Articles tagged with Cognitive 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.
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 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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
A new study by the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) Cohort suggests that higher vitamin D levels during pregnancy may be associated with better cognitive test scores in children. Children of Black mothers, in particular, showed strongest association between vitamin D and cognitive development.
Researchers used IntelliCage to assess spontaneous behavioral changes in a mouse model of schizophrenia, finding increased hyperactivity and exploratory behavior after treatment with MK-801. However, cognitive flexibility was impaired, suggesting schizophrenia-like behaviors.
A study published in Alzheimer's & Dementia found that regular opioid use is associated with a 20% increased risk of all-cause dementia and over 70% increased risk of dementia among those taking strong opioids. Regular opioid use was also linked to reduced brain volume, lower fluid intelligence, and higher risk of vascular dementia.
Researchers at Florida Atlantic University are using a genetically tractable model organism, C. elegans, to dissect the cellular pathways impacted by amphetamines. The study aims to identify novel regulators of dopamine release and genes that mediate amphetamine's effects independently of traditional dopamine mechanisms.
A randomized clinical trial found that SMART training improved cognitive gains in active-duty service members with mTBI, with significant benefits seen after just one-third of the training time compared to traditional SCORE protocols. The study suggests that SMART brain training can contribute to faster return to mission readiness and ...
A new study from the University of Southern California reveals that just 30 days of guided mindfulness meditation can significantly enhance key aspects of attentional control. The study demonstrates that even short-term meditation can lead to measurable cognitive improvements, particularly in reaction speed.
Research from Kyoto University found that continuing to play a musical instrument into old age preserves brain function and prevents atrophy in the putamen. Long-term practice showed no decline in verbal working memory performance or gray matter volume, while short-term practice improved memory function for four months.
Researchers at the University of Oklahoma investigate the overlap between cognitive decline caused by chemotherapy and aging, discovering decreased blood flow, disrupted blood-brain barriers, and senescent cells. Removing these cells with senolytics can improve cerebral blood flow, cognition, and overall brain health.
Scientists have discovered the structure and shape of key receptors in the cerebellum, a region critical for movement, balance, and cognition. This finding could lead to the development of therapies to repair damaged synapses and improve brain function.
A 16-year study of over 10,000 individuals aged 50+ found that those with higher wellbeing were more likely to have better scores on memory tests. The association was independent of depressive symptoms and suggested that psychological factors affect brain health.
A study of over 1,000 twins found that cognitive tests in infancy can predict adult intelligence and cognition, with environmental influences playing a significant role. Early life environments, including pre-preschool years, matter more than previously thought, suggesting potential interventions to support cognitive aging.
A new study found that remotely supervised exercise programs can significantly improve cognitive function in older adults with MCI. The research highlights the potential of home-based exercise interventions in preventing cognitive decline.
Using an algorithm called the Krakencoder, researchers at Weill Cornell Medicine mapped how the brain's anatomical connections and activity patterns relate to behavior. The tool accurately predicted individual's functional connectome about 20 times more than previous approaches, also mapping age, sex, and cognitive performance scores.
A cohort study of 4 countries found that both maternal and paternal higher education levels were linked to reduced cognitive decline, with own education mediating these associations. The study highlights the long-term impact of parental education on offspring cognitive health across diverse cultural contexts.