A study found that humans perceive robots approaching from behind as moving faster, regardless of physical speed. This bias affects robot motion design, with bias-corrected models initiating avoidance earlier and maintaining greater distances from pedestrians. The study's findings have implications for safer and more comfortable human-...
Researchers at the Institute for Neurosciences CSIC-UMH identified a mechanism to balance memory flexibility and stability by regulating inhibitory interneuron activity in the hippocampus. Lower inhibitory activity increased sensitivity to changes, while higher activity maintained consistent representations.
A 12-month exercise intervention improved attention and memory in breast cancer survivors, while a companion study found exercise slowed epigenetic aging. These findings suggest exercise may help buffer against cognitive effects associated with accelerated epigenetic aging.
A study by Penn State researchers found that people who aged faster during midlife were more likely to experience memory lapses a decade later. The study, which analyzed data from 232 individuals, found that those who were aging rapidly were 18% more likely to experience a prospective memory lapse on any given day.
Researchers found that pupils constricted in response to higher glossiness ratings, but dilated in response to higher attractiveness ratings, highlighting the influence of evaluative tasks on pupillary responses. The study contributes to our understanding of the complex relationships between visual perception, attention, and emotion.
The Michigan ADRC will support studies on basic science, clinical trials, caregiver interventions, and longitudinal research to advance Alzheimer's disease prevention, treatment, and care. The center aims to fast-track clinical trials and improve the health and well-being of caregivers.
A new study reveals that young adults recall memorable health messages from strangers and influencers on social media, often for extended periods. These online health messages can be both empowering and problematic, promoting universal health prescriptions and autonomy in health.
A new study by UC Riverside scientists has identified MAPK14, a brain protein, as the driving force behind neuroHIV damage, which causes dementia, neuropathy, and memory problems. By targeting this protein, researchers hope to develop a treatment for neuroHIV, a condition affecting millions worldwide.
A new Curtin University-led resource, Brain Health WA, aims to help people protect their brain health and reduce their risk of dementia. The resource, developed with over 100 Western Australians, provides practical advice, everyday actions, and connections to support services.
Children with developmental dyscalculia were less efficient at using math problem-solving strategies, taking longer to switch between them and not improving over time. The study also found altered brain activity that could predict math performance and suggest that persistent childhood struggles may lead to the onset of dyscalculia.
Research challenges traditional views of cognitive decline in aging, highlighting the brain's natural shift towards prioritizing wisdom and understanding over details. This adaptation enables older adults to effectively share accumulated knowledge and social relationships with younger generations.
Researchers evaluate 20 years of beat perception research, concluding that the foundations of this capacity are present at birth and refined by experience and culture. Newborns and primates show sensitivity to periodic structure and beat-based prediction, but human capacity is distinct.
A new UCLA study has found a connection between brain aging and gut biology, suggesting that people's brains may be aging decades before symptoms appear. The study, published in eBioMedicine, analyzed brain scans and stool samples to identify a link between brain communication patterns, gut bacteria, and brain aging.
The brain convenes ensembles of neurons to distinctly represent and sort options during decision-making, ensuring clarity and preventing interference. After making a decision, new ensembles provide new representations for chosen and unchosen options.
A community-adapted brain health program in Kikuyo Town, Japan, has achieved significant improvements in attention scores and dietary balance among older adults. The 24-week program, combining aerobic exercise, cognitive exercises, and lifestyle guidance, resulted in high attendance rates and positive feedback.
A new study used neural networks to reveal how different kinds of training can change how learning happens. Training a simpler task first made neural networks respond more accurately to complex tasks, mirroring how living brains learn.
Researchers found that musicians can predict what happens next in movement sequences faster than non-musicians. Visual distractions can disrupt new motor memories, affecting practice sessions and skill learning, the study suggests. The findings have implications for rehabilitation, sports training, and music education.
Higher TMAO concentrations were associated with older age, cardiometabolic risk factors, and brain atrophy, but not cognitive performance. The study suggests TMAO may be a marker of systemic aging processes rather than a direct mediator of neurodegeneration.
Researchers at Binghamton University found that memory shifts as we age, with declines in accuracy from the 20- to 30-year-old age group to people in their 50s. Hippocampal processes start to decline by midlife, making middle age a transition point for memory formation.
A non-invasive eye-tracking study reveals that gibbons gaze into the eyes when looking at others, a behavior shared with humans, great apes, and macaques. The study provides new insights into the evolutionary foundations of face perception and social information processing in primates.
A new study from MIT researchers found that language skills remain stable in older adults, with nearly identical brain activity to young adults, while other cognitive functions decline. The study suggests that parts of the brain specialized for specific functions, such as language processing, may be more resilient to aging.
A meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials found that mindfulness-based cognitive therapy is associated with worsening symptoms of depression. The study examined individual participant data from over 13,000 participants, providing evidence for the potential negative effects of this therapy on depression.
A new theory suggests that the brain's ability to generate quick, nimble volitional thought arises from analog computations carried out by electrical waves. The brain's neural networks coordinate with analog computations to process information efficiently and locally, a feature of the brain's own physics.
A new study reveals how memories change with age, with older adults struggling to recall specific details and general knowledge becoming more prominent. The research highlights the importance of understanding how memory evolves over a lifetime, shedding light on how to support healthy cognitive ageing.
Researchers found that healthier superficial white matter is associated with stronger language skills, and that gray matter atrophy measures remain the strongest predictors of cognition. However, the relationship between gray matter and cognitive performance depends on superficial white matter health.
A new study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that higher fluoride levels in public drinking water during pregnancy may be associated with lower fluid cognition scores in children. The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health, looked at the relationship between prenatal water fluoride exposure and chi...
A new NIH-funded study found associations between higher fluoride levels in public drinking water during pregnancy and lower child cognition scores, particularly in fluid reasoning. The study, which included 2,514 children, suggests that higher fluoride levels may impact cognitive development.
Researchers at Binghamton University found that taking screenshots can degrade memory of information, contrary to the assumption that photos aid recall. They suggest attentional disengagement and cognitive offloading as possible mechanisms behind digital amnesia.
Neuroscientists have identified flexible modules in the prefrontal cortex that can be reused to perform various tasks. The discovery supports the theory of compositionality, where cognitive building blocks can be flexibly combined to generate new behaviors.
A large study found a significant association between severe mental illness and dementia at every age, with adults aged 30-39 showing a 20-fold increased risk of dementia. The study also found a higher risk of stroke in early and middle adulthood, particularly in those with severe mental illness.
Researchers challenge traditional assumptions on synaptic potentiation and instead identify clustered patterns of connections as crucial for retaining long-term memories. Through artificial hibernation techniques, they discovered that small clusters of engram-engram synapses are preserved to enable accurate recall.
Surgical residents describe experiencing identity-related vigilance as a significant emotional and cognitive burden, contributing to fatigue and burnout. They identify opportunities on the programmatic level to mitigate negative consequences, highlighting the need for support.
A recent Finnish study found that more screen time since childhood is associated with better cognitive processing in adolescence. The researchers recommend encouraging active thinking and problem-solving through screen use. The study also highlights the importance of balancing physical activity and sedentary time to promote brain health.
A new ACC Scientific Statement highlights the importance of considering cognitive impairment and frailty in cardiovascular care for older adults. The statement outlines practical strategies for prevention, screening, assessment, and management, aiming to improve outcomes such as independence, mobility, and caregiver burden.
An international study of 974 participants aged 50-94 found a strong correlation between ageist attitudes and self-reported memory failures. The results indicate that individuals with more restrictive views on older adult behavior experienced greater memory problems, regardless of their country of origin.
Researchers are developing a smartphone-based platform that combines driving data, personalized coaching and parent engagement strategies to improve driving safety for teens with ADHD. The platform will use telematics to monitor driving behaviors while allowing parents and teens to set shared goals and track progress.
The LifeAfter90 study found that women 90 and older are at two-fold greater risk for dementia, while Black participants have a 75% greater risk than Asian participants. APOE2's protective effects continue past age 90, reducing risk by 60%, but APOE4 increases the risk among men and Black participants.
The study reveals that the amount of available resources determines whether an organism relies on its memory or makes decisions based on current sensory input. Memory becomes most useful when sensory information is moderately uncertain, providing a significant improvement in performance.
Researchers at UCLA found a statistically significant relationship between cellphone ownership and lower reading scores in third and sixth graders. Children who owned cellphones had poorer comprehension regardless of whether they brought the phone to school or not.
Research explores whether eyes being open or closed affects brain activity related to mind wandering and arousal. Brain activity associated with arousal has opposite effects on mind wandering depending on eye state, suggesting a context-dependent relationship.
A team of researchers at Kyoto University found that traveling waves in rat brains are linked to information transfer in consciousness, but the amount of transfer entropy is higher during anesthesia than wakefulness. The study suggests that the awake brain selectively regulates information for reliable communication.
A new review article synthesizes information on neural traveling waves, concluding they are a computational engine in the visual cortex. These waves allow the brain to build internal representations of the external world, enabling prediction and perception.
Researchers discovered that brain regions switch between shared and independent timing, allowing for flexibility in coordination. This finding provides a new framework for understanding how brain regions communicate and enables the development of brain-inspired artificial intelligence and robotic control systems.
A new review proposes a roadmap for developing cognitive brain-computer interfaces to treat cognitive disorders, integrating BCI research and clinical neuromodulation. The emerging field aims to detect dysfunctional brain states and respond with adaptive neurostimulation.
Researchers used PET imaging to find significantly lower muscarinic acetylcholine M1 receptor availability in schizophrenia patients compared to healthy individuals. This study provides the first in vivo evidence of widespread M1 receptor deficits in schizophrenia, supporting the development of muscarinic-based therapies.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have found a way to intervene early in traumatic brain injuries using a natural, gut-derived chemical that prevents post-traumatic epilepsy from taking root. The treatment reduced brain inflammation, improved memory and mood, protected brain cells, made seizures both rarer and harder to trigger.
The University of Cincinnati launches the Center for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases Research (CANDR) to improve dementia prevention and treatment outcomes. CANDR aligns with UC's mission to innovate and engage locally while addressing one of the region's most pressing public health challenges.
A new study from Ohio State University found that using screens to calm children has different effects on cognitive development depending on the child. The research suggests that parents need more resources, including access to outdoor spaces and mindfulness tools, to help their children regulate their emotions and develop healthy rela...
Researchers found that smelling dark chocolate odors increased training volume and suppressed hunger, while milk chocolate had no effect. The study suggests that food scents can trigger changes in body and mind similar to actual consumption.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science found that revealing visual elements sequentially and matching each element with the speaker's narration improves attention and learning. Participants in a cumulative presentation format showed higher test scores compared to whole-slide presentations.
A cohort study of nearly 20,000 NFL players revealed that players are dying of dementia and Parkinson’s disease at much higher rates than the general population. The study found a fourfold increase in neurodegenerative mortality among NFL players compared to the general population.
A new study finds that human cortical neurons have remarkable computational capabilities, surpassing those of other mammals. The researchers developed a new method to measure the complexity of individual neurons, revealing their sophisticated computing power.
Researchers warn that AI faces are becoming increasingly trustworthy, with the latest diffusion model outperforming earlier models. This poses significant risks of online fraud and erosion of trust in society, as people become more susceptible to fake faces used for nefarious purposes.
Researchers discovered astrocytes actively preserve long-term memories by regulating Ank2 and BDNF signaling. This finding expands the understanding of how memories are stored in the brain.
Researchers found minor cardiac dysfunction can predict microscopic tissue degradation in brain regions associated with Alzheimer's disease, leading to poor long-term memory performance.
Researchers found that more ambiguous material situations require active exploration of objects using head movements and hand manipulations. Individual differences in these behaviors were linked to improved material discrimination accuracy.
Researchers used LLMs to analyze verbal reports of decision-making processes and found that people's own insights are a valuable source of data. The framework also showed that reasons people rely on shift systematically with the structure of the decision problem.
A cross-cultural study found that people across six countries divide mental capacities into two broad groups: Perceptual-Experiential (emerging early) and Reflective-Evaluative (emerging later). This structure suggests a shared, intuitive framework for understanding mental development.
Researchers discovered that the brain uses both sharpening and refining strategies to process expected and unexpected events. Expected events lead to rapid responses but poor memory recall, while unexpected events receive sensory priority and are better remembered.
A longitudinal study found that higher screen viewing time during infancy and school-entry age was associated with poorer academic performance and weaker working memory. The study suggests that the timing of screen exposure may be as important as the amount of screen time itself.