Articles tagged with Cognitive Control
Research found that eating lunch with friends reduces cognitive control and calms individuals, while improving social harmony. The study suggests that reduced cognitive control can be beneficial in situations where social harmony or creativity is desired.
A recent study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience reveals that healthy individuals who experience auditory hallucinations have a unique brain response compared to those without mental illness. The researchers discovered that the primary auditory cortex of these individuals reacts less to external stimuli, allowing them to dir...
Researchers discover that moral judgment is associated with feelings of warmth and compassion towards someone in distress, specifically reduced empathic concern in utilitarian responders. The study shows that empathy is not the primary driver of moral decision-making, but rather a diminished emotional response.
A study using fMRI found that first-year college students' brains showed habituation to alcohol-related stimuli and alterations in cognitive control networks. Changes in neural connections may influence decision-making and judgment abilities. The research suggests that exposure to alcohol cues can disrupt brain development, particularl...
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania discovered that inhibiting the brain's filter can improve performance in creative tasks. Inhibiting the left prefrontal cortex reduced missed responses and increased correct answers by a second when completing an uncommon-use task.
A study reveals bilingual children exhibit superior working memory abilities compared to monolingual children. The research suggests that bilingualism enhances global executive function development.
Research shows that children's executive function and vocabulary development play a crucial role in the formation of complex thinking skills as young as age 4.5. High executive function skills at school entry are related to higher reasoning skills in adolescence.
A study found that impaired executive function may exacerbate impulsiveness and increase the risk of developing alcohol dependence in adult offspring of individuals with a family history of alcohol dependence. This cognitive endophenotype is associated with decreased EF capabilities and high levels of impulsivity.
Researchers will explore how the brain exerts 'cognitive control' over thoughts and behavior, revealing its role in tasks like planning and problem-solving. The study aims to improve cognitive control in healthy individuals and restore it in neuropsychiatric disorders.
A sense of control over events reduces emotion-driven time distortions, regardless of individual's emotional state or illusion of control. Previous studies found that highly arousing images lead to time distortions, but this study shows that giving participants a feeling of control eliminates these effects.
Researchers found that rats with brain lesions developed schizophrenia-like symptoms if not trained, but those who received early cognitive training as adolescents showed no signs of the disorder. The study suggests that experience and learning can overcome neural disabilities, paving the way for new treatments for mental disorders.
A team of researchers found that pre-emptive cognitive training in laboratory rats can improve brain function and compensate for abnormal neural circuits. The study, published in the journal Neuron, holds promise for addressing human neuropsychiatric impairments such as schizophrenia.
A study from the University of Texas at Austin reveals that people tend to prefer ritual beliefs with repetition and procedural steps, even in the absence of concrete evidence. This suggests that humans have an evolved cognitive system for making sense of the unknown, prioritizing cause-and-effect thinking over logical reasoning.
A new study found that treating childhood OSA normalizes brain disturbances responsible for attention and executive function. Brain imaging showed improvements in verbal memory, attention, and frontal cortex metabolites after treatment.
A study examines adaptive abilities in children with heavy prenatal alcohol exposure and/or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The findings indicate similarities in the relation between executive function and adaptive abilities among children with ADHD or PAE, but with different patterns of abilities.
A new study from Karolinska Institutet suggests that measuring executive functions can predict a player's success in soccer. The researchers found a correlation between high scores in cognitive tests and better performance on the pitch, supporting the idea that game intelligence is not just innate but can be developed.
Elite soccer players exhibit superior executive functions compared to non-players, correlating with performance in goals and assists. Cognitive flexibility and creativity are also essential components of top-tier athleticism.
Bilingualism has been shown to improve cognitive reserve and sustain better cognitive performance throughout the lifespan, potentially delaying dementia onset. Lifelong experience managing multiple languages reorganizes specific brain networks, creating a more effective basis for executive control.
A new questionnaire has been designed to assess individual differences in bilinguals when changing languages. Research identifies several factors contributing to language switching, including proficiency, context, and unconscious changes. The study's findings suggest that bilingualism may have cognitive benefits, but more research is n...
New research from North Carolina State University shows that a fluctuating sense of control is associated with improved cognitive abilities in older adults. The study found that participants who normally reported low sense of control performed better on problem-solving tests when feeling more in control.
A brain training computer game called Brain Age can improve executive functions and processing speeds, but does not affect global cognitive status or attention. The study suggests that it may be possible to improve some cognitive functions quite rapidly with a relatively short training period.
A new study reveals that increased physical activity is linked to improved diet quality, suggesting that exercise can encourage healthier eating habits. The research also highlights the importance of social policy in promoting physical activity among the population to prevent obesity.
A new study reveals that physical activity is linked to an improvement in diet quality, leading to more successful weight loss treatments. Exercise also modifies the brain's executive functions, enabling better control of appetite and food choices.
Researchers found a small group of people with high cognitive control can behave rationally in the Ultimatum Game, making more money. Most people offer uneven splits and reject offers, driven by strong emotional motives.
A recent study found that poverty-related stress impacts executive function development in early childhood, leading to lower academic readiness. Higher levels of cortisol, a stress hormone, were linked to reduced executive function abilities in low-income homes.
A national study found intensive blood sugar control does preserve brain volume but lacks cognitive benefit in older people with diabetes. The study suggests focusing on diet, exercise and behavioral interventions to improve overall health.
A new study published in Nature shows that the neural networks in the brains of middle-aged and elderly individuals have weaker connections and fire less robustly than in younger ones. However, the research suggests that this condition is reversible with the help of a medication called guanfacine.
The prevalence of gambling disorders varies greatly across countries, with high rates in Asia and the US. Research suggests a complex interplay between genetic, environmental, and psychological factors contributing to the development of problem gambling.
Research finds that Tourette's brains exhibit structural and functional changes that enable greater cognitive motor control, allowing individuals to suppress tics more accurately. This discovery may lead to new treatments, such as brain training approaches, to help individuals manage symptoms without medication.
A study found that memory training can decrease delay discounting in stimulant addicts, which is the tendency to choose short-term rewards over long-term benefits. The researchers believe this could lead to improved rehabilitating brain function and potential therapeutic strategies for addiction treatment.
A new study reveals that fighter pilots exhibit superior cognitive control, accuracy, and response to distracting information. Their brains also show distinct structural alterations in white matter connections, which may be linked to expertise in certain aspects of cognition.
Research suggests sleep apnea patients experience structural brain abnormalities in regions susceptible to hypoxemia, which may be partially or fully reversible with early detection and treatment. Cognitive challenges such as executive function impairments and daytime sleepiness are linked to specific brain areas affected by OSA.
A new study found that cognitive skills in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) vary from child to child and can improve over time. The research, conducted in Western Australia, assessed 37 children with ASD and 31 typically developing children at ages 5-6 and again three years later.
A new study by MIT researchers has identified two distinct brain circuits involved in habitual learning. The dorsolateral and dorsomedial striatal circuits show different patterns of activity as rats learn to navigate a maze, with the dorsolateral circuit becoming more active with repetition and the dorsomedial circuit playing a key ro...
A study published in Neurology found that high levels of C-reactive protein are associated with worse performance in executive function, a process in the brain that enables planning, decision-making, and behavior selection. Higher CRP levels also affected the frontal lobe of the brain, equivalent to 12 years of aging.
A study from Harvard University suggests that brain activity in the lateral prefrontal cortex is a better indicator of how someone will feel in the days following a fight with their partner. Individuals who show more neural activity in this region are less likely to be upset and may display improved day-to-day mood.
A new EEG study found that Transcendental Meditation (TM) technique activates the default mode network, a natural 'ground state' of the brain. TM produces a unique state of restful alertness and enhances an individual's sense of self by activating this network.
A study found that nearly four in 10 TIA and minor stroke patients exhibit deficits in executive functions, including speed of mental processing and abstraction. Researchers emphasize the importance of using specific measures to detect cognitive impairment in these patients.
Severe COPD is associated with significantly lower cognitive function in older adults, even after controlling for confounding factors. Patients with severe COPD are at greater risk for developing cognitive impairment, which can worsen their general health and quality of life.
A study suggests that childhood sleep problems persisting through adolescence can affect cognitive abilities, particularly executive functioning. Sleep problems during late childhood and early adolescence, such as being overtired or sleeping more than others, were found to be strong predictors of later executive control.
Patients who recover well from head injuries often report mental fatigue and decreased performance compared to healthy individuals. A recent study found that their brains show increased activity in key regions, indicating a need for enhanced cognitive support.
Research suggests that being in a low-power role impairs executive functions, including tracking information, parsing out irrelevant details, and planning ahead. Participants in low-power groups made more errors on tasks requiring focus and planning.
A study published in The Lancet Neurology found that donepezil improved measures of executive function in patients with CADASIL vascular dementia, but not their cognitive scores. The drug showed therapeutic potential for this specific population.
Elizabeth Stine-Morrow's "Dumbledore hypothesis" suggests that aging adults can compensate for age-related cognitive changes by allocating effort differently. Older readers with good comprehension spend more time building a 'situation model' and pausing to integrate new information.
A University of Iowa study found antidepressant treatment improves post-stroke cognitive abilities, including executive function, in stroke survivors. The improvements occurred 21 months after treatment ended and were independent of changes in depression.
Researchers found that touch tracking bypasses the brain's cognitive system, allowing participants to perform multiple tasks simultaneously. This breakthrough could help individuals with coordination problems improve their hand movements.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine found a link between mild anemia and impaired thinking in elderly women. Those with anemia were four to five times more likely to perform poorly on executive function tests, compared to those with normal blood hemoglobin.
Research suggests that online surveys can yield different results compared to phone surveys, as typing and speaking activate distinct cognitive and motor systems. This can compromise the validity of attitude changes over time, making it crucial for researchers to match response modes.
A new Mayo Clinic study finds that executive function, including concentration, decision-making, and higher-order problem solving, deteriorates after memory decline in Alzheimer's disease progression. This decline can cause people to become more impaired in daily activities.
A study of 44 older adults with depressive symptoms found that executive function decline and rumination are associated with late-onset depression. Executive function tests showed poorer performance among those with late-onset depression, while no such link was seen in early-onset depression.
Broca's area plays a crucial role in organizing actions and processing hierarchical structures, according to researchers Etienne Koechlin and Thomas Jubault. Their experiments found that this executive function is distinct from the organization of temporal sequences of actions.
Researchers found that individuals with Tourette's syndrome make fewer error responses than neurologically normal peers, while responding just as fast to task demands, suggesting a compensatory change in cognitive control. This study challenges the widely held view that TS results from a failure of cognitive control mechanisms.
Researchers found that verbal cues and internal targets affect the muscles used to produce sound and the speed of speech. In noisy conditions, speakers slowed their speech to improve intelligibility, highlighting the complexity of speech production goals.
Research suggests pathological gamblers exhibit altered decision-making functions and executive control, leading to long-term negative consequences. The study sheds light on the role of the prefrontal cortex in this neuropsychiatric disorder.
A new study found that alcoholics show deficits in visuoperception and frontal executive functioning even with prolonged sobriety. Researchers assessed visuoperception and perceptual learning tasks in detoxified alcoholic men compared to control men, revealing differences in cognitive processes and memory strategies.
Researchers found that bilingual speakers' brains actively use both languages when speaking, not suppressing one over the other. This challenge traditional views on how languages are managed in the brain. By presenting subjects with pictures and tones, the study demonstrated that both languages are active at once.
A study found that white college students with high racial bias experienced a decrease in executive function after interacting with black people. Conversely, those who interacted with white people showed no subsequent loss of cognitive function.
A recent UC Berkeley study contradicts earlier findings on girls with ADHD, revealing they are severely impaired academically and socially. The study, conducted over six weeks, found these girls have difficulty making friends, exhibiting aggressive behavior, and displaying social isolation.
Visuospatial abilities and working memory are strongly correlated with executive function, a central cognitive command and control. This finding ties these skills to general intelligence, suggesting that traditional IQ tests may overlook important aspects of human cognition. The study aims to contribute to more fair and comprehensive t...
Researchers found that patients with higher cognitive adaptation scores were less likely to experience a new heart attack or other coronary event six months after their angioplasty. Patients' ability to cope positively with their illness and take better care of themselves may play a key role in reducing the risk of future heart attacks.