Articles tagged with Cognition
A study from the University of Victoria suggests that humans can smell testosterone and associate it with dominance. The research found that participants rated men with higher testosterone levels as more dominant than those with lower levels, indicating a link between body odour and perceptions of social status.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have shown that bumblebees can be trained to differentiate between long and short light flashes, which was previously observed only in humans and other vertebrates. This ability allows the bees to decide where to forage for food based on visual cues.
A Baycrest study found that subtle features of speech timing, such as pauses and fillers, are linked to executive function and predict cognitive decline. The research uses artificial intelligence to analyze natural speech patterns for early detection of dementia.
A new study found that faster biological aging measured by DNA-based epigenetic clocks is associated with greater cognitive decline and higher risk of mild cognitive impairment in Hispanic/Latino adults. The study highlights the potential of epigenetic clocks to track changes in brain health over time.
Researchers found that zebra finches categorize calls into about a dozen call-types, similar to how humans hear and group them. The birds' ability to distinguish between calls with similar meaning suggests they have a mental representation of the meaning behind these vocalizations.
A study found that rats' impulsive behavior and risky decision-making are shaped differently in males and females based on the timing of neural stimulation. The results highlight the importance of considering biological sex when developing treatments for disorders related to impulsivity and addiction.
Researchers found that a rotating brain wave helps the cortex recover its computational path after a distraction, improving performance in visual working memory tasks. Longer time intervals between distractions also aid recovery.
A new study published in Science provides evidence that chimpanzees can change their minds based on the strength of available evidence, a key feature of rational thought. Researchers found that chimps frequently switched their choices in response to stronger clues, aligning with rational strategies of belief revision.
Researchers warn that advances in AI and neurotechnology are outpacing our understanding of consciousness, with potential serious ethical consequences. A better understanding of consciousness could have major implications for AI, prenatal policy, animal welfare, medicine, mental health, law, and emerging neurotechnologies.
Researchers Prof Axel Cleeremans, Prof Anil Seth, and Prof Liad Mudrik warn that advances in AI and neurotechnology are outpacing our understanding of consciousness. They emphasize the need for theory-driven research and innovative methods to advance consciousness science.
A new study has compiled records of brain activity during sleep and dream reports, revealing that dreams occur not only during REM sleep but also during deeper and calmer NREM stages. In these cases, brain activity resembles wakefulness more than deep sleep.
The team aims to build an anonymized database representative of the whole population by collecting two vivid memories from participants. The findings will inform new ways to help people remember in more detail and understand human memories across the lifespan.
Researchers found that voluntary running exercise mitigates cafeteria diet-induced behavioral changes via hormonal and microbial pathways. The study revealed specific metabolites, such as anserine and indole-3-carboxylate, were decreased by the cafeteria diet but partially restored by exercise.
Psychedelic substances profoundly alter our perception of time, inducing temporal distortions that offer unprecedented insights into consciousness. By suppressing the default mode network and modulating multiple brain regions, psychedelics provide unique windows into brain function and mental health treatment.
A significant genetic correlation has been identified between childhood cognitive function and parental longevity, providing molecular evidence for the connection. The study found that shared genetic factors influence both early cognitive abilities and lifespan, with a genetic correlation of 0.35.
A new study published in JNeurosci used fMRI to investigate how the brain acquires semantic information. The results suggest that the quality of activity in distinct brain regions can predict whether people successfully acquire knowledge about places and characters in fictional civilizations.
A new study found that storytelling strategies with conceptual or perceptual details activate distinct brain networks, predicting how well participants recall core elements of the story. This suggests that people's preferred memory systems may vary across age groups, and tailored information could improve memory for older adults.
A new MIT study found that a theta-frequency brain wave scans the mental image and a region of the cortex maps visual information. The researchers observed that performance depends on the phase of this wave when the changed square appears, and the vertical location on the screen of that target square.
Researchers found that brain mechanisms for spatial attention differ when processing mental images from memory versus visuals on a screen. When recalling imagery, frontal areas are more active, suggesting distinct mechanisms for spatial attention in mental imaging.
A new study reveals that astrocytes, a type of glial cell, are responsible for stabilizing memories through repeated engagement. The researchers found that Fos activity in astrocytes only occurs during recall, and that these cells can be activated to produce stable memories.
Research synthesizes current evidence on psychedelic therapy's potential to fundamentally alter treatment paradigms for depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Chronic stress contributes significantly to psychiatric illness worldwide, leaving traditional treatments with residual symptoms or side effects.
A study published in JAMA found that both low and high increases in social media use during early adolescence are negatively associated with cognitive function. Specifically, adolescents with higher or lower social media use tend to perform poorly in certain aspects of cognition.
Terrence Sejnowski, a renowned neuroscientist at Salk Institute, has been awarded the 2025 NIH Director's Pioneer Award to develop advanced computational techniques for analyzing working memory. His research aims to better understand and treat memory disorders in mental health conditions.
A cohort study found that early extracranial surgery was associated with adverse outcomes in function, cognition, and disability after moderate-severe traumatic brain injury. The study suggests that further research is needed to determine if surgical timing or other interventions can improve long-term deficits.
Researchers discovered that adults can better access their early memories after embodying a childlike version of their own face. Participants who viewed their childlike faces recalled significantly more episodic childhood memories than those who saw their adult faces.
This study found that aged rats living in socially enriched environments retained better memory and cognitive flexibility than those housed alone. Socially housed rats showed increased activity in the hippocampus and reduced overactivity in the anterior cingulate cortex, suggesting a more balanced and efficient neural response.
A study published in PLOS Biology finds no evidence of subcortical processing for selective attention, suggesting the auditory cortex 'turns up the volume' on focused sound. Researchers used novel experimental techniques to test this hypothesis using audiobooks and diotic and dichotic listening tasks.
The project will develop prediction algorithms using AI and a novel cognitive assessment tool to identify individuals at high risk for crisis. The digital platform, available at no cost, will provide personalized models to predict clinical health outcomes, including symptom escalation, recovery time, and rehospitalization.
The study found that AI scribes significantly reduced burnout, cognitive task load, and time spent documenting, allowing more time for meaningful work and professional well-being. The findings suggest that AI can help alleviate administrative burdens and improve patient access to care.
Researchers found that sentences with unique meanings are more likely to be remembered accurately due to their distinctiveness in the brain's memory space. Sentences with similar meanings can become densely packed, making it harder to recognize them confidently later on.
Florida Atlantic University has joined the Neuroarts Academic Network, a global initiative exploring how creative expression can improve brain health and transform care. The partnership aims to harness the power of aesthetic experiences to enhance brain function and support emotional well-being.
A new study by Florida Atlantic University researchers found that heat does not significantly affect the cognitive ability of sea turtle hatchlings. However, higher incubation temperatures negatively impact their physical traits, including shorter incubation durations, lower hatching success, and more frequent scute anomalies. The stud...
A study of individuals with autism, fetal alcohol syndrome, and typical hearing found that cognitive ability significantly impacted successful speech perception in noisy environments. The researchers discovered a highly significant relationship between intellectual ability and multitalker listening challenge scores.
Researchers found that recalling positive autobiographical memories before a performance enhances valence and arousal, leading to improved performance. This is attributed to increased sympathetic nervous system activity, which regulates involuntary bodily functions.
A growing number of U.S. adults are reporting serious challenges with memory, concentration, and decision-making, especially among younger adults, according to the study. Researchers found that rates of cognitive disability rose from 5.3% in 2013 to 7.4% in 2023, with the largest increase among adults under 40.
Research found that cumulative exposure to factors like low education, childhood trauma, and financial stress negatively impacts brain structure and function. This has long-lasting effects on mental and brain health, even in healthy aging and dementia prevention.
Researchers used neuroimaging to study how people evaluate honesty in friend and stranger interactions. Participants believed lies more frequently when they promised potential gains, linked to brain regions involved with risk evaluation and reward. Shared brain activity between friendly pairs can even predict deception success.
A prospective study of the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development cohort found that modifiable parental factors, such as screen use and emotional regulation, are associated with specific adolescent sleep outcomes. Parental warmth is also linked to sleep chronotype, highlighting potential targets for evidence-based interventions.
A 12-week high-intensity interval training intervention did not improve hippocampal integrity or cognitive/mental health impairments, but reduced cannabis craving. Regular physical exercise may be a potential strategy for managing cannabis use disorder.
A new study reveals that brain lateralization is essential for the emergence of left-to-right spatial-numerical associations in newborn chicks. Strongly lateralized chicks showed a clear preference for selecting food from the left, while weakly lateralized chicks had no consistent directional preference.
Researchers found that male mice become aggressive after witnessing familiar peers attack intruders, not strangers. The study suggests that familiarity with attackers may be a risk factor for violent behavior in males.
Two researchers, Dr Anggi Hapsari and Dr Oliver Barnstedt, have been awarded ERC Starting Grants for their projects on the impact of sea level rise on coastal ecosystems and the neural mechanisms of memory formation in the mammillary body. The grants will fund five-year research projects exploring these topics.
Researchers developed a new tool to measure language learning strategies of Japanese university STEM students. The Strategy Inventory for Language Learning-STEM (SILL-JP/STEM) assesses six categories of learning strategies, revealing insights into students' behaviors, including underutilized affective strategies.
A new diagnostic system has been developed to identify ADHD-like symptoms in family dogs. The system combines owner-rated questionnaires with a short behavioral test to assess inattention, excessive activity, and impulsivity levels.
The study found that humans and AI systems interact with flexible and incremental learning modes similarly to working memory and long-term memory in humans. Quicker, flexible in-context learning emerges after a certain amount of incremental learning has taken place, similar to human learning.
A study by Waseda University researchers found that cultural cognitive biases impact the explicit aspects of visuomotor adaptations, influencing motor learning outcomes. The findings suggest that verbal reports used in rehabilitation and sports training may be misinterpreted due to cultural prejudices.
A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that toddlers in the US experienced slightly fewer emotional and behavioral problems during the COVID-19 pandemic. The research, which analyzed data from over 3,000 children, suggests that some toddlers may have shown resilience during this time.
A new brainwave test developed at the University of Bath has been shown to detect signs of memory impairment linked to Alzheimer's disease years before clinical diagnosis. The Fastball EEG technology, a three-minute passive test, can reliably identify memory problems in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment.
A new study reveals that Alzheimer's progression is characterized by a breakdown of epigenomic stability, leading to compromised compartmentalization and the loss of gene regulation. The research provides insights into the molecular mechanisms driving disease progression and resilience, shedding light on potential new treatments.
Researchers Marie Teich and Wilmer Leal develop a formal framework to analyze metaphors, confirming they are enduring linguistic and cognitive structures. The study reveals two significant metaphorical processes: mappings from concrete to abstract topics and the emergence of new mappings between domains.
Researchers found that faster biological aging is associated with lower scores on digital cognitive tests, particularly among older adults. DNA methylation patterns were used to estimate biological age acceleration, and protein markers PAI1 and ADM showed strong associations with lower cognitive scores.
Aging populations exhibit a positivity bias in recognizing emotions, associated with observable changes in brain linked to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. The study correlates age-related positivity bias with poorer cognitive performance but not necessarily emotional decline.
A series of hide-and-seek experiments with a bonobo named Kanzi shows that apes can mentally keep track of multiple familiar humans at once. Kanzi could recognize caregivers from their voices alone, an ability never before tested on bonobos.
Aging is harsh on the hippocampus, a region responsible for learning and memory. Researchers at UCSF identified protein FTL1, which slows cognitive decline in mice by increasing metabolism. Treating with a compound that stimulates metabolism prevents these effects. The study offers hope for therapies to block FTL1's impact.
Researchers identified measurable changes minutes before breakthroughs in expert mathematicians, offering a new window into the mechanics of human creativity. The study's method could help scientists predict creative insights and understand micro-dynamics.
A study published in Perception found that people consistently overestimate the steepness of a hill when viewed at an angle, regardless of their eye height. The researchers tested participants' ability to estimate the slope of a wooden ramp while seated, standing on a step ladder, or lying down.
A study found that reward expectation modulates attention in humans, with distinct effects on sensory processing and decision-making. Sensitivity to visual stimuli was linked to sensory attention centers, while decision-making biases were linked to brain regions involved in impulsive decisions.
Research suggests that sleeping on a difficult task can improve performance by strengthening and consolidating memories in the brain. A new study found that rhythmic brain activity during sleep in areas active during training correlates with improved task performance after waking.
A new study reveals that the brain has distinct regions for processing 'things', such as rigid objects, versus 'stuff', like liquids or sand. These findings may help the brain plan interactions with different materials, similar to artificial physics engines used in video games.
A new research paper found that epigenetic aging is linked to cognitive decline in midlife, with twins experiencing a larger drop in IQ scores if they had grown up in families with lower socioeconomic status. This study provides new evidence for the impact of childhood adversity on brain aging.