Articles tagged with Attention
Researchers found that toddlers with high daily touchscreen use are quicker to look at objects when they appear and less able to resist distraction. The study suggests a potential link between increased screen time and difficulties with attention in young children.
A new study suggests that moderate coffee intake can help mitigate some repercussions of reduced sleep over a few days. The study found that caffeinated coffee drinkers showed better vigilance, alertness, and reaction-time compared to decaffeinated coffee drinkers during the initial three-to-four days of restricted sleep.
Researchers tracked brain activity while participants performed mundane tasks to identify signals of unfocused thoughts. Increased alpha waves and weaker P3 signals were detected when minds wandered or weren't paying attention, promoting relaxation and exploration.
A theoretical model describes the cause of autism as a combination of socially valued traits and co-occurring disabilities, accounting for most cases. The BAPCO-DMAP theory explains how positive traits of autism interact with development and disabilities.
Two new studies provide insights into preventing workplace accidents and injuries by analyzing human error and cognitive processes. Researchers have developed an error-detection framework that computes the likelihood of human error in occupational settings.
A comprehensive review synthesizes neurobiology of mindfulness, motivation, and learning to explain how MBIs promote behavior change. Mindfulness training increases interoceptive awareness, allowing patients to recognize and respond to negative thought patterns and cultivate self-compassion.
A study by the University of Bristol found that Trump's tweets systematically divert attention away from harmful topics to unrelated issues representing his political strengths. This diversion significantly reduces negative media coverage of the harmful topic the next day.
A new study published by researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that extraneous images on reading pages can draw attention away from text, reducing comprehension in beginning readers. Streamlined illustrations improved reading comprehension scores in first- and second-grade students.
Researchers examine whether animals can be deceived by magic effects, offering a window into their cognitive parallels and variances with humans.
A new data processing module called attentive normalization improves the performance of deep neural networks by combining feature normalization and feature attention. The hybrid module significantly increases accuracy while using negligible extra computational power, and facilitates better transfer learning between different domains.
Researchers used two-photon imaging to study the activity of layer 6 neurons in mice, finding three distinct populations that reacted differently to visual stimulation. These neurons complement each other to regulate information flow from sensory organs to the cortex, influencing our ability to focus or lose attention.
Research found toddlers with daily touchscreen use are faster to find targets during visual search, challenging concerns about negative impacts on development. High touchscreen users were quicker at finding red apples amongst varying numbers of blue apples.
A recent study published in The Economic Journal found that child disability can have a significant impact on the educational outcomes of their older siblings. The researchers analyzed data from Florida and Denmark and found that the second-born child was more adversely affected cognitively than the first-born child when the third-born...
Research from the University of Sussex found that participants who watched TV while performing a demanding task ate more snacks regardless of calorie content. However, those who engaged less in tasks consumed fewer snacks. The study suggests that distracted attention affects satiety cues and eating habits.
Researchers mapped the thalamic reticular nucleus (TRN) and found two distinct subnetworks of neurons with different functions. This could lead to specific targets for designing drugs to alleviate sensory, sleep, and attention symptoms in autism.
Researchers at Toyohashi University of Technology have discovered that pupillary responses can objectively estimate English language processing abilities, including distinguishing sounds like L and R. This method shows promise for efficient studying and may become a new indicator of language ability.
A new study from Purdue University finds that mothers do not have diminished attention and may even have better executive control attention compared to non-mothers. The research used a revised Attention Network Test to compare reaction times among 60 mothers and 70 non-mothers, finding no evidence to support the 'mommy brain' stereotype.
Researchers studied neurocognitive temporal training and its impact on Soldier performance, including improved marksmanship precision and reduced variability. The interactive metronome device was used to train Soldiers and measure their timing and rhythm abilities.
A new study reveals that heavy drinking leads to reduced ability to switch attention, update information, and maintain focus on set goals. This impairment has significant economic and daily life implications, particularly in tasks requiring planning and productivity.
Patients with superobesity are more prone to regain weight after bariatric surgery due to unconscious food cravings and attentional bias. Research found that pre-conscious and conscious attentional biases play a significant role in weight regain, suggesting that cognitive processes similar to addiction may be present in morbid obesity.
A study by Ohio State University found that social media users pay less attention to the source of content when it's jumbled with entertainment, leading to a higher risk of mistaking satire for real news. This can result in the spread of misinformation and fake news.
A recent study found that older adults exhibit stronger mindful qualities, such as present-moment attention and non-attachment, which are linked to improved wellbeing. Mindfulness techniques can help build wellbeing at any age, including those developed through app-based programs like Calm and Headspace.
A 12-week study found that daily avocado consumption improved attention in adults with overweight or obesity, as measured by the Flanker task. However, there was no significant impact on other cognitive tests or lutein levels
A new study by Carnegie Mellon University researchers aims to improve the quality of YouTube videos on chronic health care conditions. The study suggests that specific guidelines should be developed for creating engaging and relevant content for patients with varying levels of health literacy.
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have discovered a link between cognitive impairment and lasting inflammation after intensive care. Elevated blood levels of HMGB1 protein were found in patients with post-intensive care syndrome (PICS), which can cause impairments in memory, attention, and problem-solving for years.
Research found that babies in bilingual homes quickly and frequently shift their gaze between stimuli, adapting to a more complex environment. This adaptation may help infants learn multiple languages by matching speech sounds with mouth movements.
A digital intervention targeting attention and cognitive control improved attentional functioning in children with ADHD, with minimal adverse effects. The study's findings suggest that digital alternatives to traditional care could help tackle issues with access to treatment.
Researchers found that higher English proficiency levels correlated with better executive control performance in unbalanced bilinguals. This suggests that language skills may play a significant role in cognitive control efficiency. The study used an objective method to evaluate second language proficiency, providing new insights into t...
Researchers propose a holistic framework for understanding how the mind adapts to situations, suggesting that changing states of mind exert coordinated effects on perception, attention, and behavior. By acknowledging and manipulating these dynamic states, individuals can improve performance and achieve a healthier state of mind.
A team of doctors and engineers developed a noninvasive device that measures brain metabolism using an infrared laser, enabling faster and more certain concussion diagnoses. The technology could guide treatment for serious brain injuries and other conditions, improving patient outcomes.
African grey parrots exhibit prosocial behavior by helping others obtain food rewards, even when it's not in their immediate interest. They also reciprocate favors and are tolerant of unequal treatment due to their long-term monogamous nature.
Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University found that digital storybooks with animated content enhance recall and language skills in children. The study used a contingent responsiveness approach, where the book's animation responds to the child's vocalization, providing positive reinforcement and improving learning outcomes.
A new study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry found that computer-based attention training reduced anxiety in 50% of participants. The treatment involved targeting neutral or threatening stimuli, leading to comparable reductions in anxiety. This promising result provides a potential aug...
A study found that disclaimers on retouched photos have no effect on mitigating negative body image in women. In fact, some disclaimers heightened and harmed body dissatisfaction in at-risk women.
A new analysis reveals that people prioritize attention based on learned associations with danger, influencing how they perceive and learn from stimuli. The study suggests that attention affects how individuals process information about threats.
Researchers developed a new method to detect specific types of mental effort using network-level brain activity. The study demonstrates that this approach can be used to improve patients' abilities to manage symptoms of mental illness.
A new study published in PLOS ONE reveals that women and men perform equally when required to switch attention between tasks or perform two tasks simultaneously. Multitasking imposes a substantial cost on both speed and accuracy for both men and women, with no difference between the two groups in the magnitude of the cost.
A new USC study found that older adults are less distracted by negative information compared to younger adults. The researchers used a quickly presented sequence of images to examine how attention is affected by emotion. Older adults showed a selective bias toward positive information, prioritizing it over negative stimuli.
A PSU professor is conducting a four-year research project to understand how households in Nepal recover from natural disasters, with a focus on the long-term impacts of the 2015 earthquake. The study aims to identify key factors driving recovery and social transformations in communities affected by disasters.
Researchers have shown that people's general inability to ignore reward cues is not just a lack of control, but rather a limitation of their executive control processes. In an experiment, participants struggled to resist fast food and alcohol cues when under cognitive pressure or high memory load. The findings suggest strengthening exe...
A new study found that exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 μm during pregnancy and childhood is associated with reduced fundamental cognitive abilities, such as working memory and executive attention in boys. The study included 2,221 children between 7 and 10 years old attending schools in Barcelona.
A new study found that infants who are later diagnosed with autism react adequately when others initiate joint attention, but seldom actively seek to establish such episodes themselves. This suggests that children with autism have reduced social motivation already as infants.
A new study published in Body Image found that higher interoceptive awareness, as measured through mindfulness practices, is associated with more positive body image. The research suggests that individuals who can better tune into their internal bodily signals are less likely to experience negative self-image.
Infants may be more adept at associating words with objects when exposed to Mandarin Chinese sound structures. Researchers studied how lexical tones impact an infant's ability to learn new language, revealing that babies can apply knowledge from their native language to learn words in a new tongue.
Infants exposed to two languages at home exhibit better attentional control and learning abilities than monolingual peers. This study suggests that bilingual environments can shape attentional systems from an early age, laying the groundwork for future cognitive advantages.
A new brain training game, Decoder, has been shown to improve attention and concentration in healthy young adults after playing for 8 hours over a month. The game was tested against Bingo and no game controls, with significant improvements in focus and performance.
The study used EEG and ERP to assess neural activity during simultaneous interpretation of continuous prose. The results showed that interpreters work in a dynamic mode of redistribution of attention, with increased cognitive resources engaged for working memory when lagging behind the speaker.
Philip Uri Treisman will receive the Yueh-Gin Gung and Dr. Charles Y. Hu Award on January 17, 2019, for his leadership in strengthening math education and promoting equity for historically underserved groups.
Researchers at George Washington University discover that people pay attention to objects based on their real-world size rather than visual perception. The study suggests attention allocation can be trained, leading to improvements and efficiency in tasks such as radiology or airport security.
A study by researchers at University of Granada found that attention training improves intelligence scores and brain function in pre-school age children. The benefits are greater when an educator implements a coaching strategy to help the child understand their training process.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Geneva found that our brains quickly differentiate between angry and happy voices, with a faster response time to perceived threats. This enhanced auditory attention enables us to detect potential dangers more effectively, leading to improved survival behavior.
Researchers found that female mice developed problems with attention due to fewer 'tuning' neurons in the brain's emotion regulation area. Stress in early life led to impaired rule-reversal learning in females, while males were affected by spatial reasoning skills.
Researchers at UC Berkeley found that humans rely on two distinct neural networks to predict the future in tasks like music and sports. The basal ganglia system is sensitive to rhythmic cues, while the cerebellum relies on interval timing based on past experiences.
A study by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona and Pablo de Olavide University found that dynamic audiovisual editing increases attention by reducing blink rates and stimulating brain activity in the visual processing areas. In contrast, continuous editing stimulates cognitive processing activity in frontal lobe regions.
Researchers discovered that owl brains use fewer neurons to encode multiple locations, solving the problem of selection at all possible locations. This finding applies to humans and may help understand disorders like ADHD.
A new study by University of Arizona researchers investigates whether cognitive abilities can predict a dog's success as a working dog. The study found that different skills, such as social skills and short-term memory, are crucial for assistance dogs and explosive detection dogs, respectively.
Research reveals abnormal vision in childhood can impact attention and brain development. Studies show that patients with lazy eye have difficulty directing attention to the weaker eye when both eyes are open.
Researchers found that testing students throughout a lecture enhances learning by facilitating association between old and new information. However, excessive questioning or easy questions may have detrimental effects.
A recent study published in Nature Communications found that variability in neural responses is not just random noise, but rather due to fluctuations in internally generated signals like attention. This discovery has significant implications for understanding how our brains work and focus, potentially leading to diagnostic tools for ne...
Allowing students to access electronic devices during lectures can lower scores in end-of-term exams by at least 5%, or half a grade. Students who don't use devices but attend classes where they're permitted also perform poorly.