Articles tagged with Cognition
A recent randomized controlled trial found that an online decision aid can help older adults decide whether and when to stop driving. The tool, called Healthwise DDA, had high acceptability and reduced negative feelings about the process among participants. It may help older adults make informed decisions about their driving abilities.
The 29th annual CNS meeting will feature scientific talks, posters, and receptions, with a focus on the latest advances in cognitive neuroscience. Registered press members will have access to these sessions, as well as a quiet Press Room, while COVID safety protocols are in place.
A study found that listeners in Arkansas and Michigan imagined similar stories, while those in China envisioned unique narratives. The results suggest that music can generate shared experiences despite cultural differences.
A new study published in Memory & Cognition found that eyewitnesses do not systematically bias towards selecting people with threatening facial characteristics or muscular bodies. However, participants showed highest identification accuracy for the most threatening body stimuli high in musculature.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland found that frontotemporal dementia patients with extrapyramidal symptoms have significant brainstem atrophy and reduced metabolism, facilitating differential diagnostics for FTD. This can help distinguish between FTD and other diseases causing extrapyramidal symptoms.
A study found a shift in the profile of specialized lipid mediators from pro-resolving to pro-inflammatory in patients with cognitive impairment, correlating with severity of cognition impairment. The researchers identified novel mechanisms of brain health and potential therapeutic targets for slowing down Alzheimer's disease onset.
A new study by Penn State researchers found that engaging in meaningful and challenging activities during free time can significantly reduce people's loneliness and increase their positive feelings. The researchers identified that flow, a state of being fully engaged and focused on an activity, is crucial to reducing loneliness.
Fish species zebra mbuna and stingrays are found to possess numerical abilities on par with other vertebrate species. Through training, six of the eight zebra mbuna and three out of eight stingrays learned to associate blue with addition and yellow with subtraction, demonstrating consistent performance in recognizing numbers from 1 to 5.
A recent brain imaging study has found evidence of weakening connections between key brain areas in adolescents at high genetic risk of developing bipolar disorder. This study suggests that early intervention strategies may be effective in preventing the progression towards major changes in the brain.
Researchers discovered a group of neurons in the striatum that encodes information about potential decision-making outcomes, including rewards and penalties. These 'error signals' help the brain adapt to changing circumstances and make impulsive decisions or become paralyzed with indecision.
A novel system to control protein aggregation in a model of Parkinson’s disease suggests that aggregation of alpha-synuclein plays a critical role in disrupting neuronal homeostasis and triggering neurodegeneration. Light treatment led to formation of Lewy body-like aggregates, neurodegeneration, and Parkinson-like motor deficits in mice.
A study of 181 long COVID patients found that seven in ten experience concentration and memory problems, with many performing worse than their peers on cognitive tests. Cognitive symptoms were more pronounced in people whose overall ongoing symptoms were more severe.
Researchers found that alpha oscillations are involved in two distinct processes: one related to observation accuracy and the other to internal representation of sensory events. Increasing or decreasing alpha speed and amplitude can independently modulate perception accuracy.
A new study found that a ketogenic diet significantly improves MS symptoms, including fatigue, depression, and cognitive function. Patients on the keto diet experienced reductions in neurologic disability and enhanced overall quality of life.
A comprehensive analysis of brain cellular composition across amniotes shows that mammals and birds have dramatically increased neuron numbers in the telencephalon and cerebellum, associated with higher cognition. The study suggests that only a handful of unique evolutionary events augmented brain processing power in these groups.
A new study calculates that more than 170 million Americans lost an average of nearly three IQ points due to childhood lead exposure from car exhaust between the 1940s and 1996. This translates to a potential shift of millions from below-average cognitive ability to intellectual disability.
A study by researchers at the University of Waterloo found that higher education and advanced language skills can protect against dementia in people with mild cognitive impairment. Almost one-third of participants reverted to normal cognition, while over 80% never developed dementia.
Researchers investigated the association between acute respiratory failure in early childhood and long-term neurocognitive outcomes. The study found that children who experienced severe respiratory distress were more likely to have impaired cognitive function and behavioral problems later in life.
A study by researchers from the University of Tsukuba found that taking a 15-minute walk outside on a hot summer day can impair cognitive performance. This effect was more pronounced in men who slept less than 5 hours, suggesting that heat stress may negatively impact learning and productivity.
A recent study published in Child Development found that the COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted preschool children's educational development, particularly in motor, language, and logical-mathematical skills. The research highlights the importance of targeted interventions for vulnerable children to mitigate the achievement gap.
A recent online survey found that pandemic-related school closures have a disproportionate negative impact on students with autism. The study reveals differences in the psychological impact of the pandemic on neurotypical and autistic children, highlighting the need for alternative ways to support autistic children's educational goals.
Researchers find that familiar stimuli quiet down brain activity in fruit flies, allowing for clearer processing of specific odors. This mechanism applies to neural circuits in other animals, including humans, and is essential for filtering out distractions to focus on relevant information.
A study published in Trends in Cognitive Sciences found that older adults tend to store irrelevant information, making it harder to remember specific details. This can lead to a 'flood' of information, but also benefits like improved prior knowledge utilization and decision-making.
A new study on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) has found that group-level scores lack significance on an individual level. The normative study recommends a higher cut-off score for SDMT to accurately assess changes over time and predict disease progression.
A study from Washington University in St. Louis found that birds with bigger brains relative to their bodies reduced their body size by only about one-third compared to smaller-brained birds. This suggests that cognitive power may play a role in helping certain species adapt to climate change.
Researchers analyzed fMRI studies on healthy individuals and stroke survivors to understand the neural mechanisms underlying prism adaptation therapy. The study found differences in brain activity patterns between healthy individuals and those with spatial neglect, suggesting a shift in spatial processing to the left hemisphere.
Researchers developed a software-based smoke dispersal simulation model to study prehistoric archaeology. They found that early humans placed their hearth at the optimal location in the cave, enabling maximum utilization of fire while minimizing smoke exposure. The study identified a 25sqm area as ideal for locating the hearth.
A recent study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia found that regular exercise enhances the connections between neurons in older adults, maintaining healthy cognition. The research, led by Kaitlin Casaletto and William Honer, suggests that physical activity may help boost synaptic functioning and safeguard against dementia.
Researchers at Ben-Gurion University successfully trained a goldfish to drive a robotic car in new research exploring animal navigation abilities. The study found that goldfish's innate navigational skills surpass their aquatic environment, demonstrating universal cognitive abilities.
A pilot study by Kessler Foundation found that methylphenidate improved 'state' mental fatigue in individuals with multiple sclerosis, but had no effect on 'trait' fatigue. The study suggests an important role for dopamine in MS-related mental fatigue.
Researchers found that participants with moderate dementia performed better in cluttered environments, while those with mild and severe dementia showed no significant difference. The study suggests that adapting physical environments to suit individual needs may be more effective than de-cluttering in supporting people with dementia.
A new study suggests that the brain uses a mechanism called 'repulsion' to differentiate between similar environments. Researchers found that when participants were asked about stores shared between two cities, their brains showed surprisingly different patterns of activity, indicating that they were treating these familiar locations a...
Researchers at the Missouri School of Journalism explored how people value digital news, finding that print newspapers moved to digital platforms without understanding the differences between mediums. The study identified eight affordances of digital news readers, including the importance of design elements like color and hyperlinks.
In an experiment, pet cats were found to track their owner's location using the sound of their voice. Researchers discovered that cats can mentally map the location of their owners based on the unique acoustic characteristics of their voices.
Research reveals that salespeople conduct rational benefit–cost analyses when deciding which opportunity to pursue. They also use a calibration decision-making strategy for solution selling, which can lead to serious under- or overestimation of conversion rates. The findings highlight the importance of managing salespeople's avoidance ...
A large study found that education and income have varying relationships with brain volume and cognitive scores across different populations. The associations were strongest in childhood development, suggesting socioeconomic status may not specifically protect the brain from aging effects.
Researchers developed a customisable time tool, the Goldilocks Day calculator, to help parents allocate hours and activities for optimal health outcomes. The tool considers physical health, cognitive abilities, and mental wellbeing, allowing parents to adjust daily schedules based on their child's needs.
Researchers from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh conducted a study on three Rhesus monkeys, finding that their performance declined by up to 25% when offered a jackpot reward. The team also discovered a link between sensory motor processing and emotional processing in the monkeys' brains.
A study on red junglefowl chicks found that early experiences can affect impulsivity, contradicting initial expectations. The researchers also discovered a link between gene expression and impulsivity, suggesting that genetic factors contribute to individual differences in impulsive behavior.
A new UCLA-led study reveals how gut microbes can worsen cognitive impairment in mice by targeting the hippocampus, a crucial brain region for memory and learning. The researchers found that Bilophila wadsworthia bacteria increased in mice fed a ketogenic diet under conditions of oxygen deprivation.
Researchers used MEG to measure brain activity while participants listened to simultaneous math equations and sentences, finding separate networks for each. The parietal lobe processed math and the temporal lobe processed language, with activity tracking every word and symbol.
Scientists discovered beige fat cells mediate subcutaneous fat's brain protection and provide anti-inflammatory effects. Beige fat transplantation restored cognitive function in obese mice with dementia-like behavior.
A new study by UBC researchers found that people perceived as being less real and having 'less mind' when appearing within a photo. This discovery has implications for digital communication, particularly in online trials, healthcare, and education, where the perception of a person's mind can influence moral judgement.
Researchers found that mice can make fine visual discriminations between slightly different lines, suggesting a more complex decision-making process than previously thought. The study's findings highlight the importance of considering non-perceptual biases in understanding animal behavior and decision-making strategies.
Researchers found five aspects underlie feelings of repugnance: moral outrage, regulation desire, monetary value translation, exploitation concern, and seller risk exposure. Transactions triggering strong repugnance often require policy interventions to protect vulnerable individuals or address unknown risks.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE suggests that physical activity can improve cognitive function in older adults by altering brain microstructure. The research, which analyzed MRI scans of 318 brains post-mortem, found a positive correlation between physical activity and increased cortical thickness.
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.