Add BrightSurf on Google Email

WSU researcher designs multilingual instruction materials for world's largest mall

A WSU researcher designed an instructional process to train over 300 employees from diverse countries in custodial duties at the Dubai Mall. The project resulted in a high success rate and has been recognized as a model for efficient, cross-cultural instructional design.

SourceWayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research·JournalInternational Journal of Designs for Learning·DateFeb 10, 2011

Words help people form mathematical concepts

Researchers found that deaf people in Nicaragua who used self-developed gestures, called homesigns, had difficulty understanding the value of large numbers. In contrast, those who acquired conventional sign language as children were able to learn the meaning of large numbers.

SourceUniversity of Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 7, 2011

Sleep mode: The energy cost of sleep deprivation

A study by Colorado University's Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory found that missing a night of sleep burns approximately 135 calories. Eight hours of sleep, on the other hand, saved the same amount of energy. The findings demonstrate a direct correlation between the sleep-wake cycle and energy expenditure.

SourceWiley·JournalThe Journal of Physiology·DateJan 12, 2011

Babies process language in a grown-up way

Researchers at UC San Diego found that babies over a year old process words with adult-like brain structures and meanings, challenging previous theories on infant language development. The study used MEG and MRI to map brain activity in infants and confirmed the same left frontotemporal areas activated in adults for word meaning.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalCerebral Cortex·DateJan 6, 2011

Mindfulness meditation increases well-being in adolescent boys

A new study by University of Cambridge researchers found that mindfulness training increased well-being in 155 adolescent boys. The four-week program improved feelings of happiness and contentment while also enhancing resilience and stress management skills. The benefits were particularly noticeable in students who struggled with anxiety.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalThe Journal of Positive Psychology·DateSep 1, 2010

Experiencing different cultures enhances creativity

A study published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin found that students who lived abroad showed more evidence of creativity than those who didn't. Multicultural learning is believed to be a critical component of the adaptation process, acting as a creativity catalyst.

SourceSAGE·JournalPersonality and Social Psychology Bulletin·DateJun 29, 2010

Memories are made of this

A new study led by the University of Leicester has revealed the mechanism by which memories are formed, highlighting the importance of the M3-muscarinic receptor in this process. The research, funded by the Wellcome Trust, holds potential to impact drug design for treating Alzheimer's disease.

SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 28, 2010

Recent research on memory/learning

A recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology reveals that people underconfidently assess their learning abilities but overconfidently predict their memory performance. The researchers found that individuals failed to account for improved learning outcomes following additional study and testing.

SourceWilliams College·JournalJournal of Experimental Psychology·DateMar 5, 2010

Search engines are source of learning

Researchers found search engines are used for fact-checking and supporting higher-level information needs, revealing a more complex role in learning. Their study suggests design improvements for search engines can better address users' cognitive and affective aspects.

SourcePenn State·JournalInformation Processing & Management·DateNov 19, 2009

How to advance scientific literacy

Plant biologists are key players in advancing scientific literacy, and recent research highlights the importance of teaching inquiry methods, raising public awareness of science, and creating an accessible reference for teachers. By working together, scientists can build a more receptive audience and enhance capacity to change the future.

SourceBotanical Society of America·JournalAmerican Journal of Botany·DateSep 3, 2009

Robot learns to smile and frown

Researchers at UC San Diego used machine learning to empower their Einstein robot to learn realistic facial expressions, improving the process of teaching robots to make lifelike faces. The team discovered that the model learned to automatically compensate for missing servos and can now make facial expressions it had never encountered.

Investigation finds that cigarette smoking does not affect everyone in same way

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests that cigarette smoking does not affect everyone in the same way, with some people experiencing severe breathing difficulties while others evade the disease. The research proposes an autoimmune mechanism compounded by genetic predisposition as a possible explanation for t...

SourceMcGill University Health Centre·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateJun 4, 2009

Online educational empowerment

Research suggests that online educational empowerment enables learners to acquire knowledge efficiently through social networks. However, individual self-governance is key to success in these communities. The study explores how personal factors like goals, communication skills, and IT skills affect learning outcomes.

SourceInderscience Publishers·JournalInternational Journal of Web Based Communities·DateMay 22, 2009

Now or later? Consumer product evaluation depends on purchase timing

A new study finds that consumers evaluate products differently based on the timing of their purchase. When considering future use, desirability is a primary factor, while feasibility takes precedence for immediate use. Reevaluating a product later can also influence judgments, with future-considered products being viewed more favorably.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateMay 12, 2009

Love at first aria

Researchers discover that opera fans learn to appreciate the art form by forming emotional connections and decoding its meaning. Through social interaction and personal experience, fans develop a deeper understanding of opera's nuances, ultimately becoming passionate advocates for the art.

SourceSpringer·JournalQualitative Sociology·DateMar 17, 2009

Reward elicits unconscious learning in humans

A new study reveals that reward-induced stimulus pairing can elicit visual learning in adults without conscious awareness of the stimulus presentation or reward contingencies. This suggests that automatic reinforcement mechanisms rather than directed attention drive improvements in sensory skills.

SourceCell Press·JournalNeuron·DateMar 11, 2009

Astrocytes and synaptic plasticity

Astrocytes fine-tune synaptic plasticity by secreting and re-releasing neurotrophic factor BDNF, influencing long-term potentiation (LTP) and depression (LTD). This process affects neurons' ability to communicate with each other, impacting learning and memory.

SourceRockefeller University Press·JournalJournal of Cell Biology·DateOct 13, 2008

Great apes think ahead

A study by Mathias and Helena Osvath found that chimpanzees and orangutans can plan ahead, overriding immediate needs in favor of future rewards. The apes demonstrated self-control and pre-experiencing a future event, visualizing the use of tools to achieve goals.

SourceSpringer·JournalAnimal Cognition·DateJun 18, 2008

The Wiimote as an interface bridging mind and body

Researchers found that body movements reflect confidence in learning tasks using the Wiiimote, suggesting a link between cognition and action. The study provides new evidence for the deep interconnection between mental processing and bodily movement.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMar 4, 2008

Music training linked to enhanced verbal skills

A Northwestern University study finds that music training improves the brain's multi-sensory processing, leading to enhanced verbal communication skills. The research suggests that musical training could help children develop literacy skills and combat literacy disorders.

SourceNorthwestern University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 24, 2007

How the brain handles surprise, good and bad

Researchers distinguish brain circuitry for surprise and aversive stimuli, finding different neuronal populations respond to expectation of reward or punishment. This study sheds light on the amygdala's role in emotion, reinforcement learning, attention, and arousal.

Why we learn from our mistakes

Scientists at the University of Exeter have discovered a rapid brain mechanism that helps people avoid repeating previous errors. This 'early warning signal' is triggered in just 0.1 seconds after making an incorrect prediction, allowing individuals to learn from their mistakes and make better decisions in the future.

SourceUniversity of Exeter·JournalCognitive Neuroscience·DateJul 1, 2007