Articles tagged with Cognition
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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...
A recent study questions AI model Centaur's ability to simulate human cognition, suggesting it relies on statistical patterns rather than genuine understanding.
Scientists have identified specific patterns of brain chemical activity in honey bees that predict how quickly individual bees learn new associations. The findings may help explain why humans learn at different speeds and provide implications for understanding brain disorders.
A cohort study found that historically Black college or university attendance was associated with improved cognitive function compared to predominantly white institution attendance. The association held true for those attending college before and after legal racial segregation and discrimination in education.
A new study found that nearly one in five adults with tinnitus have had to reduce their working hours or leave employment due to the condition. The research also revealed that targeted interventions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, can improve work productivity and overall wellbeing.
A study published in JAMA found that higher consumption of caffeinated coffee and tea is associated with a reduced risk of dementia. Moderate intake levels showed the most pronounced association, with better cognitive function also observed.
Researchers at the University of Rochester found that the brain analyzes global patterns of image motion caused by eye movements to understand how objects move and where they are located in 3D space. This discovery challenges conventional ideas that image motion produced by eye movements is visual noise to be subtracted off.
A new study by University of Toronto researchers found that day-to-day fluctuations in mental sharpness predict success or struggle. Mental sharpness is linked to productivity, goal-setting, and mood, with sharper days leading to more challenging goals and lower-sharpness days stalling on routine tasks.
Researchers discovered that while older rats were as social as younger ones, a subpopulation preferred familiar peers. Altering neural communication reversed this preference, enhancing approach towards new peers. This suggests a distinct neural system underlying aging-related social behavior.
A new study led by Dr. Chu Chen suggests that combining THC with celecoxib may improve cognition and reduce Alzheimer's-related brain pathology in mice. The combination produced better outcomes than low-dose THC alone, including improved learning and memory performance and reduced markers of neuroinflammation.
A new study found that prenatal exposure to air pollution is associated with lower cognitive performance in newborns, with stronger associations observed for black carbon and PM2.5. The strongest effects were seen in boys, suggesting potential sex-specific vulnerability.
A new scientific review summarizes 12 human clinical trials on the cardiometabolic effects of wild blueberries, finding improvements in blood vessel function and beneficial changes to the gut microbiome. Regular consumption of one cup per day may support overall health benefits.
Caring for grandchildren may help prevent cognitive decline in older adults, according to a recent study published by the American Psychological Association. Grandparents who provided childcare scored higher on tests of memory and verbal fluency compared to those who didn't.
Researchers observed episodic memory in rats, suggesting they can model complex cognitive processes. The study shows rats can recall memories with accuracy and context, even after a long delay, implying evolutionarily ancient forms of memory.
BrainHealth Week 2026 will explore precision brain health, biosensor technology, and mental resilience, offering actionable strategies for improving daily performance and quality of life. The event brings together industry leaders, scientific community, students, and the community at large to discuss practical roadmap for longevity.
A new study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that many hospital screening policies for late-career physicians lack basic fairness protections. The authors recommend creating policies that balance patient safety with fair treatment of physicians, including clear standards and appeal processes.
Research reveals structural brain changes in older adults affect ability to shift between tasks and update environmental information. These changes may lead to deficits in behavioral adaptability, emphasizing the importance of identifying age-related brain structure changes.
An 18-week study found that maintaining grip strength and chair-rise performance alongside weight loss was possible without a prescribed strength-training program, alongside improvements in biomarkers linked to metabolic and cognitive aging. A plant-forward diet featuring fresh lean pork supported healthy-aging markers in older adults.
A new study by University College London researchers found that women and people with anxiety are prone to two distinct types of underconfidence. Women initially show underconfidence but confidence grows as time elapses, while those with anxiety become less confident with more reflection.
A landmark study finds that structural brain changes tied to memory decline are nonlinear, stronger in older adults, and not solely driven by known Alzheimer's-associated genes. The study suggests that cognitive decline reflects a broad biological vulnerability in brain structure that accumulates over decades.
A study found that older adults are prescribed potentially inappropriate central nervous system-active medications despite guidelines. Patients with cognitive impairment were more likely to receive these medications than those with normal cognition. The study highlights the need for better medication management in older adults.
Researchers propose a roadmap for using transcranial focused ultrasound to study consciousness, enabling precise manipulation of brain activity and determining cause-and-effect patterns. This technology may help address the hard problem of consciousness by probing neural circuits that generate sensations, thoughts, and feelings.
A new approach to assessing patients with disorders of consciousness combines six assessment techniques, including high-density EEG and functional MRI. The study reveals that combining data from multiple techniques significantly improves model performance and provides a synthetic and precise assessment of patient outcomes.
A new study published in Science uncovers how the brain prepares and produces facial gestures through a temporally organized hierarchy of neural codes. The research found that multiple brain regions work in parallel, each contributing different timing-based codes to generate coherent facial gestures.
A Rice University psychologist is investigating how irrelevant visual information interferes with ability to stay on task. Her research aims to clarify how attention is captured, linger on distractions and recover. The study uses electroencephalography to measure brain activity in real-time.
Research highlights the moderating role of collective innovativeness in teacher collaboration, showing its significant impact on cognitively activating teaching practices. Schools with high innovativeness levels experience stronger positive effects from collaboration.
Researchers discovered that calcium alpha-ketoglutarate restores key memory-related brain functions disrupted in Alzheimer's disease. The molecule enhances synaptic plasticity, protects neurons from degenerative changes, and supports healthier cognitive ageing.
Mind blanking is characterized by decreased connectivity between neural networks, disrupted visual information processing, and reduced sensory input. The study's findings suggest that being awake does not necessarily mean being conscious of something, and mind blanking corresponds to a genuine interruption in the stream of thoughts.
Researchers tested Spatial Computing theory by examining neural activity and brain wave patterns in animals performing working memory and categorization tasks. The findings support the theory's predictions, including that alpha/beta waves represent task controls and rules, while spiking activity carries sensory information.
A new study published in Sleep Health found that the quality of a night's sleep, rather than its length, predicts how quickly older adults process information the next day. Researchers analyzed data from 261 participants aged 70 and above, who wore devices to track their sleep and completed cognitive assessments six times a day.
Researchers found that valacyclovir, an antiviral medication, was ineffective in treating early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease and may even worsen cognitive function. The study suggests that individuals with early symptomatic Alzheimer's disease and herpes simplex virus seropositivity should not be treated with valacyclovir.
A new study found that slower reaction time and lower response accuracy in cognitive tasks are associated with higher levels of frailty. The association can be detected in late midlife among individuals aged 57 to 70 years.
A research team at the University of Göttingen investigated how laughter can be regulated and found that social cues can strongly interfere with these efforts. The results showed that suppression and distraction were effective strategies to hold back laughter, while cognitive reappraisal could reduce how funny the jokes felt.
A new study found that brief, light-intensity exercise significantly improves inhibitory control and mood in children, with potential to enhance learning efficiency. The research, conducted at Waseda University, also revealed that even short periods of physical activity can have a lasting impact on cognitive function.
A randomized clinical trial found digital cognitive behavioral therapy to be significantly beneficial for adults with generalized anxiety disorder. The treatment provided sustained benefits and has the potential for public health impact due to its accessibility.
Researchers at Cornell University used optogenetics to boost large sharp-wave ripples in the brains of mice, improving their ability to remember new experiences. The technique showed promise in extending memory consolidation even in mice engineered to have cognitive deficits.
Children who spend a significant amount of time on social media platforms experience a gradual decline in their ability to concentrate. The study found no association between TV watching or video game playing and attention symptoms.
A new study published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease has shown that dance can be beneficial in halting cognitive decline associated with Parkinson's disease. The study found significant improvements in cognitive scores for participants who engaged in dance classes, compared to those who did not participate.
A study from the University of East Anglia explores how our brains remember past events and how those memories can change over time. Memories are made up of different parts and can become less accurate or include new information as they are retrieved.
Researchers found that recalling memories is facilitated when breathing cues are presented during inhalation, with actual memory retrieval happening during exhalation. The study suggests that respiration acts as a natural pacemaker for memory processes, highlighting the close interaction between the brain and body.
Researchers found that words with phonetically pleasing sound patterns are more memorable due to their aesthetic appeal. The study was supported by a grant from the Austrian Academy of Sciences and the Austrian Science Fund.
A new study reveals limited data on cognition in individuals with comorbid personality disorder and schizophrenia, leading to unfavourable outcomes. The researchers emphasize the need for further investigation into adapting treatments to support functional recovery.
A study published in Neurology found that using GPS driving data can predict cognitive decline in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Participants who developed cognitive issues had greater reductions in driving frequency and variety over time.
A study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia found that long-term pharmacological treatment improves memory alterations and inflammation in mice models for Down syndrome. The treatment targets the CB1 receptor, which is involved in neuronal connections and memory, and shows positive results even when age-related neurodegeneration is added.
Researchers found that dogs with stronger ADHD-like traits were slower to learn new information, but improved with repetition and sufficient sleep. The studies also revealed a link between ADHD-like traits and self-control in dogs, suggesting that cognitive training and sleep can mitigate these impairments.
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University have discovered a potential new treatment for Alzheimer's disease by targeting muscle protein Cathepsin B. The study found that increasing Ctsb in muscle tissue may offer protection against the effects of AD and promote brain cell growth, restoring protein balance and rebalancing brain activity.
A team of New York University researchers has identified the orbitofrontal cortex as an 'inference engine' that allows animals to update their understanding of their surroundings based on changing circumstances. The study found that trained rats waited longer for water rewards in low states and less time in reward-rich states, indicati...