness and the self.
Researchers have identified two key brain regions responsible for forming first impressions, including the amygdala and posterior cingulate cortex. These regions process emotional and value-based information to form a quick and lasting impression of others.
Researchers have discovered that brain activity remains active even when the eyes are closed, with slow fluctuations dominating during rest. The study's findings could lead to advanced diagnostic techniques and a better understanding of brain function.
Researchers discovered that optical illusions, like the Rotating Snakes illusion, activate the brain's motion-perception area, suggesting a bottom-up process rather than imagination. This finding has implications for designing instrument panels and multimedia content to avoid motion sickness.
Researchers used fMRI to track real-time brain activity as participants read and processed individual words and short stories. The study found that readers mentally simulate each new situation encountered in a narrative, using perceptual and motor representations to comprehend narrated activity.
A study published in Neuron found that conflict with the majority opinion triggers a neural response in the brain's error-monitoring system, leading to long-term conforming adjustments. This mechanism is based on reinforcement learning and reinforces social conformity by signaling the most fundamental social mistake.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins University have found that a protein called Gadd45b is involved in changing epigenetic marks in brain cells, leading to the birth of new neurons and long-term changes in memory. This discovery may help understand how daily life experiences trigger long-lasting memories.
A study at Duke University Medical Center shows that seeing someone smoke can trigger abstinence efforts, highlighting the importance of breaking habitual responses. Brain scans reveal a marked increase in brain activity when quitters see photographs of people smoking, suggesting sensitization to smoking cues.
Researchers at UC Davis have discovered a new mechanism of attention in the human brain using modafinil. The study shows that modafinil shifts the brain into an 'exploitation mode' where subjects perform better on tasks requiring focus.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that individuals with high neuroticism levels prefer clear negative information over uncertainty. Researchers measured brain activity and found stronger responses to uncertain feedback in these individuals.
Researchers mapped brain activity associated with speech sounds and voices to identify unique 'neural fingerprints' in listeners. This breakthrough could improve computer systems for automatic speech recognition, revealing a less hierarchical processing of speech across the brain.
A unique study successfully used instrumental sensorimotor rhythm conditioning (ISC) to improve sleep spindles, decrease sleep onset latency, and increase memory performance. Participants who trained their brain activity to shape SMR amplitude showed significant improvements in sleep quality and memory performance after two weeks.
Research shows that walking on a treadmill can significantly improve mobility and health in stroke survivors even years post-stroke. Brain scans reveal increased metabolic activity in areas associated with walking, suggesting the brain's ability to rewire and recover through exercise.
Researchers found that the same brain regions are activated when observing facial expressions of disgust in others and experiencing it oneself. This study suggests that reading a book can elicit emotional responses comparable to those experienced while watching a movie, thanks to the shared brain activity patterns.
Researchers found abnormal brain activity patterns due to bladder problems, potentially leading to disrupted sleep and attention issues. The study suggests targeting the locus ceruleus neural circuitry for potential treatment improvements in patients with bladder dysfunctions.
A new study from Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care overturns the notion that brain noise decreases with maturity. Brain maturation leads to more stable and accurate behavior in memory tasks, but also correlates with increased brain signal variability.
A study by Max Planck Institute researchers found that unconscious brain activity can predict decisions made by participants up to 7 seconds before they consciously make a choice. This suggests that the decision is unconsciously prepared ahead of time, but the final decision may still be reversible.
A study found that subordinate monkeys showed pronounced decreased brain activity in areas involved with stress, anxiety, reward, and emotion when faced with a stressful situation. In contrast, dominant monkeys were less likely to choose cocaine after the same encounter.
Inhalation of diesel exhaust induces stress response in brain activity, altering information processing. Researchers found that even short exposure can cause changes in brain waves, with effects lasting after subjects leave the room.
Jazz musicians' brains shut off areas linked to self-censoring, turning on those that let self-expression flow. The brain regions responsible for self-expression and novel ideas are activated during improvisation.
Researchers found that women with IBS cannot turn off a pain modulation mechanism in the brain, making them more sensitive to mild discomfort. The study suggests that abnormal brain responses may be the root cause of the disorder and could lead to new treatment approaches.
A Carnegie Mellon study identifies specific brain regions activated by familiar objects, such as tools and dwellings. The researchers used machine learning algorithms to extract patterns from brain activation scans, revealing that different brains exhibit common patterns for representing the same object.
Researchers at MIT used fMRI to monitor brain development in rats, correcting for changes that occur during early life. The study found a key player in the changing relationship between neural activity and blood response: carbonic anhydrase.
Researchers at Indiana University found that women's brains respond differently to male faces depending on the menstrual cycle stage. During ovulation, their brains show more activity in areas related to rewards and less activity in areas associated with inhibition. Additionally, training has been shown to improve balance in older adul...