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Reading risk behavior in the brain

Researchers have successfully measured participants' risk behavior while observing their brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG), revealing a key link between anxiety and decision-making. High anxious participants chose the low-risk option more often, and specific brain activity was associated with heightened cognitive control.

SourceFriedrich-Schiller-Universitaet Jena·JournalPsychophysiology·DateJun 20, 2018

Reading the minds of pilots on the fly

A team of researchers at Drexel University has successfully measured the brain activity of pilots in real-time using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, or fNIRS. The study shows that pilots who flew a real aircraft committed more errors and had higher cognitive load than those who operated a flight simulator.

SourceDrexel University·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateMay 21, 2018

Towards an unconscious neural reinforcement intervention for common fears

Researchers have created an innovative method to alleviate common fears by reading out unconscious brain activity and associating feared objects with positive feelings. By using a mental exercise game and leveraging artificial intelligence algorithms, participants can become desensitized to phobic stimuli without encountering the feare...

SourceATR Brain Information Communication Research Laboratory Group·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMar 6, 2018

This is your brain -- this is your brain outdoors

Researchers recorded laboratory-quality brain activity measurements outdoors using portable equipment, revealing differences in brain processing stimuli compared to indoor conditions. The findings suggest the brain may be compensating for environmental distractions, which could inform the creation of safer public spaces.

SourceUniversity of Alberta·JournalBrain Research·DateJan 30, 2018

Insight into how infants learn to walk

Researchers at Lancaster University found that 10-week-old babies who practiced 'reflex walking' showed a stronger brain response when watching humans walk compared to those who didn't. The study suggests that experience can refine the perception of biological motion in early infancy.

SourceLancaster University·JournalNeuropsychologia·DateDec 14, 2017

Young binge drinkers show altered brain activity

Researchers found distinctive changes in brain activity of young binge-drinking college students, which may indicate early signs of brain damage. The study suggests that bingeing has tangible effects on the young brain, comparable with those seen in chronic alcoholics.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience·DateSep 14, 2017

The wiser brain: Insights from healthy elders

Researchers analyzed brain activity of 100 healthy Portuguese adults and found that those with better cognitive abilities had more stable and structured brain network states. This study provides new evidence linking brain network dynamics to cognitive performance in later life.

SourceUniversity of Oxford·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 12, 2017

Making art activates brain's reward pathway -- Drexel study

A Drexel University study found that art-making activities like doodling activate the brain's reward pathways, regardless of skill level or experience. The study used fNIRS technology to measure blood flow in the brain during various art activities, revealing increased activity in the prefrontal cortex and positive emotional responses.

SourceDrexel University·JournalThe Arts in Psychotherapy·DateJun 13, 2017

Brain imaging reveals neural roots of caring

A study using brain scans found that feelings of empathy involve distinct brain activity patterns, with empathic care overlapping with value and reward systems and empathic distress linked to mirroring systems. The researchers discovered consistent patterns across individuals, predicting emotions based on brain activity.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateJun 8, 2017

Take a look, and you'll see, into your imagination

A team of Kyoto University researchers has successfully used neural network-based artificial intelligence to decode and predict visual content in the human brain. The technology, known as Deep Neural Network (DNN), shows promise for improving brain-machine interfaces and potentially even understanding consciousness.

SourceKyoto University·JournalNature Communications·DateMay 31, 2017

Why green spaces are good for grey matter

A study of older people found that walking between busy urban areas and green spaces triggers changes in brain activity, reducing frustration and increasing excitement. The research has important implications for architects, planners, and health professionals as the global population ages and becomes more urbanized.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health·DateApr 10, 2017

How your brain makes articles go viral

Studies reveal that brain activity in self-related and mentalizing regions combine unconsciously to produce a signal about an article's value, predicting its likelihood of going viral. Brain scans from a small group of people can accurately predict the virality of health articles among real New York Times readers.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 27, 2017

Teach yourself everyday happiness with imagery training

Researchers found that self-guided emotional imagery training can improve emotional wellbeing in healthy individuals by reducing depressive symptoms and increasing satisfaction with life. The technique was also associated with changes in brain activity, including increased connectivity between image processing networks.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateFeb 24, 2017