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Tracking mosquitoes with your cellphone

Researchers at Stanford University developed a platform called Abuzz that uses cellphone recordings to track mosquito populations and distributions. The platform aims to create the world's largest network of mosquito surveillance, enabling targeted control efforts and reducing the burden of mosquito-borne diseases.

Cannot sleep due to stress? Here is the cure

A study found that octacosanol, a compound rich in sugarcane and other natural products, can reduce stress and restore normal sleep in mildly stressed mice. The researchers also suggest that octacosanol may be useful for treating insomnia caused by stress due to its potential to increase sleep.

SourceUniversity of Tsukuba·JournalScientific Reports·DateSep 4, 2017

Gaze direction affects sensitivity to sounds

A new UCL study found that looking away from the sound source while focusing on another one can lead to slower reactions and increased listening effort. The researchers used EEG to monitor brain activity in participants, revealing an increase in oscillatory neural activity when gaze was misaligned with auditory attention.

SourceUniversity College London·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 5, 2017

Immersive journalism in a post-truth world

The rise of immersive journalism poses challenges to traditional journalistic principles, as it offers a personal experience that can be subjective and relativistic. However, when used thoughtfully, immersion can enhance the narrative and create a powerful emotional impact.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Digital Humanities·DateJun 29, 2017

Now or later: How taste and sound affect when you buy

New research finds that advertisements highlighting more proximal sensory experiences (touch/taste) lead to earlier purchases, while those emphasizing distal sensory experiences (sight/sound) delay them. This study, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, suggests new ways for marketers to differentiate their products and services.

SourceBrigham Young University·JournalJournal of Consumer Research·DateJun 28, 2017

Blind people have brain map for 'visual' observations too

Researchers at KU Leuven found that blind individuals, including those without eyeballs, use the ventral-temporal cortex to categorize visual observations. This region is divided into smaller areas, each recognizing a particular category, such as faces, body parts, and objects.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 17, 2017

A good night's sleep

Researchers designed a new technology that uses machine learning to model personal sleep patterns based on recorded sounds made during sleep. This method allows doctors to diagnose patients under normal sleeping conditions, leading to better treatment outcomes.

New program improves hearing aid use for older adults

A new program developed by Kari Lane at the University of Missouri has shown significant improvement in hearing aid wear time among older adults. The program, called Hearing Aid Reintroduction (HEAR), uses a systematically gradual approach to support adjustment to hearing aids, increasing wear time from one hour to 10 hours over 30 days.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalJournal of Phonetics & Audiology·DateMar 20, 2017

Is the human brain hardwired to appreciate poetry?

Researchers found that participants' brains responded positively to sentences conforming to traditional Welsh poetry rules, even when they couldn't explicitly identify the correct form. This suggests an innate appreciation for poetic structure in the human brain.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateFeb 17, 2017

Making sense of the seneses: 'Context' matters when the brain interprets sounds

A study published in Nature Neuroscience found that nerve cells dedicated to hearing rely on surrounding context to properly interpret and react to familiar sounds. Researchers observed patterns based on a basic divide in the nature of nerve cells, with excitatory and inhibitory neurons working together to balance brain activity.

What's in a name? For young Chinese consumers, it's about culture mixing

A new study by University of Illinois professor Carlos J. Torelli found that younger, more educated Chinese consumers tend to favor phonosemantic brand translations, which integrate both sound and meaning into a product's name. This approach signals cultural sensitivity and respect for the local culture.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Cross-Cultural Psychology·DateOct 3, 2016

Voice control in orangutan gives clues to early human speech

A new study published in Scientific Reports suggests that orangutans have the potential capacity to control their voices, which could have led to the evolution of human speech. The research found that an adolescent orangutan named Rocky was able to copy the pitch and tone of sounds made by researchers, mimicking vowel-like calls.

SourceDurham University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJul 27, 2016

Cats seem to grasp the laws of physics

Researchers at Kyoto University found that cats use causal logic to infer object presence based on sounds. The study revealed cats' expectations are shaped by what they hear, enabling them to predict prey locations.

SourceSpringer·JournalAnimal Cognition·DateJun 14, 2016

Slips of the lip stay all in the family

A new study from Duke University reveals that misnaming follows predictable patterns, with people often using relationship categories and phonetic similarities to mix up names. The study found that family members frequently call other family members by the name of the family dog, suggesting a special bond between humans and canines.

SourceDuke University·JournalMemory & Cognition·DateMay 16, 2016

Music improves baby brain responses to music and speech

A recent study by the University of Washington's Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences found that 9-month-old babies who participated in music play sessions showed improved brain responses to music and new speech sounds. This suggests that early musical experiences can have a lasting impact on cognitive skills such as pattern percept...

SourceUniversity of Washington·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 25, 2016