Articles tagged with Cognitive Psychology
A small study compares healthy brains of young and old, finding normal ageing associated with increased blood-brain barrier permeability in Alzheimer's Disease vulnerable areas. This increased permeability may contribute to disease progression.
Research by Niigata University found that people tend to underestimate the probability of minority inclusion, often using heuristics and stereotypes. However, when provided with mathematical probabilities, attitudes towards minorities shifted towards more inclusive views.
A new study at Hebrew University found that guided internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy significantly improves depression and insomnia symptoms over time. The study emphasizes the importance of the therapeutic alliance and attachment styles in predicting treatment outcomes.
Research at Ruhr-University Bochum found that preschool children tend to prepare for upcoming events by considering how bad it will feel to lose, rather than how good it will feel to win. This pessimistic outlook motivates them to behave proactively in the present.
A male Sumatran orangutan applied sap from a climbing plant with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties to a facial wound, closing it within five days. This self-medication behavior may have originated in a common ancestor shared by humans and orangutans.
Researchers at Aston University discovered that experienced Ordnance Survey mapmakers and novices interpret aerial images differently. The experts rely on stereoscopic cues, while novices focus on lighting cues, leading to improved performance through repeated exposure and perceptual learning.
Research published by the American Psychological Association found that individuals who use willpower to achieve goals are perceived as more trustworthy. Those who rely on external strategies, such as commitment strategies, are viewed as less capable of self-control and therefore less trustworthy.
Research analyzed over 130 studies to find that touch benefits mental health, especially when administered by parents to infants. Touch can reduce pain, depression, and anxiety in adults, with a positive effect on cardiovascular factors.
A new study by the University of Southampton found that a commonly used questionnaire for monitoring depression treatment in primary care does not provide immediate benefits. However, patients who tracked their scores reported improved overall wellbeing and quality of life after six months.
Researchers found that our brain processes vision in a rhythmic manner, increasing sensitivity during steps and decreasing it. This discovery has implications for understanding human behavior, decision-making, and potential applications in sports science and diagnostics.
A new study from Drexel University's Creativity Research Lab reveals that the creative flow state involves two key factors: extensive experience and release of control. High-experience musicians experienced flow more often and intensely than low-experience musicians, suggesting expertise enables flow.
A study published in British Journal of Psychology found that regular gamers performed better on tasks measuring cognitive functions such as attention and memory. They were able to complete number-letter tasks and maze activities faster than non-gamers, with no significant difference in cognitive fatigue experienced.
A recent twin study published in Human Brain Mapping has found that genetics play a significant role in brain activity during emotional and cognitive tasks, with some factors being exclusive to environment. The study used functional MRI scans on twins to analyze the relationship between genetics and environment in brain function.
Research reveals oxytocin neurons in mouse brain modulate object recognition memory, with activation boosting long-term memory and implicating Alzheimer's disease. Oxytocin's role in social memory also highlighted, suggesting a potential link to loneliness or limited social engagement.
Dr. Jean Chen receives grant to investigate cognitive behaviour therapy's effect on caregiver brain health, reducing dementia risk and improving overall wellbeing. The research aims to optimize CBT use for Canadians living with depression.
A recent study found that people are more satisfied in relationships where they feel like they are being supported, rather than when they feel like they know their partner. By highlighting what you want to be known by a potential partner, you can increase your appeal on dating sites.
A new UK study provides insight into the diversity of neurodivergent experiences among adults. The research found significant overlap in characteristics between different neurodevelopmental conditions, as well as distinctive traits associated with each condition. This study offers a framework for examining neurodiversity across the who...
A recent study by Tokyo University of Science has identified central emotions across languages through word association-based colexification networks. The researchers found that concepts like GOOD, WANT, BAD, and LOVE are associated with many other words representing emotions.
Researchers analyzed 241 studies of CBT-I for chronic insomnia and found that cognitive restructuring, third-wave components, sleep restriction, stimulus control, and in-person delivery were the most effective strategies. In-person interaction with a therapist was more beneficial than self-help guides.
A new study by the University of Plymouth shows that at-risk individuals are more likely to engage with loot boxes than those without, highlighting the need for stricter enforcement around these features. The research found that loot box use is driven by beliefs such as 'I'll win in a minute', echoing the psychology seen in gambling.
A comprehensive review challenges traditional trust and distrust mindsets, instead advocating for an alternative Cartesian mindset. This evaluative approach has shown promise in distinguishing between true and false information, reducing the propagation of disinformation.
The Digital Media Overuse Scale (dMOS) is a new tool that measures digital media addiction, providing clinically relevant scores across various domains. Researchers found that overuse is typically reported in one or a few domains only, with social media being a significant concern.
A new randomised controlled trial found that an 18-month meditation programme can improve the wellbeing of older adults by enhancing their awareness, connection to others, and insight. However, it did not confer significant benefits on two commonly used measures of psychological wellbeing.
A study from the University of Ottawa found that sleep deprivation significantly impacts decision-making processes, reducing neural responses to winning and losing outcomes. This can lead to diminished positive emotions in response to winning and negative emotions when faced with losses.
A study by the University of Ottawa found that various long-term memory types, such as semantic and episodic memory, rely on the same brain network to varying degrees. The research used neuroimaging techniques to compare brain activity across different memory conditions.
Researchers argue for a 'human-centered AI' approach to co-creativity, balancing automation with human control. They emphasize the need for interdisciplinary research on creativity, ethics, and intellectual property rights in human-AI collaboration.
A study by Dr Lixin Ren found that extracurricular activities have a limited impact on math skills in preschool children, with effects dependent on behavioral regulation and approaches to learning. For children with poor self-regulation skills, structured activities can improve early math skills.
Researchers found that all tested languages make the same spatial distinctions using words like 'this' or 'that', based on reachability. This suggests a universal action constraint underlying demonstrative language across cultures.
Researchers found that using natural hazards instead of disasters increases intentions to prepare and actual behavior, suggesting a potential solution to improve public response. The study suggests that the terms 'natural hazard' and 'natural disaster' have little impact on key perceptions.
A study by University of Nebraska-Lincoln researchers found that crowdfunding platforms create a sense of democracy, but backers often come from similar groups and give to projects they find cool. This limits the democratizing potential of crowdfunding.
A randomized controlled trial found that cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) significantly reduces fibromyalgia pain by decreasing pain-catastrophizing, a negative response that amplifies pain. CBT participants showed reduced connectivity between brain regions associated with self-awareness and emotional processing.
The Open Encyclopedia of Cognitive Science (OECS) is a dynamic web reference that will equip readers with essential tools to grapple with the profound implications of cognition and intelligence in today's society. With generous funding from James S. McDonnell Foundation and the Allen Institute for AI, the first set of articles will be ...
A new study from Rice University found that antidepressants can reduce negative memories in depressed individuals while improving overall memory function. The study's lead author suggests that the medications shift memory dynamics toward healthy function and may help better select treatments depending on people's symptoms of depression.
Researchers found that moral judgments involve distinct brain regions and activity patterns, contradicting the idea of moral monism. The study also revealed differences in brain activity between liberals and conservatives, suggesting that moral foundations can be identified through neural activations.
An online course designed to curb negative thinking has shown strong results in reducing ruminating and worrying. The program, featuring three lessons over six weeks, significantly improved mental health outcomes for participants.
Researchers found that childhood adversity can reshape an individual's moral development, leading to a 'deformative experience' that pulls them away from their true nature. This asymmetric sensitivity to life history information affects judgments of praise and blame.
A new study from Texas A&M University finds a correlation between secondhand smoke exposure and higher blood lead levels in children. The research suggests that education and mitigation efforts can further protect kids and adolescents from lead exposure, building on past success of lead removal initiatives.
A new study examines the association between impulsivity and suicidal risk in Black emerging adults, finding that mindfulness may be a key buffer against negative consequences. The research suggests that mindfulness can help mitigate suicidal ideation by reducing impulsivity, offering hope for improved mental health outcomes.
Researchers propose GABA-modulating treatments as potential therapeutic targets for depression's cognitive and affective symptoms. The study highlights the importance of GABA-A receptors in regulating balance and signals between neurons, and suggests compounds that promote or inhibit these receptors may alleviate depressive symptoms.
A new study from the University of Arizona has found that remembering events can trigger theta oscillations in the brain's hippocampus region, suggesting that memory is a strong driver of these rhythmic signals. This discovery could lay the foundations for cognitive impairment therapy and improve memory.
Researchers found that both higher cognitive abilities and exploratory behavior are linked to longer life expectancy in wild gray mouse lemurs. Animals with better cognitive performance and physical condition tended to have longer lifespans.
Hypnosis expert Steven Jay Lynn challenges common misconceptions about the practice, highlighting its clinical applications and effectiveness. Research reveals that hypnotized individuals can resist suggestions, retain voluntary control, and even exhibit brain activity consistent with reported experiences.
A study led by Dartmouth College researchers found that participants' color memory improved when stimuli were meaningful and part of real-world objects. The results demonstrate that the capacity for visual working memory of colors is more continuous and flexible than previously thought, with better recall of colors in meaningful contexts.
Scientists studied vocal behavior of ten mothers and found they articulated better and expressed more positive emotions when speaking to their babies or puppies. This hyperarticulation led to clearer pronunciation of words and easier processing for infants.
Researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that predicting movement is crucial for eye-and-hand coordination. The study used high-speed cameras and AI methods to analyze primate behavior and developed a detailed model of vision-guided reaching behavior.
A new MIT study shows that lawyers prefer plain English contracts, which they find easier to understand and more appealing than traditional legal documents. The researchers found that while lawyers excel at reading and writing complex legalese, the style can be a barrier for non-lawyers.
A recent LMU study found that the Covid-19 pandemic had a predominantly negative impact on families' emotional well-being, despite temporary recoveries. Parental stress was a major factor in this decline. Conversely, a strong parent-child relationship acted as a resilience factor to mitigate these effects.
Researchers found that people whose depression symptoms improved after psychological treatment had a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease over three years. The association was strongest in younger adults and suggested that accessing psychological therapy could have long-term physical health benefits.
Research reveals people misremember events in just seconds, altering memories to suit their expectations. This distortion can significantly impact perceptions of reality.
A study found that monkeys with opposable thumbs were fooled by a sleight-of-hand trick, while those without were not. The French drop trick worked for capuchins and squirrel monkeys due to mirroring in their neural motor system.
A recent clinical study found that an online e-health program helped more people with chronic pain reduce their opioid medications and pain intensity than a control group. The program, called Goalistics Chronic Pain Management, improved pain knowledge, confidence managing pain, and coping skills.
Researchers used functional MRI scanners to monitor brains of subjects watching real-life videos, finding that different parts of the brain work together to understand and remember situations. The study suggests the brain creates mental sketches of people that can be transposed from one location to another.
A recent renaissance in psychedelic research investigates the cognitive effects of these drugs, shifting from mathematical modeling to behavioral and clinical studies. Studies have found that psychedelics can increase spontaneous creative insights while decreasing task-specific creativity, as well as affect memories in a malleable way.
A global study found that dogs' functions are a good predictor of how they are treated by their owners, with more functions leading to closer relationships. The research also found that not all dog jobs influence treatment equally, with herding increasing positive care and hunting increasing personhood.
The study found that oral transmission has profound effects on music evolution, shaping vocal music towards structures that are easier to learn and transmit. Human transmission biases also play a significant role in evolving musical systems.
Researchers argue that Artificial Social Intelligence (ASI) is the next big frontier for AI. ASI requires social perception, Theory of Mind and social interaction to understand others' mental states and cooperate in shared tasks. The field needs a holistic approach mimicking human interaction.
Recent studies have identified key psychological processes, such as repetitive negative thinking and self-reflection, that may impact cognitive aging and dementia prevention. Researchers propose incorporating psychological elements to reduce dementia risk through cognitive-behavioral interventions.
A University of California, Riverside study found that people's memories for celebrity faces are sharper but less accurate than those for non-celebrity faces. This 'variance-bias tradeoff' suggests that humans prioritize precision over accuracy to accommodate the natural variability in face recognition.
A new study published in Scientific Reports found that individuals who synchronize their pupil dilation patterns to a simple rhythmic beat also exhibit higher levels of synchrony with other minds, such as attending to the same story. This suggests an underlying mechanism uniting different forms of synchrony.
GPT-3 performs nearly on par with humans in decision-making but struggles with causal reasoning and information search. The language model's limitations may be due to its passive information-gathering approach, highlighting the need for active interaction with the world to achieve human-like intelligence.