Articles tagged with Cognition
A study of 8,000 participants found that negative wealth shock was associated with accelerated cognitive decline and elevated risks of dementia among middle-aged and older U.S. adults. The findings suggest a potential link between financial hardship and cognitive aging.
Researchers at NTU Singapore found that indoor air quality can affect creativity, with volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from products like detergents and perfumes affecting participants' ability to build 3D models. By reducing TVOC levels by 72%, creative potential can be improved by 12%.
A study evaluated sleep tracking performance of various wearable devices against a reference system, considering user needs. Non-EEG wearables showed superior performance for healthy individuals who want to monitor sleep habits.
A breakthrough study found that light exercise can improve cognitive health in adults with Down syndrome, leading to improved information processing and attention. After just eight weeks of walking, participants showed significant increases in physical fitness and reductions in errors during cognitive assessments.
A study from the University of Ottawa found that sleep deprivation significantly impacts decision-making processes, reducing neural responses to winning and losing outcomes. This can lead to diminished positive emotions in response to winning and negative emotions when faced with losses.
Researchers found that newborn babies can perceive a beat in music due to an innate cognitive mechanism active at birth. The study used EEG measurements and manipulated drum rhythms to distinguish between learning the order of sounds and recognizing a beat.
A review of 23 years of neuroimaging research finds that screen time affects the pre-frontal cortex and other brain regions involved in executive functions, memory, and processing. Digital experiences may shape children's brains and influence cognitive development, with both positive and negative impacts.
Pandemic-exposed preschool children demonstrated improved problem-solving skills, fine motor abilities, and vocabulary at 2-5 years old compared to non-exposed peers. They also showed enhanced cognitive performance in visual memory and overall cognitive abilities.
A new study on visual masking reveals the brain's role in perception and points to a region necessary for conscious awareness. The research shows that unconscious sensation can turn into conscious perception in the brain, with implications for understanding visual awareness.
A recent study published in Scandinavian Journal of Medicine and Science in Sports found that physical fitness since childhood is associated with increased cerebellar grey matter volume in adolescents. Those with better neuromuscular fitness had larger Crus I grey matter volume, while those with cardiorespiratory fitness had smaller to...
In a groundbreaking study, researchers found that chimpanzees climb hills near territory borders to gather information about rival groups and reduce the risk of encounters. This behavior suggests complex cognitive abilities and tactical use of landscape features in conflict with neighbors.
A study of 74 children in rural Ethiopian villages found that higher exposure to fluoride was linked to more errors on drawing and memory tests. The results suggest a potential association between high fluoride levels and cognitive impairment, particularly during early brain development and childhood.
A study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers found that crowdfunding platforms create a sense of democracy, but backers often come from similar groups and give to projects they find cool. This limits the democratizing potential of crowdfunding.
A study of 2,361 mother-child pairs found that prenatal lead exposure is associated with an increased risk of cognitive developmental delay (CDD) in children, particularly those with a high genetic risk. This suggests that integrating genetic factors into assessments of CDD risk may improve children's cognitive ability.
A recent study found that a reimagined financial content structure improved consumer appreciation, particularly with clarity, organization and formatting. The new structure incorporated language improvements, explanatory videos, and hyperlinks, leading to higher levels of consumer appreciation compared to the existing structure.
A recent study published in Nature Medicine suggests that complement proteins and microglia can be activated early in the development of Huntington's Disease, leading to synapse loss and cognitive decline. By blocking these proteins, researchers were able to prevent or slow cognitive defects and motor symptoms in animal models.
Researchers discovered that monk parakeets possess a unique tone of voice, known as a voice print, similar to humans. This finding raises the possibility that other vocally flexible species may also have a voice print.
A new study resolves a long-standing contradiction in brain function by revealing that familiar stimuli trigger brief neural spikes, known as visually evoked potentials (VEPs), which suppress activity. The findings advance understanding of visual recognition memory, enabling prioritization of attention.
A study of 1,500 participants found that certain brain regions, including the hippocampus, exhibit stronger activation in individuals with better memory performance. The researchers identified functional networks in the brain linked to memory performance, shedding light on individual differences in memory recall.
Caribbean box jellyfish have demonstrated complex learning capabilities, including associative learning and memory formation, despite having only one thousand nerve cells. This discovery sheds new light on the evolutionary success of jellyfish and raises questions about the universality of advanced learning mechanisms in animals.
Microglial cells age differently in male and female mice, with female microglia displaying a 'middle-aged' phenotype and male microglia switching suddenly to an aged phenotype. The researchers identified key genes and mechanisms contributing to this aging process, including the role of aged-like microglia in cognitive decline.
In a new study, researchers deciphered mice's behavior during reward-based learning tasks, finding they persistently blend multiple strategies. The findings suggest mice do not fully adopt optimal approaches, and their ability to shift between strategies is crucial for understanding their decision-making process.
A new study by Uppsala University researchers reveals a significant difference in vaccination rates among people with varying cognitive abilities. Among those with the highest cognitive ability, 80% were vaccinated within 50 days, while it took 180 days for those with the lowest cognitive ability to reach the same rate.
The study found a correlation between the emergence of sophisticated stone-knapping methods and a relative decrease in large prey quantities. Stone-tipped spears with Levallois technology allowed for more substantial wounds, increasing hunting success.
Researchers found that childhood adversity can reshape an individual's moral development, leading to a 'deformative experience' that pulls them away from their true nature. This asymmetric sensitivity to life history information affects judgments of praise and blame.
A new study by UC San Diego researchers shows that time-restricted feeding can improve memory and reduce amyloid protein accumulation in mice with Alzheimer's disease. This approach may provide a simple and accessible way to correct circadian disruptions, which are the leading cause of nursing home placement.
Researchers at UC San Diego demonstrate that hematopoietic stem cell transplants can protect against multiple signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's in a mouse model of the disease. The therapy leads to enhanced microglia health, which protects against Alzheimer's pathology, including β-amyloid build-up and neuroinflammation.
Researchers found that taking probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG improved cognitive scores in participants with mild cognitive impairment, suggesting a potential strategy to support cognitive health. Gut microbiome composition could serve as an early indicator for mild cognitive impairment.
The MIND diet, which combines Mediterranean and DASH principles, was positively linked with attentional inhibition in school-aged children. The diet's emphasis on brain-healthy foods like leafy greens, berries, and legumes may help improve cognitive development.
Researchers found that a combination of exercise and cognitive training significantly improved cognition in adults with mild cognitive impairment. Vitamin D supplementation had no impact on cognitive function.
Researchers investigated the effects of meditation training and non-native language training on cognition in older adults. Despite initial expectations, these interventions failed to demonstrate salutary cognitive effects, casting doubt on their potential as a preventative measure for aging-related decline.
Hypnosis expert Steven Jay Lynn challenges common misconceptions about the practice, highlighting its clinical applications and effectiveness. Research reveals that hypnotized individuals can resist suggestions, retain voluntary control, and even exhibit brain activity consistent with reported experiences.
A Lehigh University professor has received $4 million in NIH grants to develop an AI-driven approach for precision mental health diagnosis and care. The project aims to identify biomarkers in the brain that can predict treatment response and personalize interventions for patients with depression and other mental disorders.
New research shows that electric fields drive neural activity and coordinate memory across two key brain regions. The findings could lead to improved brain-controlled prosthetics for people with paralysis.
The study reveals five distinct brain types, each suited for its purpose, from a jellyfish's diffuse neural network to the human brain's reflective capabilities. Researchers suggest that autonomous machines can learn from coordination in bees, rapid thinking in birds, and single-mindedness in worms.
A recent meta-analysis of 29 studies found that intranasal insulin treatment can boost cognition in individuals with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's Disease. The analysis suggests potential benefits for this treatment approach, which may be worth further investigation.
A new study found associations between socioeconomic status, childhood obesity, cognitive performance, and white matter microstructure. Obesity and cognition may play a role in these associations, with future research benefiting from considering multiple socioeconomic perspectives.
Research published by the American Psychological Association found that people believe in conspiracy theories due to a need to understand and feel safe in their environment. Additionally, certain personality traits such as a sense of antagonism toward others and high levels of paranoia are more prone to believing conspiracy theories.
A new analysis of nearly 6,000 people found that childhood cognitive ability is associated with better scores on measures of wealth in adulthood, but the relationship varies for different financial measures. The study also discovered an inverted U-shape relationship between cognitive ability and debt levels.
A retrospective case-matched study found prism adaptation therapy (PAT) to be beneficial for treating both right- and left-sided spatial neglect. PAT showed improvements in neglect symptoms for patients with right-sided neglect, suggesting greater potential benefits compared to those with left-sided neglect.
Research suggests that brain's electrical activity tunes sub-cellular components to optimize network stability and efficiency. This 'Cytoelectric Coupling' hypothesis proposes that electric fields influence neurons' physical configuration to fine-tune information processing.
A study by Lund University researchers reveals that visual perspective taking, a crucial social skill, originated in the dinosaur lineage around 60 million years ago. This finding challenges the prevailing view that mammals drove the evolution of complex cognition.
Researchers found that modern dog breeds, which are genetically more distant from wolves, have relatively larger brain sizes compared to ancient breeds. This increase in brain size cannot be attributed to the roles or life history characteristics of the breeds.
New research shows that people with bipolar disorder or depression are more likely to be hospitalized if their verbal memory is poor. The study found an approximately 84% increased risk of admission to a psychiatric ward due to impaired verbal memory.
A recent study from Oregon State University found that refocusing on mental imagery is a more effective distraction than verbal thoughts for adolescents stuck in negative thought spirals. The study, led by Hannah Lawrence, suggests that mental imagery can help break up the thought spiral and seek help from a therapist or support system.
A large national study found that preteens carrying excess weight have notable differences in cognitive performance, brain structures, and brain circuitry. The association is concerning as it suggests that excess BMI may impact brain development and function.
New research shows that rhythmic brain activity helps organize transient bursts of activity in the brain to maintain short-term connections. Brain rhythms coordinate overlapping populations of neurons to store different pieces of information at the same time.
A recent study published in Nature has identified specific brain areas that integrate planning, purpose, physiology, behavior, and movement. Researchers found that stimulating certain areas of the brain can calm both the body and mind, providing new insights into the mind-body connection.
Researchers found that enhancing NMDAR function via increased serine racemase expression improved attention and cognitive flexibility in middle-aged rats. Upregulating serine racemase in the medial prefrontal cortex also increased glutamatergic synaptic transmission, including NMDAR activity.
Researchers found that forecasters have an incentive to misreport when their reputation is at stake, with higher levels of misreporting in less uncertain situations. The study suggests firms should trust expert advice when uncertainty is high and link evaluations to ex-post accuracy to reduce misreporting.
A recent study published in NeuroImage found that older adults with improved cognitive performance during dual-task walking had flexible neural resource allocation. This discovery suggests a potential method for tracking brain health and identifying individuals at risk of aging-related cognitive decline.
A new study published in PLOS Medicine suggests that existing associations between cognitive ability and body mass index may be due to confounding by family factors. The research analyzed data from over 12,000 siblings and found a significantly smaller association when comparing siblings within families.
A Yale School of Public Health study found that older persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who adopted positive age beliefs were 30% more likely to regain normal cognition compared to those with negative beliefs. These positive beliefs also enabled participants to recover their cognition up to two years earlier.
Researchers discovered an Asian elephant named Pang Pha's exceptional banana-peeling ability, which suggests that elephants have impressive cognitive and manipulative skills. The study found that Pha learned to peel bananas through observational learning from humans, challenging the idea that such complex behaviors are unique to humans.
Research reveals people misremember events in just seconds, altering memories to suit their expectations. This distortion can significantly impact perceptions of reality.
A global study found that dogs' functions are a good predictor of how they are treated by their owners, with more functions leading to closer relationships. The research also found that not all dog jobs influence treatment equally, with herding increasing positive care and hunting increasing personhood.
A new study published in the Journal of Cognition and Development found that preschoolers aged three and five prefer learning from a competent robot over an incompetent human. The research, conducted by Concordia University researchers, used humanoid robots to teach children about unfamiliar objects. Five-year-olds were more likely to ...
A new study by University of Houston psychologist Adam Fetterman found that neighborhood apps are associated with inaccurate perceptions of higher local crime rates. The frequent use of such services by a large portion of the population suggests important implications for perceptions and behaviors related to people's neighborhoods.
Scientists have identified distinct mechanisms by which people remove information from their working memory and found that forgetting requires much effort. They also discovered four brain networks that activate when memories are maintained or purged through different mechanisms.
Two early-career cognitive neuroscientists, Anna Schapiro and Freek van Ede, have been awarded the prestigious Young Investigator Award by the Cognitive Neuroscience Society. Their research focuses on understanding human learning and working memory.