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Missed connections

Researchers found that brain connections change with age, but compensate for this by using new strategies to remember things. The study used fMRI data to analyze brain activity in individuals, revealing distinct patterns of connectivity among older people.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateNov 28, 2016

Can a brain-computer interface convert your thoughts to text?

A recent study published in Frontiers presents a brain-to-text system that decodes speech from brain signals with high accuracy. The technology uses electrocorticography and language models to match patterns of neural signals to spoken words, offering potential benefits for individuals with speech disorders or locked-in patients.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateOct 25, 2016

Infants use prefrontal cortex in learning

Researchers found that infants as young as 8 months use the same circuits as adults when learning simple hierarchical rules. Their brains are properly adapted to handle essential elements in their world, suggesting a more mature prefrontal cortex than previously thought.

Meditation keeps emotional brain in check

A new study from Michigan State University suggests that meditation can help tame negative emotions in people of all mindfulness levels. Participants who meditated showed similar levels of 'emotion regulatory' brain activity as those with high natural mindfulness, indicating improved emotional health.

SourceMichigan State University·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateOct 3, 2016

This is your brain on sentences

The study used fMRI to measure human brain activation and found that it can predict brain activity patterns within 70% accuracy. The researchers developed a novel approach to map semantic characteristics of words and correlated them with neural activity patterns.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·JournalCerebral Cortex·DateAug 13, 2016

Fast fluency: Can we identify quick language learners?

A study by Dr. Chantel Prat and colleagues found that a five-minute measurement of resting-state brain activity can predict how quickly adults pick up a second language. Participants with larger 'beta' networks in their brains learned French twice as quickly, suggesting a link between brain activity and language learning speed.

SourceOffice of Naval Research·JournalBrain and Language·DateJun 30, 2016

Researchers look into the brains of music fans

A study by the University of Bonn reveals that when participants were given the freedom to set prices themselves, their brains showed increased activation in the lingual gyrus, an area associated with social stimuli. This suggests that social considerations, such as fairness, played a significant role in their decision-making process.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateJun 27, 2016

How older people learn

Researchers found that learning and training improve perception in older adults, despite degraded tactile perception. Computer simulations revealed that the brain's compensatory mechanism is strengthened, resulting in enhanced brain activity and improved perception.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalScientific Reports·DateJun 16, 2016

New findings reveal social thinking in the infant brain

Researchers investigated how infants process others' actions and found that brain activity in the motor system predicts imitation of others' actions. The study provides evidence for intelligent social behavior in infants as young as 7 months old, shedding light on neural processes contributing to this complex behavior.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalPsychological Science·DateApr 11, 2016

Neurofeedback reduces pain, increases quality of life for cancer patients suffering from chemotherapy-induced neuropathy

A new study from the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center found that neurofeedback significantly reduces chronic pain and improves quality of life in cancer patients with chemotherapy-induced neuropathy. The treatment, which uses electroencephalogram biofeedback to modify brain activity, showed a 73% improvement rate in pai...

Brain tune-up may aid self-motivation

Researchers at Duke University have developed a new brain imaging strategy that allows people to control their motivational centers, leading to healthier and more productive lives. By using neurofeedback, participants were able to learn which strategies worked and adopt more effective ones.

SourceDuke University·JournalNeuron·DateMar 3, 2016

Mentally challenging activities key to a healthy aging mind

Researchers found that high-challenge activities improved memory performance and brain activity efficiency in older adults. The study suggests that mentally demanding activities may be neuroprotective and essential for maintaining a healthy brain into late adulthood. Enhanced neural efficiency was maintained a year after participation.

SourceIOS Press·JournalRestorative Neurology and Neuroscience·DateJan 15, 2016

Searching for answers in the real world

A study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found significant increases in functional connectivity in localized brain networks when subjects viewed art they considered aesthetically pleasing. The research team collected data from over 400 people, including men and women of different ages, using EEG headsets.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateNov 12, 2015

Study links physical activity to greater mental flexibility in older adults

A recent study found that older adults who engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity have more variable brain activity at rest, which is associated with better cognitive performance. The research also revealed that physically fit individuals tend to have larger brain volumes and more intact white matter than their less-fit peers.

Personality shapes the way our brains react to eye contact

Researchers found that personality traits, particularly Neuroticism, affect brain activity in response to eye contact. Participants who scored low on Neuroticism exhibited approach-associated brain activity when looking at someone making eye contact, while those with high scores showed avoidance-associated patterns.

SourceAcademy of Finland·JournalNeuropsychologia·DateJun 5, 2015

Late-night snacking: It it your brain's fault?

A study published in Brain Imaging and Behavior found that brain activity responding to high-calorie food images is lower at night compared to daytime. Researchers used MRI to measure neural responses to food images during morning and evening sessions, revealing a dip in reward-related brain reactivity in the evening.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalBrain Imaging and Behavior·DateMay 5, 2015

Brain scans reveal how people 'justify' killing

A new study led by Monash researcher Dr Pascal Molenberghs found that brain activity in the lateral orbitofrontal cortex increases with guilt when participants imagine unjustified violence, but not when imagining justified violence. The research provides insights into how people justify extreme violence in certain situations, such as war.

SourceMonash University·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateApr 8, 2015

University of Houston researchers build brain-machine interface to control prosthetic hand

A team of researchers from the University of Houston has developed a non-invasive brain-machine interface that allows an amputee to control a prosthetic hand with high accuracy. The technology, which uses electroencephalogram (EEG) signals to capture brain activity, enables individuals to grasp objects with ease and precision.

SourceUniversity of Houston·JournalFrontiers in Neuroscience·DateMar 31, 2015