Articles tagged with Cognitive Function
Neuroscientists have identified flexible modules in the prefrontal cortex that can be reused to perform various tasks. The discovery supports the theory of compositionality, where cognitive building blocks can be flexibly combined to generate new behaviors.
Researchers identified a brain circuit that enables comparison between current and previous sensory information to aid judgment. The pulvinar region in the thalamus provides advice on how much sensory information has changed, helping the brain make predictions about what's happening.
A team of researchers found that humans and AI process language similarly during the initial stages of reading, relying on next-word predictions. However, as passages become more complex, human processing differs from AI, highlighting areas where human and machine language understanding diverge.
The 100 Minds Screening Project provided over 100 free cognitive screenings to African Americans aged 60+, highlighting the need for better dementia diagnosis among older adults. The program connected participants with brain health planning information and services, aiming to address the dementia care gap within faith communities.
A new ACC Scientific Statement highlights the importance of considering cognitive impairment and frailty in cardiovascular care for older adults. The statement outlines practical strategies for prevention, screening, assessment, and management, aiming to improve outcomes such as independence, mobility, and caregiver burden.
A new study by University College London researchers found that people who experienced persistent money struggles in early and middle adulthood performed less well in cognitive tests at age 53. They also found worse brain health, including more brain shrinkage, in later life, particularly for men and those with childhood disadvantage.
Researchers discovered that brain regions switch between shared and independent timing, allowing for flexibility in coordination. This finding provides a new framework for understanding how brain regions communicate and enables the development of brain-inspired artificial intelligence and robotic control systems.
Machine learning models trained on brief clinical conversations identified cognitive impairment with high accuracy, supporting passive speech-based screening during routine primary care. The study's findings suggest a feasible and non-invasive method for early detection of cognitive decline.
Researchers found that asking people to take multiple looks at unfamiliar faces improved identification accuracy by around 8%. This simple approach, which combines decisions made by the same person, outperforms gains from specialist training programs.
Postoperative delirium is a strong predictor of long-term cognitive decline in older adults, according to a new study. Researchers found that delirium was associated with faster cognitive decline than mild cognitive impairment, and rehospitalizations did not explain the effect.
Researchers at Georgetown University Medical Center found that the brain can remodel its architecture to automate learned tasks, enabling true multitasking. This challenge previous theories on human multitasking and has implications for artificial intelligence capable of building on prior learning.
Research reveals cannabis and tobacco co-use is associated with impaired neurocognitive performance in individuals at clinical high risk for psychosis. This critical gap in research provides clinicians and scientists with vital new insights into the risks of co-use on vulnerable youth.
Researchers found that impaired virtual reality path integration was closely tied to brain structure and biomarkers associated with neurodegeneration. This suggests that VR-based navigation errors may reveal hidden changes in the brain long before symptoms arise, making it a promising behavioral marker for preclinical Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at UC Riverside have identified a key neural circuit, the locus coeruleus, which plays a central role in cognitive flexibility and adapting to new rules. Disrupting this circuit impairs the brain's ability to reorganize neural networks during complex decision-making.
The Individual Brain Charting project has released its fifth update with a new set of cognitive tasks, expanding the dataset to 40 hours of scanned data per participant. This provides an exceptionally rich resource for studying individual variability in brain organisation and understanding brain function.
Researchers at Kyoto University found that chaotic component of heartbeat variability is sensitive to cognitive brain activity, providing a new indicator of brain-heart interaction. Chaos-based measures revealed clear and reproducible changes associated with task engagement, contrasting with conventional HRV indices.
A recent study found that more fear in dreams is associated with worse mood in the morning, but individuals with better emotion regulation strategies tend to have more fear in their dreams. Additionally, emotional complexity in dreams may have a protective effect on mood.
Researchers developed a nasal spray that reversibly reduces brain inflammation, restores cellular power plants, and improves memory. The treatment bypasses the brain's protective shield through intranasal delivery, suppressing chronic inflammation and promoting successful brain aging.
Researchers discovered a crucial connection between the two hippocampal hemispheres in mice, which is necessary for navigation and remembering locations. The study also found that this circuit is altered in mice carrying a genetic mutation associated with schizophrenia.
A new review paper proposes that brain categorization is part of a predictive process to efficiently meet needs, rather than an intellectual exercise comparing sensory inputs to a fixed prototype. This approach predicts the world and anticipates actions, allowing for efficient survival and thriving in a fast-paced environment.
New York University neuroscientists have uncovered a dynamic in dopamine function that determines whether it guides learning or effective movement. The timing of acetylcholine release is crucial, with varying interactions prompting either learning or purposeful movement.
A NUS Medicine study reveals that caffeine can restore social memory impaired by sleep deprivation. Caffeine targets a specific brain pathway to reverse disruptions in neural communication and plasticity. The study provides insights into the effects of caffeine on cognitive function and memory.
Researchers found that cortisol significantly worsens orientation in individuals, particularly in environments without landmarks. The brain's internal GPS system, grid cells, lose function under stress, leading to impaired navigation.
A comprehensive review of 82 studies found no evidence of Ginkgo biloba's benefit for cognitive impairment, but suggests a possible benefit for dementia. The supplement was not associated with an increased risk of serious harm compared to placebo.
A study published in JAMA Neurology found that adhering to healthy dietary patterns, such as the DASH diet, is associated with lower subjective cognitive decline and better cognitive function. The findings highlight the importance of a balanced diet for maintaining long-term brain health.
Research shows that expert birders have more compact attention- and perception-related brain areas, linked to accurate bird identification. These structural changes persist in older birders and may benefit cognition as people age.
Researchers found differences in how brain regions work together during certain cognitive tasks in individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). The findings may lead to new treatment targets for OCD, especially when involving transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
Research from UNSW Sydney and ANU found that people with average face-recognition ability performed only slightly better than chance in spotting AI-generated faces. Even super-recognisers, who excel at recognizing real human faces, were not immune to being fooled by highly realistic AI-generated images.
A cohort study of patients with chronic kidney disease found that more advanced stages of the condition are associated with a higher incidence of cognitive impairment. The study underscores CKD severity as a key risk factor for cognitive decline across the entire spectrum of CKD.
Researchers found that brexpiprazole significantly improved information processing speed without worsening psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia. Cognitive dysfunction is a persistent challenge, affecting daily functioning and social participation.
A new study found that nearly one in five adults with tinnitus have had to reduce their working hours or leave employment due to the condition. The research also revealed that targeted interventions, such as cognitive behavioural therapy, can improve work productivity and overall wellbeing.
A new study by University of Toronto researchers found that day-to-day fluctuations in mental sharpness predict success or struggle. Mental sharpness is linked to productivity, goal-setting, and mood, with sharper days leading to more challenging goals and lower-sharpness days stalling on routine tasks.
Researchers discovered that while older rats were as social as younger ones, a subpopulation preferred familiar peers. Altering neural communication reversed this preference, enhancing approach towards new peers. This suggests a distinct neural system underlying aging-related social behavior.
A new treatment combining cognitive and occupational therapy is being tested to improve stroke recovery, especially for rural patients. The 'cognition-first' approach tackles cognitive difficulties before physical rehabilitation, addressing a significant gap in existing treatments.
A new study published in Sleep Health found that the quality of a night's sleep, rather than its length, predicts how quickly older adults process information the next day. Researchers analyzed data from 261 participants aged 70 and above, who wore devices to track their sleep and completed cognitive assessments six times a day.
A new study found that slower reaction time and lower response accuracy in cognitive tasks are associated with higher levels of frailty. The association can be detected in late midlife among individuals aged 57 to 70 years.
Researchers have identified Tapt1 as a key gene in maintaining the balance between protein synthesis and degradation, crucial for normal brain development. The study reveals that Tapt1, along with its partner Suco, ensures proper neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation.
Researchers found that people naturally blink less when working harder to understand speech in noisy environments, suggesting a link between blinking and cognitive function. Blink patterns remained stable across different lighting conditions.
Researchers identified a molecular mechanism linking early-life environments with memory by activating AP-1, which regulates genes involved in neuronal plasticity and learning. Early-life experiences produce long-lasting modulation of AP-1 activity, boosting gene networks that strengthen neuronal connections.
A virtual clinical trial using computer models of patients' brains found that psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin and LSD can increase brain activity complexity in patients with disorders of consciousness. The study suggests that these patients may benefit from a treatment involving simulated increases in brain activity.
A team from Tokyo Metropolitan University has identified a crucial precursor structure in the formation of tau protein fibrils, mirroring the crystallization of polymers. Dissolving these clusters prevents fibril formation, suggesting a new paradigm for treating neurodegenerative diseases.
A new study found that faster biological aging measured by DNA-based epigenetic clocks is associated with greater cognitive decline and higher risk of mild cognitive impairment in Hispanic/Latino adults. The study highlights the potential of epigenetic clocks to track changes in brain health over time.
Researchers found that a rotating brain wave helps the cortex recover its computational path after a distraction, improving performance in visual working memory tasks. Longer time intervals between distractions also aid recovery.
A new study reveals how prenatal alcohol exposure impairs key brain cells and circuits, leading to cognitive inflexibility and increased risk of compulsive alcohol use. Researchers identified a specific brain cell affected by early alcohol exposure, providing a clear target for developing more effective treatments of FASD.
Psychedelic substances profoundly alter our perception of time, inducing temporal distortions that offer unprecedented insights into consciousness. By suppressing the default mode network and modulating multiple brain regions, psychedelics provide unique windows into brain function and mental health treatment.
The researchers are studying how brief, playful social interactions affect brain function and cognitive performance in older adults using advanced brain imaging techniques. They aim to develop simple and inexpensive interventions that can be implemented in clinical settings and in the community.
A study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity found that quitting smoking, even in the 50s or older, significantly reduces cognitive decline. Cognitive scores of quitters declined 20% less for memory and 50% less for verbal fluency over six years after cessation.
In a study published in PLOS Biology, researchers found that young European great tits learn essential life skills from their older siblings and non-parental adults, rather than primarily from their parents. This suggests an alternative pathway to cultural inheritance and highlights the importance of sibling relationships in shaping bi...
A large-scale international study found that creative experiences slow brain aging and promote healthier brain function. Creative activities such as music, dance, and video games were linked to 'younger' brain profiles, particularly in regions vulnerable to neurodegeneration.
Adolescents who frequently prefer solitude show measurable differences in brain structure and function, with weaker connections and greater fragility in social circuits. Clinicians can help families recognize risks by spotting early patterns of persistent withdrawal, opening the door to strategies that may protect mental health.
A new study from Karolinska Institutet found that music training strengthens the brain's ability to focus under distracting conditions. Musical people were better at using top-down attention while being less sensitive to bottom-up distractions.
Researchers used quantitative susceptibility mapping MRI to detect changes in brain tissue linked to iron levels, predicting mild cognitive impairment and later Alzheimer's disease. The study showed that higher iron levels in specific brain areas could spot early changes years before symptoms appeared.
Researchers at Penn State found that weight fluctuations and changes can lead to faster cognitive decline in older adults. The study analyzed data from 4,304 participants and showed that those with greater variability in weight experienced more rapid cognitive declines.
A study published in Translational Psychiatry found that following a well-formulated ketogenic diet for at least 10 weeks resulted in a significant decrease in depression symptoms, improved global well-being, and enhanced cognitive performance among college students. The pilot trial showed a roughly 70% reduction in depression symptoms.
A new brainwave test developed at the University of Bath has been shown to detect signs of memory impairment linked to Alzheimer's disease years before clinical diagnosis. The Fastball EEG technology, a three-minute passive test, can reliably identify memory problems in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment.
Scientists Sharon Swanger and Shannon Farris study how mitochondria in vulnerable memory circuits become overloaded with calcium, contributing to early memory breakdowns. Their research aims to find early signs of stress or failure in the entorhinal cortex-hippocampus circuit.
Researchers found that faster biological aging is associated with lower scores on digital cognitive tests, particularly among older adults. DNA methylation patterns were used to estimate biological age acceleration, and protein markers PAI1 and ADM showed strong associations with lower cognitive scores.
Aging populations exhibit a positivity bias in recognizing emotions, associated with observable changes in brain linked to cognitive decline and neurodegeneration. The study correlates age-related positivity bias with poorer cognitive performance but not necessarily emotional decline.
Two brain regions have been identified as a neural compass, allowing people to maintain their sense of direction while navigating naturalistic virtual reality cities. These regions are consistent across different city features and task phases, suggesting they track direction relative to the north-south axis.
A new study by Tel Aviv University reveals that repeated exposure to an image, whether authentic or AI-generated, boosts its perceived credibility. This 'mere exposure effect' also applies to images created using artificial intelligence algorithms, raising concerns about the spread of false visual information on social media.