Articles tagged with Cognition
Researchers have found that our brains use the same cognitive processes to identify both real and imagined human faces. This 'face pareidolia' allows us to quickly detect faces in objects like the moon or cheese on toast, but also enables us to analyze their expressions.
A study of 65 infants reveals stable individual differences in their responses to impossible events, which predict explanation-based curiosity at 3 years of age. The research suggests that detecting prediction errors in infancy may be a crucial aspect of later cognitive development.
Researchers at the University of Queensland have found that low-intensity ultrasound can effectively restore cognition without crossing the blood-brain barrier in mice models. The findings provide a potential new avenue for non-invasive treatment and will help clinicians tailor medical treatments to individual disease progressions.
A three-year study found significant changes in brain connectivity in older adults with subjective cognitive decline, which may predict dementia. The study suggests that brain alterations underlie the experience of decline and could emerge before cognitive assessments detect a deficit.
A new study by Northwestern University researchers found that infants as young as three- and four-months old can link language to objects, boosting their object categorization skills. However, listening to birdsong failed to support this process in infants, unlike non-human primate vocalizations.
Researchers from Kanazawa University developed a new computerized cognitive test that can accurately screen for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia in under 5 minutes. The test, called the C-ABC, has been shown to be effective in distinguishing normal cognition from MCI and dementia using scores from just two questions.
Noncognitive skills, distinct from cognitive abilities, significantly impact educational attainment and life outcomes. The study identified 157 genetic locations related to these skills, which contribute equally to the heritability of educational attainment as cognitive ability.
Researcher Elizabeth Phillips studies how humans respond to norm violations in robot teams, investigating context-sensitive tradeoffs between rule-based and role-based responses. She aims to develop models that facilitate role-based responses and promote ethical benefits in natural language generation algorithms.
A new study using chess game data shows that cognitive capacity increases steadily until around the middle of the fourth decade before plateauing. Modern 30-year-olds exhibit a higher level of cognitive ability than those born 100 years ago at the same age.
A study of secondary body MRI interpretations at tertiary care centers found a high rate of discrepancies, with cognitive errors being the most common type. The researchers suggest that subspecialty interpretations and additional resources are needed to address these errors and their potential impact on patient outcomes.
A study found that increased sleepiness is tied to decreases in social activity, especially on days off and in the evenings, while more social activity in the afternoon can lead to longer sleep duration. The complex relationship between social activity and subsequent sleepiness suggests that sleepiness may impede voluntary social contact.
A study found that rats could identify the rhythmic structure of a song while ignoring changes to the melody. This suggests that the principles of rhythmic organization in music are also present in other animals, including humans. The results indicate that this cognitive ability has very deep evolutionary roots.
A new study from Indiana University finds that job autonomy and cognitive ability are strongly correlated with mental health and mortality. Researchers suggest that managing employee demands and providing autonomy can improve physical health and reduce the likelihood of death.
A study found that ants use cooperative transport to overcome navigational challenges, demonstrating the potential advantages of group living and collective cognition in making certain environments habitable. The team discovered that non-carrying ants played a crucial role in guiding the group and extending their sensing range.
Researchers from UNIGE used a database of over 100,000 people to study the relationship between physical and cognitive abilities after 50 years of age. They found that cognitive decline precedes physical activity, suggesting prioritizing brain exercise may slow down an inevitable decline.
Dr. Paul R. Sackett has made significant contributions to the knowledge of individual differences in cognitive ability, job knowledge, integrity, personality, and more, impacting various fields including education, military, and private organizations.
Insects can perform numerical estimation and compare sets of objects, recognizing larger quantities. Researchers found a simple model for neural networks to learn numerical cognition tasks using a single neuron.
The US Preventive Services Task Force finds no conclusive evidence to support or refute screening for cognitive impairment in older adults. Current guidelines recommend against routine screening due to the potential risks and limited benefits.
A new study by researchers at the University of Limerick found that men and women employ different strategies to solve spatial cognition tasks. The research used eye-tracking technology to investigate cognitive proficiency in individuals and gamers, with results showing no male advantage in mental rotation abilities.
Researchers at Cornell University discovered that wasps can recognize individual faces, a rare ability among insects. This finding sheds light on how intelligence evolves and has implications for other species, including humans.
Researchers observed two instances of puffin tool use: one on Skomer Island in 2014 and another on Grimsey Island in 2018. Puffins used wooden sticks to dislodge parasites or scratch their chests, which may have been more effective than using their beaks.
A study analyzing data from over 10,000 cadets found that noncognitive attributes like grit were better predictors of graduation than cognitive ability. Cognitive ability was strongly linked to academic and military grades, while physical ability predicted physical grades.
Research by Juan Manuel Toro and Carlota Pagès Portabella finds that musical training alters how humans perceive music. Brain scans reveal trained musicians distinguish between different types of musical irregularities, while untrained listeners do not.
Researchers at Newcastle University discovered that stripes can conceal speeding prey in miniature cinema experiments with praying mantises. The study found that narrow stripes were harder for the mantises to spot when moving at fast speeds.
Researchers at Kessler Foundation found that blindfolding a patient with spatial neglect improved her posture and gaze, reducing postural asymmetry. This study suggests eliminating visual input could increase spatial awareness on the contralesional side.
Research by American Psychological Association found that a poor fit between reasoning abilities and job demands can lead to premature retirement of valuable employees. Older workers who have matching abilities and demands tend to experience fewer health issues and work longer.
Researchers Maayan Stavans and Renée Baillargeon found that infants as young as 17 months old expect leaders to rectify transgressions. The study suggests that abstract expectation of authority is part of the basic structure of human moral cognition.
A new U of T study found that extroversion is linked to greater motivation, more frequent positive emotions, stronger communication skills, and better job performance. These advantages appear to have a cumulative effect on workplace success across the lifespan.
Researchers aim to determine if stopping anticholinergic medications improves cognition and potentially delays or prevents dementia. The 'Reducing Risk of Dementia through Deprescribing' study will enroll 344 older adults and monitor the impact on cognitive function over 2 years.
A study published in AJOB Neuroscience found that the general public views cognitive enhancers as acceptable in the workplace when positively framed and used by non-students and athletes. However, misuse continues to rise among adolescents and adults, with limited evidence supporting their cognitive benefits.
Researchers investigated factive and counterfactive constructions in aphasia, finding that individuals with aphasia performed similarly well on factive interpretation tests but struggled with counterfactive ones. The study highlights the relationship between language, cognition, and propositional thought in aphasia.
A study comparing human and chimpanzee brain networks reveals that humans have a more modular network with stronger connections between language areas. The research suggests that evolutionary modifications to the brain's architecture may have contributed to human cognitive advancements.
A recent study published in Developmental Psychology found that brief training with rhythmic gestures has immediate benefits for children's narrative abilities, especially improving story structure. This novel finding demonstrates the importance of gestures in language development and cognitive growth.
People with radical political views tend to overestimate their certainty on incorrect answers, but struggle with recognizing when they're wrong. The study found no difference in task performance between moderates and radicals, despite radicals' higher confidence ratings.
A recent study at the University of Jyväskylä found that older people who persistently strive for their goals but can adjust them to current circumstances tend to move more and participate in outdoor activities. This suggests that tenacity and flexibility are essential resources for maintaining autonomy and quality of life in old age.
The study identifies genes associated with longevity in parrots, including telomerase, which may also play a role in human aging. The researchers also found parrot-specific gene-regulating regions near neural development genes linked to human cognition.
A new study found that young pheasants who strongly favored using their left or right leg to step over a barrier died at a significantly lower rate than those with weaker preferences. The research suggests that favouring one side of the body may bring advantages, but also explains why low levels of 'footedness' exist among pheasants.
A recent study from the Center for BrainHealth at UT Dallas found that cannabis users exhibit increased synchronization and activation of brain waves during rest, compared to nonusers. This 'noisy brain' may disrupt cognitive processes.
A new study on red junglefowl has found that the ability to learn quickly is heritable, while optimism can be explained by environmental factors. The researchers tested over 300 chicks with various cognitive tasks and found that genetic factors play a larger role in fast-learning abilities.
A study found that air pollution exposure was associated with decreased cognitive test scores, particularly in verbal abilities. Reducing fine particulate matter concentrations could lead to significant improvements in cognitive performance, equivalent to a shift from median to 63rd percentile scores.
Researchers found that lower-paid microworkers were more likely to reduce their efforts and experience cognitive dissonance, which can impact study results. The study's findings suggest that low pay may lead workers to feel conflicted and struggle with rationalizing their actions.
A study published in Springer's journal Memory & Cognition found that men tend to take shortcuts and navigate more efficiently than women in known environments. Women, on the other hand, follow learned routes and are more likely to wander, leading to slower navigation times.
Researchers found slight improvements in vision after eating dark chocolate, particularly in visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. The effects of dark chocolate on vision remain unknown beyond the short-term, and further studies are needed to confirm these findings.
A six-month treatment with idalopirdine failed to slow cognitive decline in patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. The study involved over 2,500 participants and used a combination of idalopirdine and cholinesterase inhibitors.
Researchers analyzed birth and school records to examine environmental moderation of genetic influence on cognitive ability. They found no evidence supporting increased genetic influence in socioeconomically advantaged children.
A new study found that cognitive abilities in adolescence are positively related, suggesting a 'mutualism' model where skills help each other develop. This research has implications for understanding developmental challenges and life outcomes, such as academic success and longevity.
A study from Northwestern University found that preterm infants establish a strong foundation for linking language and meaning, similar to their full-term counterparts. This discovery challenges previous obstacles in language and cognitive development observed in preterm infants.
Researchers found that parental characteristics were equally important in supporting child cognition in the US and UK. However, they identified areas where policies can make a difference, such as child allowances and National Health Service in Great Britain.
Researchers found that taurine supplementation improved symptoms in patients with first episode psychosis, particularly in depression and overall functioning. However, cognitive function remained unchanged.
A new study found that listening to human vocalizations helps infants form categories, while nonhuman primate vocalizations preserve their early link between signals and categorization. This research highlights the importance of language exposure in early development.
A recent study found that individuals with neurotic personalities thrive in urban environments, while those who are less neurotic benefit from natural settings. The research suggests a correlation between environment and self-control, which could have implications for health outcomes and consumer behavior.
Researchers create a detailed semantic atlas of the brain's language processing areas, revealing similarities in semantic topography across individuals. The study has potential applications in brain-machine interfaces, decoding difficult-to-speak patients, and translating languages.
A new study maps the human brain's semantic atlas, revealing how different areas respond to words with similar meanings. This discovery holds promise for decoding inner dialogue in individuals who struggle to communicate, such as stroke or ALS patients.
Todd Gureckis, NYU associate professor, awarded PECASE for pioneering research on human cognition and machine learning. The award recognizes his innovative work in comparing human intelligence to intelligent algorithms.
Researchers at the University of Waterloo found that slowing down typing improves essay writing sophistication and vocabulary, possibly due to more time for internal word search. The study's results suggest that excessive speed can impair writing quality, regardless of tools used.
Research finds that cognitive constraints on mentalizing limit joke complexity to maintain humor; two-character jokes with up to five levels of intentionality are most effective. Professional comedians must balance cleverness with audience comprehension.
A vision test that involves rapidly reading numbers can detect concussions in 86% of athletes. The King-Devick test was effective when combined with balance and cognition assessments.
Researchers aim to teach robots to understand forces during object movement and react to changes, enabling human-robot collaboration. The goal is to develop robots that can work together with humans on tasks like lifting objects, such as tables.
A nationwide Danish register study tracking 190,000 individuals found a clear correlation between hospitalization due to infections and impaired cognitive ability. The study shows that even after treatment, patients can experience lasting effects on their IQ scores.
A recent study found that young adults raised in educated households have higher cognitive ability than those from less ideal environments. The study compared IQ scores of Swedish male siblings raised by biological or adoptive parents, with adopted males showing a significant 4.4-point advantage.