Cognition
Articles tagged with Cognition
Heavy caring responsibilities may hasten cognitive decline
Better cognition tied to higher relapse risk after depression remission
A new study with over 3,700 UK participants found that better cognitive functioning may be associated with a higher risk of future depressive episodes in those with a history of depression. In contrast, worse cognitive performance was linked to a lower risk of relapse in both individuals with previous depression and control participants.
Cognitive decline and household firearm storage among older adults
Unsecure firearm storage is common among older adults with subjective cognitive decline, despite clinical guidance recommending secure storage for those with cognitive symptoms. The study highlights the need for improved household practices and access to fire safety education.
Treatment of anxiety for adults in primary care settings
The American Medical Association (AMA) has developed guidelines for treating anxiety disorders in adults in primary care settings. Behavioral therapy, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and medication, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are recommended treatments.
Framework grounded in collective intelligence aims to create effective collaboration in human-AI teams
The new framework, published in PNAS Nexus, offers guidance for building human-AI teams that are effective, accountable, and aligned with human values. It focuses on reasoning, memory, and attention as core processes that can be distributed across people and AI systems.
How the architecture of the prefrontal cortex shapes our creativity
Researchers found that the rostral prefrontal cortex acts as a bridge between the default mode network and executive control network, enabling a gradual functional transition. The study suggests that creativity relies on a measurable balance between these networks.
Initiation setting and persistence of medications affecting cognition in older adults
A cross-sectional study found that older adults are disproportionately prescribed medications affecting cognition from acute or postacute care settings. This highlights the need to target prescriptions from these settings to reduce such prescribing.
No brain required: This is how the single-celled stentor learns
Researchers at UCSF discovered that single-celled organism Stentor learns through modifying existing proteins with calcium signaling, which is similar to the mechanism used by animal neurons. This finding suggests that learning may be a fundamental feature of life and could have evolved before the emergence of brains.
Half of older patients with dementia remain on psychotropic drugs a year after starting on them
A recent study published in JAMA Network Open found that half of older patients with dementia remain on psychotropic drugs a year after starting them. The medications, including antipsychotics and benzodiazepines, are often prescribed in acute and post-acute settings such as emergency rooms and skilled nursing facilities. This raises c...
We may be born with 2 complex cognitive functions already established
A new study suggests that language and theory of mind, two complex cognitive functions, have distinct origins in the brain in young children. Researchers found separate but related brain regions for these skills, which do not overlap or grow more distinct as the mind matures.
Breastfeeding duration and cognitive performance among youths
A cross-sectional study found no association between longer breastfeeding duration and cognitive performance in unadjusted models, however, a positive correlation emerged after controlling for socioeconomic factors. Longer breastfeeding durations were more common among low-income families, highlighting the need for continued support.
Individual Brain Charting: new data advances high-resolution mapping of human cognition
The Individual Brain Charting project has released its fifth update with a new set of cognitive tasks, expanding the dataset to 40 hours of scanned data per participant. This provides an exceptionally rich resource for studying individual variability in brain organisation and understanding brain function.
Do faces behind us appear more emotionally intense?
Researchers found that faces presented behind observers are perceived as more emotionally intense than those in front. This 'behind-enhancement bias' is observed even when participants view the face via a virtual mirror without turning around. The study suggests a spatially modulated perceptual bias related to processing of emotionally...
Scientists engineer a tool to “edit” brain circuits and enhance memory
Researchers develop molecular tool called SynTrogo, which enables selective dismantling of synaptic connections in brain circuits. By harnessing astrocytes, the system reduces synapse number while strengthening remaining connections, leading to enhanced long-term potentiation and improved memory.
Loneliness affects memory in older adults but does not accelerate brain decline, major international longitudinal study suggests
A major European study found that loneliness affects the memory of older adults, but does not speed up mental decline over time. Participants who reported high levels of loneliness performed worse on initial memory tests, but their ability to recall information declined at a similar rate as those with lower loneliness levels.
Scientists reverse brain aging, with a nasal spray
Researchers developed a nasal spray that reversibly reduces brain inflammation, restores cellular power plants, and improves memory. The treatment bypasses the brain's protective shield through intranasal delivery, suppressing chronic inflammation and promoting successful brain aging.
New study identifies a key brain circuit for spatial memory in mice
Researchers discovered a crucial connection between the two hippocampal hemispheres in mice, which is necessary for navigation and remembering locations. The study also found that this circuit is altered in mice carrying a genetic mutation associated with schizophrenia.
Competitive interactions are key to explaining the dynamics of the human brain
Researchers analyzed brain interactions to explain attention, decision-making, and memory. Models with competitive interactions outperform cooperative ones, enabling flexible activation of regions and intelligent behavior. This breakthrough brings us closer to creating realistic digital twins of the human brain for personalized medicine.
A complete rethinking of how our brains use categories to make sense of the world
A new review paper proposes that brain categorization is part of a predictive process to efficiently meet needs, rather than an intellectual exercise comparing sensory inputs to a fixed prototype. This approach predicts the world and anticipates actions, allowing for efficient survival and thriving in a fast-paced environment.
Underwater architects: How do shell-dwelling cichlids build the perfect nest?
Cichlids use a specific sequence of behaviors to build nests, involving digging, grasping, and sand-flicking. Practice and repeated exposure solidify these skills, even after long periods without access to shells.
Georgia State study: Alzheimer’s screening tools may work differently for women and men
A Georgia State University study found that Alzheimer's affects men's and women's brains differently, with women showing steeper and more widespread decline. The research suggests that brain compensation mechanisms may help maintain cognitive performance in women earlier in the disease.
Why some people mentally travel into the future more often than others
Research suggests that mental time travel activates the brain's reward system, reinforcing behavior and making it easier to plan for the future. However, excessive mental time travel can also lead to negative emotions and maladaptive behavior, such as catastrophizing projections.
People who can’t afford dental care may be at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease, dementia
A new study found that older people who forego necessary dental procedures due to financial barriers may experience heart failure, a heart attack, a stroke, or dementia. The researchers suggest that alleviating upstream factors such as financial constraints could prevent chronic disease.
Imagination is more than sensory replay
A Northwestern University study found that imagination is not just a copy of sensation, but emerges at later stages of processing when the brain represents information holistically. The researchers mapped brain activity during imagination and perception, finding overlap in higher-level association areas.
What sea slugs can teach us about learning strategies
A recent study using sea slugs identified a cellular mechanism that strengthens long-term memory when exposed to new information at the same time each day. This discovery could provide insights into the most effective learning strategies.
Women outperform men when confidence is measured in intelligence testing, study finds
A new study reveals that women excel in aligning confidence with correctness, particularly in fluid intelligence tests. The research challenges long-held assumptions about gender differences, suggesting that efforts should focus on encouraging greater self-awareness and calibrated confidence among men.
The brain’s ability to grasp the “gist” of a visual scene begins earlier than expected
A research team led by LEE Doyun and KIM Yee-Joon found that the primary visual cortex encodes motion summaries and variability before higher brain regions transform them into category signals. This process, known as ensemble perception, allows the brain to capture the overall structure of a scene at a glance.
Preparing a home cooked meal at least once a week may cut older people’s dementia risk by 30%
A study of 10,978 participants found that cooking at home at least once a week is associated with a lower risk of dementia. Novice cooks with few culinary skills saw a 70% reduction in risk, while skilled cooks still benefited from regular meal prep
Exploring preterm baby brain development
Researchers discovered that mild hypoxia shortly after birth hinders learning and memory into adulthood through altered neuron-to-neuron communication in the hippocampus. The study also found a second protein involved in hypoxia's effects on this channel's functioning, which was restored when targeted.
Effects of exercise and intensive vascular risk reduction on cognitive function in older adults
A multicenter randomized clinical trial found no significant differences in cognitive improvement between exercise, intensive pharmacological reduction of cardiovascular risk factors, or both in older adults. The study results challenge current recommendations on lifestyle modifications for dementia prevention.
Uncovering structural cue use in second-language sentence processing
A study led by Waseda University's Associate Professor Chie Nakamura investigated how listeners interpret structurally ambiguous sentences using eye-tracking technology. The researchers found that listeners actively build sentence structure in real-time, predicting how the sentence will continue before all information is available.
Meat consumption and cognitive health by APOE genotype
A new study published in JAMA Network Open suggests that high meat consumption is associated with better cognitive trajectories and lower dementia risk among individuals with the APOE 34/44 genotype. The finding contradicts previous expectations, highlighting potential clinical and public health relevance for this population.
Schizophrenia study finds new biomarker, drug candidate to treat cognitive symptoms
A new Northwestern University study has discovered a novel biomarker of schizophrenia that could also serve as a new drug candidate to treat the cognitive symptoms of the disorder. The study found that levels of the protein Cacna2d1 signal are reduced in patients with schizophrenia, resulting in overactive brain circuits.
Differences in brain activity between ADHD and neurotypical adults
Researchers found that adults with ADHD exhibit more sleep-like brain activity, leading to more lapses in attention. This increased activity may be a key brain mechanism underlying attention problems in ADHD. Further study is needed to explore potential strategies to mitigate this activity.
Storytelling may hold key to building memory
New research from the University of Mississippi suggests that storytelling is just as effective, and sometimes better, than survival processing in improving memory. By creating a narrative with unrelated nouns, participants were able to remember more than those who used survival processing or pleasantness processing.
How stress disrupts the brain’s navigational system
Researchers found that cortisol significantly worsens orientation in individuals, particularly in environments without landmarks. The brain's internal GPS system, grid cells, lose function under stress, leading to impaired navigation.
People's opinions can shape how negative experiences feel
A new study from Dartmouth College finds that social information can significantly impact how people experience negative events, including physical pain and mentally demanding tasks. When others describe an experience as painful, individuals tend to feel it that way, even when the actual experience is low in intensity.
The gut can drive age-associated memory loss
Researchers discovered that the aging gastrointestinal tract produces specific molecules that blunt the activity of a key gut-brain neuronal pathway, leading to age-related cognitive decline. Stimulating specific gut sensory neurons and targeting the vagus nerve can restore youthful cognitive function in old mice, suggesting that brain...
From genetics to AI: Integrated approaches to decoding human language in the brain
Cognitive neuroscientists are integrating genetics and AI to study language development and disorders. AI-based models can predict language development in children, while genetics research links rhythm disorders and dyslexia. The brain's wiring connecting language regions also reveals that language is a system, not a single 'thing'.
Blood test predicts dementia in women as many as 25 years before symptoms begin
A novel blood-based biomarker, p-tau217, can predict a woman's risk of developing dementia up to 25 years before symptoms appear. Higher levels of p-tau217 were strongly associated with future mild cognitive impairment and dementia among older, cognitively healthy women.
AI disclosure labels may do more harm than good
A new study published in JCOM found that AI disclosure labels may have the opposite effect of what regulators intend, decreasing the credibility of true scientific information while increasing that of false claims. The study tested 433 participants and found a counterintuitive pattern where the same label reduces credibility in opposit...
Smartphone use during school hours and association with cognitive control in youths ages 11 to 18
A cross-sectional study found that smartphone use during school hours is associated with reduced cognitive control in youths aged 11-18. The study highlights the need for school-level policies and digital literacy programs to address habitual smartphone-checking behaviors that fragment attention.
Chinese Neurosurgical Journal highlights gut–brain axis in pituitary tumor–related cognitive decline
Pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are associated with cognitive decline, which may be linked to hormonal dysregulation and gut microbiota alterations. Surgical intervention improves cognitive function, suggesting a potential endocrine mechanism underlying cognitive dysfunction and recovery.
Modeling brain aging and resilience over the lifespan reveals new individual factors
A new study models brain aging and resilience over the lifespan, uncovering individual factors that affect cognition and identifying potential biomarkers of healthy brain aging. Researchers are now incorporating diverse data, including social and lifestyle factors, to create a broader picture of the aging brain.
How viruses mess with our brains
A review of 900 scientific articles identified several biological markers associated with cognitive decline in viral infections, including activated monocytes and pro-inflammatory cytokines. Conversely, certain markers like anti-inflammatory cytokines are linked to better preservation of cognitive abilities.
How some skills become second nature
A team of MIT engineers identified tacit knowledge in volunteers who classified images, shifting focus to easier-to-classify areas without awareness. Bringing this concealed knowledge to the surface enhances experts' performance, suggesting a method for boosting learning experience in disciplines requiring keen observation skills.
Chimps’ love for crystals could help us understand our own ancestors’ fascination with these stones
Researchers investigated which characteristics of crystals made them fascinating to early humans, using experiments with chimpanzees. The chimps showed a strong attraction to transparent and crystalline properties, suggesting that this attraction may have deep evolutionary roots.
Low-dose lithium for mild cognitive impairment
Researchers investigated low-dose lithium as a potential treatment for mild cognitive impairment in a pilot clinical trial. The study found that none of the primary outcomes met the significance threshold, but effect size estimates suggest potential benefits for future trials.
Cognitive and neuropsychiatric function in former American football players
A cross-sectional study of former American football players found prior participation to be associated with worse later-life cognitive and neuropsychiatric function. The findings support a dose-response association with years and level of play, providing context for clinicians and researchers assessing symptom risk among former players.
Lymphovenous bypass: Potential surgical treatment for Alzheimer's disease?
A minimally invasive surgical procedure called lymphovenous anastomosis (LVA) is being explored as a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease. By improving brain lymphatic flow, LVA may help reduce clearance of neurotoxins and alleviate symptoms.
Frequently distracted? Science says, blame it on your brain rhythms
A new study reveals that brain rhythms shift attention multiple times per second, affecting focus and increasing susceptibility to distractions. This rhythmic occurrence may help us avoid overfocus on one thing, but also make us more prone to digital alerts and visual stimuli.
Stimulating mitochondria to boost long-term memory
Researchers found that inhibiting LETM1, a protein regulating mitochondrial calcium, can significantly improve performance in tasks requiring long-term memory. This approach enhances metabolic stimulation and leads to overproduction of ATP, prolonging energy production beyond normal brain activity.
The brain’s primitive ‘fear center’ is actually a sophisticated mediator
A Dartmouth study challenges the conventional view of the amygdala as a primitive 'fear center' by revealing its role in mediating between competing learning strategies. The research suggests that the amygdala favors action-based learning, promoting exploration and flexibility to overcome fear.
Dietary patterns and indicators of cognitive function
A study published in JAMA Neurology found that adhering to healthy dietary patterns, such as the DASH diet, is associated with lower subjective cognitive decline and better cognitive function. The findings highlight the importance of a balanced diet for maintaining long-term brain health.
Skills from being a birder may change—and benefit—your brain
Research shows that expert birders have more compact attention- and perception-related brain areas, linked to accurate bird identification. These structural changes persist in older birders and may benefit cognition as people age.
Emotional memory region of aged brain is sensitive to processed foods
A new study suggests that a lack of fiber in the diet may impair emotional memory in older adults, linked to cognitive problems and inflammation. The amygdala, responsible for processing fearful experiences, is sensitive to highly processed diets, regardless of fat or sugar content.
Prenatal lead exposure related to worse cognitive function in adults
A study published in Neurology found an association between prenatal lead exposure and lower performance on tests of thinking and memory skills in female participants, even decades later. The study analyzed baby teeth for lead levels and tested cognitive function, revealing a strong link between lead exposure and cognitive decline.
Eyes affect our perception of a humanoid robot’s mind
Researchers at Tampere University found that humanoid robots perceived as having eyes exhibit greater agency and experience, evoking emotional responses and increasing empathy. This suggests that the presence of eyes shapes human perception of a robot's mind, with implications for design and ethics.
Exploring the link between hearing loss and cognitive decline
Research finds a specific link between hearing loss and cognitive decline in presbycusis, a neurodegenerative disorder. The Functional-Structural Ratio (FSR) identifies reduced connections between brain areas involved in sound processing and memory, associated with worse hearing thresholds and poorer performance on memory and executive...