Cognitive developmental influences on preschool-age children's pain self-reporting are limited by factors such as memory, knowledge of magnitude, and language ability. Modifications for simplifying pain assessments, including using tools with few response options and considering past pain experiences, can improve accuracy.
An association between declining weight and an increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been found, particularly among those who experience greater weight loss per decade from midlife to late life. The study suggests that this decline in weight may serve as a marker for MCI and help identify individuals at increased risk.
A new study from the University of Cincinnati suggests that prenatal exposure to flame retardants and PFASs may have a lasting impact on executive function in children, characterized by impairments in focus, working memory, delegation of tasks, and emotional control. The research evaluated levels of PBDEs and PFASs in mothers during pr...
A Mayo Clinic study found no association between surgical anesthesia and development of mild cognitive impairment in people aged 40 and older. Researchers evaluated over 1,700 participants and found that exposure to anesthesia did not increase the risk of mild cognitive impairment.
Studies reveal that children with epilepsy show global differences in cognitive network development, but hubs of these networks are functionally similar to those of healthy peers. Graph analysis also suggests that neural networks linking cognitive skills are not well integrated in children with epilepsy.
A recent study using zebrafish has uncovered new insights into the causes of congenital heart defects associated with Cornelia de Lange Syndrome. The research found that lowering levels of a specific cohesin protein in embryonic zebrafish produces similar types of heart defects as those found in people with CdLS.
The ADAMAAS project aims to create a mobile assistance system that identifies problems and provides situation-dependent assistance through intelligent glasses. The technology combines eye tracking, memory research, object recognition, and augmented reality to support users in daily activities.
PTSD survivors often experience sexual dysfunction due to biological and cognitive processes related to traumatic stress. The condition disrupts trust, safety, and emotional connection, associating arousal with threat.
A study by researchers at the University of Montreal found that children whose mothers consistently supported their autonomy had higher executive functioning skills. The mother's ability to teach problem-solving skills and take her child's perspective was crucial in shaping the child's cognitive abilities.
A study found that preterm infants' ability to follow another's gaze emerges earlier than expected, implying the influence of early visual exposure. This challenges previous assumptions about cognitive development and suggests a potential link between visual experience and social cognition.
A new study from Concordia University reveals that infants can categorize objects as animate or inanimate even at 10 months old. The study used a visual habituation paradigm to measure how long babies look at different objects, finding that they can distinguish between natural paths of animals and moving cars.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine have found that individuals with depression and mild cognitive impairment after age 65 are more likely to experience accelerated brain aging. This accelerated process increases their risk of developing dementia.
Researchers at Children's Hospital Los Angeles found that prenatal alcohol exposure can alter brain activation over time, leading to persistent cognitive and behavioral problems in individuals with FASD. The study suggests a possible neural mechanism for the attention problems seen in FASD, highlighting the importance of early developm...
Cognitive radio technology could make wireless communications 10 times faster by identifying and using unused radio spectrum, reducing congestion and energy waste. Researchers at the University at Buffalo are developing this technology with a $2.72 million Air Force grant.
Researchers at Penn Medicine developed a method to assess and diagnose psychosis in young children by analyzing cognitive development. The study found that children with psychotic symptoms had lower chronological ages than predicted, indicating a significant lag in cognitive development.
A study found that assessing brain structure and function can predict future working memory performance in healthy children and adolescents, suggesting a possible early warning system for developmental challenges.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a brain development index from MRI scans that captures normal brain maturation patterns. The study shows a relationship between cognitive development and physical changes in the developing young brain, allowing for early detection of subtle developmental abnormalities.
Research published in Archives of Disease in Childhood suggests that children born to teen moms have similar spatial and non-verbal skills as those born to older mothers, after accounting for factors such as socioeconomic status and perinatal care. However, a slight difference in verbal skills scores remained.
An analysis of 32 studies found that anemic children who received iron supplements showed substantial improvement in IQ scores and other cognitive tests. Daily iron supplementation also decreased the prevalence of anemia by about 50% and improved growth, with no adverse effects reported.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen discovered that mir-79, a tiny molecule, plays a crucial role in regulating neural development in roundworms. By controlling the addition of specific sugars to signaling molecules, mir-79 guides nerve cell migration and ensures proper nervous system function. This finding has important implic...
The number of children dying every year has decreased by half since 1990, yet progress is under threat due to military and security funding. Countries marred by conflict have high rates of acute and chronic undernutrition, with Africa seeing a 50% increase compared to stable countries.
Researchers found that participants adjusted their grasp location to avoid uncomfortable postures when working in collaboration. The study suggests an implicit social awareness that supports collaboration across individuals, enabling extended planning to achieve comfortable outcomes.
Researchers hope targeted mental workouts can sharpen memory and focus in adults with schizophrenia by taking advantage of brain's natural plasticity. The modules use a game-like approach to improve speed and accuracy of information processing.
Mothers who experienced childhood trauma exhibit traumatic avoidance symptoms, leading to shorter conversations and less child participation. This phenomenon has negative impacts on cognitive and emotional development in children.
Research reveals ATRX mutations cause DNA damage leading to premature aging symptoms such as shortened lifespan, cataracts and low bone density. The study found mice without the ATRX gene displayed problems in learning and memory, body growth and metabolism.
Researchers found that prolonged seizures in children are associated with developmental delays and impairments within six weeks of the event, which persist at one year. The study suggests that seizures may have a long-lasting impact on future development through reorganization of functional brain networks.
A new study found that marital conflict in children can harm their stress response systems, leading to slower mental and intellectual development. Children who witnessed more conflict showed less adaptive responses to stress, particularly those with lower resting stress levels.
Researchers have developed a model of the pig brain to study human cognitive development, characterizing normal brain growth trajectory from neonatal period to sexual maturity. The model provides unique insights into brain structure and function, including effects of prenatal infections and early-life nutrition on brain development.
A study reveals bilingual children exhibit superior working memory abilities compared to monolingual children. The research suggests that bilingualism enhances global executive function development.
Jeffrey H. Reed, a Chaired Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Virginia Tech, has received the 2012 Forum International Achievement Award for his significant contributions to software-designed radio and cognitive radio.
New studies published in Psychological Science found that young children can pass nonverbal versions of false-belief tasks, suggesting they are able to track the protagonist's perspective. Additionally, research showed that early executive-function skills and vocabulary knowledge predict analytical reasoning skills at age 15.
A study from Lund University found that dogs under 7 months are immune to contagious yawning, but as they age, they start to mimic human yawns, indicating a developmental increase in empathy. This pattern is similar to human development, suggesting that empathy-based social modulatory effects emerge later in life.
A Mayo Clinic study found that people aged 70 and older who consume high amounts of carbohydrates have nearly four times the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment. In contrast, those with diets high in fat and protein relative to carbohydrates are less likely to experience cognitive decline.
The Saving Brains initiative aims to improve conditions for children's development, with funding focused on malnutrition, maternal depression, premature birth, and malaria. Innovations include Kangaroo Mother Care, Vitamin A supplementation, and early treatment of malaria to prevent brain injury.
A 9-year study by UCSF researchers found that preventing or better managing diabetes can help prevent cognitive decline. The study linked the severity of diabetes to increased risk of cognitive decline and showed that patients with uncontrolled blood sugar levels suffered faster declines.
Researchers at UC Riverside and Pitzer College found that children exposed to open-fire cooking experience memory, problem-solving, and social skills deficits. The study used previously collected data from children aged 3-9 in traditional communities in developing countries.
A new study by researchers at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center found that maternal obesity may contribute to cognitive impairment in extremely premature babies. The study assessed 921 infants born before 28 weeks of gestation and found associations between maternal obesity, lack of high school education, and pre-term thrombosis with ...
A study from Nationwide Children's Hospital found that excessive or insufficient weight gain during pregnancy does not affect a child's cognitive development. The research controlled for various confounding factors, including genetic and environmental influences, to separate the effect of gestational weight gain on cognition.
A UCLA-developed brain-imaging tool detects abnormal protein deposits associated with Alzheimer's disease and tracks progression over time. The technique, using FDDNP-PET scans, predicts cognitive decline in individuals with mild cognitive impairment and normal aging, offering potential early detection and treatment of Alzheimer's.
Researchers have identified extended synaptic development in human brains relative to other primates, shedding light on the biology and evolution of human cognition. This finding suggests that the human brain remains highly plastic during early childhood, allowing it to absorb environmental information and develop intellectual skills.
Research suggests that pregnancy's massive hormonal fluctuations prepare a woman's brain for motherhood, leading to improved stress tolerance and baby sensitivity. However, there may be costs to these changes, and more comprehensive studies are needed to develop interventions for at-risk mothers.
Researchers developed a method to measure customer emotions without relying on self-reporting, providing a more accurate assessment of brand attitudes. The study's findings suggest that companies can improve product development by incorporating such measures.
Research found that prenatal exposure to organophosphates negatively impacts perceptual reasoning and nonverbal problem-solving skills in early childhood. Mothers with a specific genotype associated with less efficient PON1 enzyme metabolization were particularly at risk.
Researchers found that thinner brain areas associated with Alzheimer's can predict dementia and disease development. The study analyzed MR images from two groups, revealing a threefold increased risk of Alzheimer's among those with the thinnest cortical areas.
A new colonoscopy skills assessment tool, MCSAT, was developed to evaluate cognitive and motor skills in trainees. The tool provides a standardized method to assess individual progress and establish normal learning curves.
A study reveals distinct brain development patterns between Neanderthals and modern humans, particularly after birth. The findings suggest that unique early brain development in modern humans may underlie cognitive differences.
A study published in JAMA found that severe sepsis is associated with significant cognitive impairment and functional disability in older patients. The researchers analyzed data from over 1,000 patients who survived severe sepsis and found a high rate of new functional limitations, including increased caregiver time and mortality.
A new research center will study the effects of bisphenol A (BPA) and phthalates on infant and adolescent development, cognition, and behavior. The center aims to determine if exposure to these chemicals alters hormone signaling and affects sex differences in brain development and behavior.
A randomized trial of over 2,000 women found that DHA supplementation during pregnancy did not reduce postpartum depression in mothers or improve cognitive and language development in their offspring. The study suggests that current recommendations to increase DHA intake during pregnancy may not be supported by evidence.
A recent study published in JAMA rejected the benefits of fish oil capsules during pregnancy, contradicting international recommendations. Researchers found no significant difference in post-natal depression or neuro developmental outcomes between women taking fish oil and those taking vegetable oil capsules.
The new journal will publish theoretical and research papers on cognitive brain development, covering neurocognitive development, social and affective aspects, and various methodologies. Authors are encouraged to submit contributions using diverse neuroscience approaches.
A six-year study found that anticholinergic medications increase the risk of mild cognitive impairment and memory loss in older adults, especially those from African-American communities. The researchers suggest that these drugs may worsen cognitive function, but not necessarily lead to Alzheimer's disease.
The Teen Years Explained: A Guide to Healthy Adolescent Development dispels myths about teens' behavior, physical changes, and risk-taking. The book emphasizes the importance of sleep, nutrition, and parental influence on adolescent development.
A recent study published in Cognitive Development found that teenagers take the most risks compared to other age groups, particularly between 14-35 years old. The researchers discovered that teenagers enjoy the thrill of taking risks more than other age groups, especially when they have a 'lucky escape'.
A study published in Archives of General Psychiatry found that individuals with a sense of purpose in life have a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. Those with higher levels of purpose were approximately 2.4 times less likely to develop the disease.
A recent study found that infants with positional plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) had lower scores than typical infants in observational tests of cognitive and motor development. This suggests that babies with flat head syndrome should be screened early for possible motor and cognitive delays.
A study found that people who follow more complex diets are more likely to drop out due to perceived difficulty. The researchers suggest choosing a diet plan with fewer rules and easier monitoring to increase long-term adherence.
Researchers used Category Theory to explain why specific reasoning skills, such as Transitive Inference and Class Inclusion, develop in children around age five. These skills involve applying two lines of thinking simultaneously, allowing children to understand complex relationships between objects.
A cross-cultural study found that children from communities with more modern resources performed better in certain areas of cognitive functioning. The researchers argue that these differences reflect the cognitive skills valued and promoted in each community rather than a direct correlation to intelligence.
A long-term follow-up study found that Mexico's Oportunidades program conferred health benefits on children, particularly those whose mothers had no formal education. The additional 18 months of inclusion in the program reduced socioemotional problems and improved child growth, especially for those with mothers who were less educated.