Articles tagged with Cognitive Psychology
A study from the Smithsonian suggests that female Cope's gray treefrogs are susceptible to choice overload when confronted with multiple mating calls, leading to reduced ability to select a suitable mate. The research found that cognitive limits play a significant role in sexual selection among animals, highlighting the importance of u...
Surgical residents describe experiencing identity-related vigilance as a significant emotional and cognitive burden, contributing to fatigue and burnout. They identify opportunities on the programmatic level to mitigate negative consequences, highlighting the need for support.
An international study of 974 participants aged 50-94 found a strong correlation between ageist attitudes and self-reported memory failures. The results indicate that individuals with more restrictive views on older adult behavior experienced greater memory problems, regardless of their country of origin.
Research reveals that selective breeding and training have altered brain pathways related to vocal processing and cue interpretation in dogs. Trained service dogs show stronger connections between communication-related brain areas, suggesting trainability can be predicted by brain connectivity.
A new study challenges long-held assumptions about autism by showing that autistic people can understand others' emotions just as well as non-autistic people. Researchers found that autistic participants were similarly accurate at tracking emotional experiences and may have been slightly more accurate when understanding other autistic ...
A Swansea University PhD researcher has received funding to attend the Psychonomic Society Annual Meeting to share her findings on how neurodivergent people process visual symbols. Her research reveals that neurodivergent participants respond more quickly and accurately to these symbols, highlighting important differences in cognitive ...
A UC Irvine psychologist is using a massive longitudinal dataset to investigate how daily social connections shape our bodies and minds over time. The researcher aims to understand the 'ripple effect' of small, everyday moments on long-term health outcomes.
Researchers will examine whether online support strengthens brain development linked to emotional and mental health in prematurely born infants. The scalable intervention could transform how families receive support after discharge from the neonatal intensive care unit, bringing evidence-based support into the home.
Researchers at UCLA found a statistically significant relationship between cellphone ownership and lower reading scores in third and sixth graders. Children who owned cellphones had poorer comprehension regardless of whether they brought the phone to school or not.
A new review article synthesizes information on neural traveling waves, concluding they are a computational engine in the visual cortex. These waves allow the brain to build internal representations of the external world, enabling prediction and perception.
A new study from Carnegie Mellon University reveals that baboons and macaques exhibit the same geometric intuitions as young children, suggesting a fundamental similarity in the primate mind. The research found continuity across all groups, including two species of non-human primates, human children, and adult humans.
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.
A new neuroimaging study has identified specific MRI biomarkers that track along with changes in an individual's brain health trajectory over time. These findings demonstrate a holistic, multidimensional index of human performance correlating with physical, measurable changes in brain architecture.
A landmark study tracks preterm babies from birth to middle adulthood, identifying early cognitive development as the strongest predictor of who flourishes and struggles. Childhood IQ at age 8 is linked to adult outcomes, with a 15-point increase associated with a 79% reduction in poor economic and social functioning.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have found a way to intervene early in traumatic brain injuries using a natural, gut-derived chemical that prevents post-traumatic epilepsy from taking root. The treatment reduced brain inflammation, improved memory and mood, protected brain cells, made seizures both rarer and harder to trigger.
A study from Binghamton University found that poor sleep quality is connected to hyperarousal in young people and neurodegenerative patterns among older women. Research analyzed brain scans from over 1,300 participants to see how brain networks connect at rest in those with poor sleep.
The Center for BrainHealth has partnered with Dr. Krystal Sexton to expand its workplace-focused strategy, providing science-based tools to optimize workforce performance and resilience. The partnership aims to equip organizations with scalable solutions to enhance adaptability, innovation, and long-term performance.
Researchers at Tokyo University of Science found that revealing visual elements sequentially and matching each element with the speaker's narration improves attention and learning. Participants in a cumulative presentation format showed higher test scores compared to whole-slide presentations.
Researchers discovered that random sounds played during sleep can disrupt the consolidation of new memories by altering the composition of sleep stages. Participants who heard randomly played sounds spent less time in deep sleep and experienced poorer memory performance.
Researchers discovered astrocytes actively preserve long-term memories by regulating Ank2 and BDNF signaling. This finding expands the understanding of how memories are stored in the brain.
A new Virginia Tech study finds that patterns of repetitive negative thinking can carry anxiety into deeper distress among dementia caregivers, but also suggests that mindfulness training may help identify and interrupt this progression. Researchers also found that introducing mindfulness early on can aid in managing stress before it d...
Researchers used LLMs to analyze verbal reports of decision-making processes and found that people's own insights are a valuable source of data. The framework also showed that reasons people rely on shift systematically with the structure of the decision problem.
A cross-cultural study found that people across six countries divide mental capacities into two broad groups: Perceptual-Experiential (emerging early) and Reflective-Evaluative (emerging later). This structure suggests a shared, intuitive framework for understanding mental development.
Researchers at Australian National University trained people to detect AI-generated faces using global qualities such as symmetry and attractiveness. The ability to spot AI faces improved significantly, with high performers achieving near perfection.
Researchers at Hebrew University of Jerusalem discovered a surprising bias in non-conscious processing: negative spoken words are less likely to reach conscious awareness than neutral ones. This challenges traditional assumptions about how emotional information gains access to conscious awareness.
Researchers Iris van Rooij and Olivia Guest warn against relying on AI to replace human thinking in psychology research. They argue that AI systems lack the complexity of human cognition and cannot produce meaningful results.
New research by Muhammad Jawad finds that matching review formats to shopping stages improves outcomes. Participants who saw text for choice reduction and video for choice selection showed better results compared to those with mismatched formats.
A new study investigates whether obesity contributes to faster brain aging and earlier memory decline. Researchers found that high K63 polyubiquitination levels in young obese rats matched those seen in older brains, suggesting a connection between obesity-induced and age-related memory loss.
Researchers found that people are less likely to notice negative spoken words than neutral ones when focused on a visual task. The study suggests the brain's unconscious mind filters out harmful information to prevent distractions and mental fatigue.
A new study found that a low-cost, simple intervention using a self-help workbook paired with brief phone support significantly improves the mental health of displaced refugees. The program reduced psychological distress, PTSD symptoms, and improved wellbeing and daily functioning among participants.
A new study published in Frontiers in Psychology reveals that proactive brain training can strengthen the human mind before mental health challenges take root. The research found that a five-minute daily training program delivered digitally can lower stress, lift mental health metrics, and improve cognitive clarity among adults with an...
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.
Researchers found that octopuses can use mirrors to find food out of sight, displaying spatial cognitive abilities. The study shows that octopuses traveled to the correct side approximately 73% of the time when searching for a reward.
A new analysis argues that current scientific methods may not be capable of reliably answering questions about AI consciousness. The study highlights the importance of developing more precise methods to investigate subjective experience, crucial for evaluating claims about animal welfare, AI ethics, or bioethics.
A study from Michigan State University found that people consistently underestimate their friends' cynicism and overestimate their benevolence. This biases can impact friendship maintenance and may be more pronounced in newer friendships.
The Universitat Jaume I has secured funding for five research projects worth nearly one million euros to strengthen its research activity. These projects focus on improving neural networks, understanding memory, tackling antimicrobial resistance, developing new materials, and assessing the impact of air pollution on neurocognitive health.
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.
New research reveals that see-through or cut-out product packaging on a shelf increases the psychological desire to own it. Customers rely on various cues when making purchasing decisions, with visibility of a product influencing choices.
A new study led by Murdoch University found that children of parents with severe mental illness are more likely to experience cognitive difficulties. The study analysed data from over 1.5 million people and found that offspring tended to perform lower across several cognitive domains, particularly where a parent had schizophrenia or bi...
A new MSU study found that the perceived likelihood and severity of an incident explain why people fear law enforcement. Researchers suggest that addressing police violence by better preparing officers to recognize and respond appropriately can help mitigate fear, but may take time for public perceptions to change.
A new study finds that individuals with higher resilience tend to place greater weight on positive aspects in cost-benefit decisions, a process mediated by brain activity. This regulated handling of negative information is linked to increased acceptance and improved psychological resilience.
Researchers propose that ibasho, community-led spaces of belonging and social purpose, support long-term recovery and resilience. By restoring routines, roles, and neighborhood connections, ibasho helps individuals regain stability, dignity, and a sense of purpose after disasters.
A study of over 400 pregnant women found that vivid mental images are directly linked to their opinion of vaccines and whether they get vaccinated. Positive mental images were associated with increased vaccination rates, while negative images predicted higher hesitancy towards certain vaccines.
Researchers have created a new scale to measure whether lactating mothers' psychological needs are being met, providing a tool to improve breastfeeding outcomes. The study found that when all three basic needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) are satisfied, exclusive breastfeeding is more likely to persist.
Researchers found four mental states: recollections, connection to environment, bizarreness, and voluntary control, which appear across all three vigilance stages. A specific brain signature for the 'bizarre' dream-like state was also identified, characterized by reduced long-range connectivity between brain regions.
Renowned physician-scientist Francis Collins was recognized for his groundbreaking work on the Human Genome Project and leadership at the National Institutes of Health. The Center for BrainHealth Award honors pioneers who fundamentally reshape understanding of the brain and human potential.
Researchers at the University of Houston found that distraction disrupts memory consolidation primarily due to demands on central executive processing. To improve short-term memory, focus attention on a task for a few seconds before switching, and avoid multitasking.
A digital single-session intervention (SSI) has been shown to meaningfully improve young people's sense of hope and control over their lives. The tool provides short, accessible and evidence-based psychological support and wellbeing activities, increasing feelings of hope and self-agency while reducing feelings of being out of control.
A new study by Bournemouth University found that the brain reacts to emojis in a way similar to seeing real human faces, with neural responses occurring within 145-160 milliseconds. This suggests that emojis can be processed by the brain as meaningful emotional signals during online interaction.
Researchers develop molecular tool called SynTrogo, which enables selective dismantling of synaptic connections in brain circuits. By harnessing astrocytes, the system reduces synapse number while strengthening remaining connections, leading to enhanced long-term potentiation and improved memory.
A new study by NUS confirms that word-picture guessing exercises with immediate feedback significantly improve adults' ability to recall new vocabulary in a second language. The research shows that attempting an answer first, even if not fully learned yet, strengthens memory and supports lasting learning.
Social media use has been linked to psychological distress and impaired functioning in some people, but the impact varies widely depending on how and why it's used. Researchers are debating how to measure social media addiction and need more rigorous studies to determine whether it should be classified as a clinical disorder.
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 study analyzed thousands of textual descriptions of two-person social interactions using generative AI, resulting in a comprehensive taxonomy of categories. The findings provide a data-driven framework for understanding the structure of social situations, including associations with conflict, power, and duty.
A new eight-week self-reflection program helps trainees deepen their understanding of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and develop reflective skills. The study found that the program improved satisfaction, self-awareness, and reflective practice among participants, suggesting its potential to support CBT education.
A research team identified distinct subregions within the default mode network (DMN) that act as senders and receivers of information, enabling flexible shifts between perception and memory-driven thought. The study reveals that the DMN is not functionally uniform but composed of subregions with distinct connectivity biases.
A new twin study reveals that innate IQ is a key predictor of future socio-economic status, with genetics playing a significant role. The study found that IQ is approximately 75% genetically predicted and that socio-economic status is mostly explained by genetics.
A Northwestern University study found that imagination is not just a copy of sensation, but emerges at later stages of processing when the brain represents information holistically. The researchers mapped brain activity during imagination and perception, finding overlap in higher-level association areas.
Researchers Jing Chen and Simon Fischer-Baum at Rice University have made significant contributions to psychological science, focusing on human-AI interaction and literacy. Their work explores trust in automation, human performance limitations, and how people interpret risk, aiming to improve safety and efficiency across industries.
A research team led by LEE Doyun and KIM Yee-Joon found that the primary visual cortex encodes motion summaries and variability before higher brain regions transform them into category signals. This process, known as ensemble perception, allows the brain to capture the overall structure of a scene at a glance.