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Art is in the eye of the beholder

A study published in Acta Psychologica found that people's personality traits influence their eye movements when viewing abstract artwork. Volunteers who tended towards neuroticism spent more time looking at the left side of images, while those with schizophrenia-like traits looked less often at the top.

SourceJames Cook University·JournalActa Psychologica·DateApr 12, 2018

Stay focused, if you can

A study by University of Miami researchers found that individuals with specific patterns of salience network dynamics were better able to resist tempting distractors and perform tasks. The study, published in Social Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience, sheds new light on the neural mechanisms underlying self-control and temptation res...

SourceUniversity of Miami·JournalSocial Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience·DateOct 31, 2017

Living close to green spaces is associated with better attention in children

A recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that children who live close to green spaces have improved attention skills. The study analyzed data from over 1,500 children and showed a positive correlation between residential exposure to greenness and better scores on attention tests.

SourceBarcelona Institute for Global Health (ISGlobal)·JournalEnvironmental Health Perspectives·DateOct 25, 2017

Dogs are more expressive when someone is looking

New research from the University of Portsmouth found that dogs produce more facial expressions when humans are looking at them. The study, led by Dr Juliane Kaminski, showed that dogs use these expressions to communicate with humans and not just due to excitement. Brow raising was the most commonly used expression in this research.

SourceUniversity of Portsmouth·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 19, 2017

Women use gossip to compete for a man's attention

A study found that women tend to gossip more about their rivals' physical appearance and enjoy it more than men. Men, on the other hand, often gossip about others' achievements, demonstrating sex differences in gossiping behavior.

SourceSpringer·JournalEvolutionary Psychological Science·DateOct 4, 2017

Cognitive hearing aid filters out the noise

Researchers at Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science have made a breakthrough in auditory attention decoding (AAD) methods, bringing cognitively controlled hearing aids closer to reality. The new system can automatically separate individual speakers from a mixture, determine which speaker the user is listening t...

SourceColumbia University School of Engineering and Applied Science·JournalJournal of Neural Engineering·DateAug 3, 2017

Elderly yoginis have greater cortical thickness

Scientists found greater cortical thickness in elderly female yoga practitioners' brains, associated with improved cognitive functions like attention and memory. Long-term yoga practice appears to shape the brain structure and could offset age-related cognitive decline.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Aging Neuroscience·DateJul 13, 2017

Penn State study shows aphasia may not solely be a language disorder

A recent Penn State study suggests that aphasia may be a broader cognitive disorder affecting not just language, but also hearing, vision, motor processing, attention, and executive functions. The findings imply that treating aphasia requires a more holistic approach, considering these interconnected brain networks.

SourcePenn State·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateMar 29, 2017

Information avoidance

Research reveals that people deliberately avoid information that challenges their beliefs, leading to harm in individual wellbeing and societal polarization. By understanding the reasons behind information avoidance, governments and firms can develop effective strategies to reach their audiences.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·JournalJournal of Economic Literature·DateMar 10, 2017

Hope for people who struggle after suffering brain trauma

A combined pharmacological therapy and rehabilitation program shows promise in treating persistent cognitive difficulties after traumatic brain injuries, with modest yet significant improvements noted in verbal and nonverbal learning abilities, working memory, and divided attention.

SourceSpringer·JournalNeuropsychopharmacology·DateNov 22, 2016

Study shows infants pay more attention to native speakers

A study published in Frontiers in Psychology found that infants as young as 5 months old give more attention to objects presented by their native speaker. This preference for native language is thought to aid infants' quick acquisition of societal knowledge and cultural adaptation.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Psychology·DateOct 5, 2016

Human hookworm infection exerts high health and economic burden

A new study estimates that human hookworm infection results in over 4 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) globally, with China facing up to $6.7 billion in productivity losses annually. The infection is estimated to cost between $7.5 billion and $138.9 billion in productivity losses worldwide.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases·DateSep 8, 2016

De-coding the character of a hacker

A recent study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience found that individuals with a strong drive to understand and build systems, known as systemizing, tend to excel at hacking. This skillset is positively correlated with code-breaking performance, suggesting new opportunities for autistic individuals in security professions.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateJun 1, 2016

Nonprofit exec turnover more turbulent than previously thought

A new study from North Carolina State University finds that nonprofit executive transitions are often plagued by problems and challenges. Most executives do not leave due to voluntary retirement, but rather for reasons such as dismissals for wrongdoing or new job opportunities. The study highlights the importance of a good fit between ...

SourceNorth Carolina State University·JournalNonprofit Management and Leadership·DateMay 24, 2016

Executive powers in the nursery

A new University of Toronto study examines the effect of infant vocalizations on adult cognitive conflict processing and attention. The research found that infant cries reduce attention to tasks and trigger greater cognitive conflict than infant laughs.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalPLOS ONE·DateMay 19, 2016