Articles tagged with Cognitive Theory
A new study by Thomas Pepinsky challenges the idea that language shapes thought and behavior, finding no evidence that linguistic differences affect social and economic outcomes. The study reveals that statistical methodologies used in previous research are prone to producing false positives.
Researchers found that 6.7% of jail detainees threatened SSH in the past three months, and 4.5% attempted SSH in the past year. The study suggests that jails should develop an empirically driven suicidal risk assessment to improve institutional safety and prevent suicide.
Researchers observed chimpanzees in Gabon applying insects to their wounds and those of others, demonstrating prosocial behaviors linked to empathy. The study suggests that these actions may be evidence of an innate capacity for selfless care in non-human primates.
A study found that Republicans who consumed and trusted Fox News less had more faith in the electoral process, while Democrats grew more confident as evidence of Biden's win accumulated. Cognitive dissonance theory explains how Fox News rationalized the outcome for Republicans, leading to decreased confidence in vote legitimacy.
A study published in the Atlantic Journal of Communication analyzed Instagram posts from 20 celebrity influencers about COVID-19 between March and May 2020. The researchers found that celebrities initially modeled guidance from health experts, normalizing suggested behaviors such as staying home and practicing hand hygiene.
A neural model suggests that conspiracy theories are a result of the brain's tendency to simplify complex information and associate it with emotional experiences. This theory challenges traditional views on the origins of conspiracy theories, proposing a link between genetic determinism and neuronal activity.
Researchers suggest that humans evolved to specialise in different ways of thinking to adapt to dramatic environmental variability. This theory of 'complementary cognition' provides insights into the emergence of language and cultural adaptations.
A study of 1,600 people found that 1 in 10 agreed strongly with COVID-19 conspiracy theories, with younger, stressed individuals more likely to hold extreme views. Cognitive biases were also identified, with those who believed in conspiracies being less critical of contradictory information.
A team of New Jersey researchers has shown that changes in perceptual certainty and response bias, two central metrics of signal detection theory (SDT), correlate with changes in cognitive fatigue. SDT measures change as a function of changes in brain activation.
In a study published in Scientific Reports, researchers found that dogs can recognize their body as an obstacle, a basic manifestation of self-representation. This ability is linked to the mirror mark experiment, where humans and elephants perform well.
Researchers found that chimpanzees are more motivated to cooperate and warn others than bonobos, who rely less on each other. This suggests that the interdependence hypothesis may be supported, where humans' reliance on cooperation evolved from hunting large prey or conflict with other groups.
Distributional semantics provides radically empirical representations of words' meanings by processing thousands of texts. Research by Gemma Boleda highlights its potential to advance knowledge on how language works, including detecting changes in meaning over time.
Researchers developed a new model to explain the evolutionary origins of empathy, suggesting it lies in cognitive simulation. This approach shifts focus from cooperation to a single cognitive mechanism.
New research by Josh Hart suggests that people with suspicious, untrusting, and eccentric personalities are more likely to believe in conspiracy theories. The study found that these individuals tend to be more receptive to meaningful patterns where none exist and have a tendency to detect hidden forces at play.
A study by David Casagrande explores the attitudes and perception of flood risk in US coastal communities. Residents employ rationalizations such as scapegoating and social comparison to avoid making difficult decisions, rather than taking steps to mitigate damage. This research highlights the importance of addressing individual belief...
Researchers at Lobachevsky University have developed a mathematical model to explain cognitive dissonance through the lens of information images. The theory posits that there is a limited space filled with interacting information images, governed by laws that determine real and virtual activities.
Researchers suggest brain expansion and renormalization occur during skill acquisition, with brain volume increasing initially before returning to normal.
A new study published in Personality and Individual Differences found that high cognitive ability is not a safeguard against believing in conspiracy theories and paranormal phenomena. People with strong motivation to form rational beliefs can still fall prey to these unfounded ideas.
Researchers monitored students' success in a 17-week online program, finding that time of day had little effect on task completion, contradicting the theory of finite self-control. Students' performance on specific tasks declined after about an hour, regardless of when they started.
A new study suggests that a quantum theory approach may be able to account for the complexity of humor, proposing that our ability to perceive multiple meanings simultaneously makes puns and jokes funny. The research provides an exciting first step towards developing a formal quantum theory model of humor.
A new algorithm allows users from different network providers to pair up and make better use of the available wireless spectrum, reducing inefficiency in wireless technology. The 'blind' matching algorithm uses a simple learning process and converges to a stable-matching state, enabling mutually beneficial partnerships.
Grasping actions have been shown to accelerate the brain's comprehension process, allowing for a faster interpretation of words. This new method could be used in therapies for aphasia, a language disorder affecting stroke patients, by utilizing motor training through grip movements to strengthen word recognition.
A new study by Rice University researchers found that strong external governance mechanisms can actually increase the likelihood of financial fraud among top managers. Higher levels of dedicated institutional ownership and increased analyst pressure were linked to higher rates of fraud. The findings challenge traditional agency theory,...
Recent breakthroughs in creating artificial systems that outplay humans in games are rooted in neural networks inspired by information processing in the brain. The complementary learning systems theory explains how humans and animals learn, highlighting its potential importance as a framework for AI development.
The Journal of Cognitive Enhancement will investigate how social cognitive processes can be enhanced through various methods, including meditation, video games, and cognitive training. Research in this area aims to delay cognitive decline in the elderly, reducing welfare costs and improving overall quality of life.
Experiments at Cornell University and Beijing University found that retweeting creates cognitive overload, leading to poor comprehension and recall of information. The study suggests that web interfaces should be designed to promote rather than interfere with cognitive processing.
Researchers propose a new theory that pain is a complex interaction of multiple elements, including sensory processes and emotional responses. A study found that the brain processes both general and specific components of pain in parallel, allowing for efficient processing of unpleasant experiences.
A University of Houston study found that 'intentionally brief' middle school mentoring programs increased math and English grades, as well as life satisfaction and reduced absences. The program provided mentor training and utilized social science theories to support student outcomes.
A new theory suggests that mood can aid adaptation to environmental changes by reflecting recent changes in reward availability. This effect may help explain the causes of mood disorders and predispose individuals to conditions like bipolar disorder.
A new theory proposes that neuroticism is driven by high activity in the brain's self-generated thought centers, which can lead to both creative breakthroughs and negative emotions. The study suggests that overthinking may be a key factor in experiencing intense negative emotions even when there is no apparent threat.
Studies supporting bilingual advantage are more likely to be published than those contradicting it, potentially skewing the overall understanding of its effects on cognitive function. Researchers call for a critical review of scientific literature to ensure all findings are shared, regardless of outcome.
A systematic review found that theory-based interventions were beneficial for vegetable intake only, with limited overall effects. The authors recommend future research examining the causality and strength of relationships between theoretical variables and dietary change behaviors.
Anna V. Fisher, Carnegie Mellon University associate professor of psychology, receives a $600,000 award to study the emergence of higher-order cognition in children. Her work explores how individual differences and developmental changes contribute to children's ability to make inferences based on non-obvious commonalities.
The Healthy Mind app, launched by the University of Southampton, aims to relieve stress using nine tools and intelligent notification scheduling. The app will monitor user data to determine the best time for notifications, increasing the chance that they are received and used to manage stress.
A pilot study found that self-administered hand shiatsu pressure techniques can help participants with chronic lower-back pain fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer. The study's findings suggest that this low-cost alternative may be a valuable tool in addressing the sleep deprivation that often exacerbates chronic pain.
According to Newen and Barlassina's integrative embodiment theory of emotions, feelings of bodily processes are combined with cognitive contents to form a separate mental state. This model addresses the limitations of earlier theories, such as James-Lange and cognitive theories, which neglect the role of bodily states in emotion.
Researchers at Indiana University found that people playing rock-paper-scissors subtly influence each other, converging on similar ways of reasoning over time. This 'cyclic game dynamics' occurs when individuals try to anticipate others' decisions, leading to synchronized behavior in various real-world situations.
A new study by Claire McAndrew and Julie Gore found that professional training in real-world scenarios can override laboratory decision preferences. The research suggests that trainers should focus on the professional, task, and environment to understand how decisions are made.
A new study using Pokemon experts and non-experts found that a more generalized system processes faces and expert objects, supporting the expertise hypothesis. Brain signals in the fusiform face area were stronger in experts when looking at Pokemon characters.
Researchers found that cannabis users with schizophrenia have higher brain activity and correct answers than those without prior cannabis use. The study suggests that cannabis use can imitate the cognitive weakness leading to schizophrenia in non-psychotic individuals.
A new study found that predatory mites who live among familiar neighbors are more efficient at finding food due to reduced stress. This social familiarity allows individuals to focus on other tasks, leading to increased productivity.
Researchers propose a new 'theory of mind' approach: infants as young as 1 year old can distinguish their own beliefs from those of others. They develop this capacity through two interacting systems, including an association module and an operating system.
Researchers at Kessler Foundation will investigate the impact of cognitive reserve on thinking, learning, and memory after traumatic brain injury. The study aims to develop strategies that reduce risk for cognitive problems in individuals with TBI.
SAFEPED is a computer simulation that integrates robotics and statistics on driver and pedestrian behavior to determine the environmental features leading to dangerous intersections. The model allows traffic planners to analyze and fix black spots, test and redesign junctions for optimal safety.
A new explanation of how humans solve problems creatively has been introduced, providing a roadmap for building systems that perform like humans. The theory proposes the coexistence of two types of knowledge and processing: explicit and implicit. By incorporating this principle, computers can now mimic human creativity in problem-solving.
University of Guam professors Seyda Turk Smith, Kyle D. Smith, and Abdulgaffar Peang-Meth published an article in the International Journal of Intercultural Relations on university-based services for asylum seekers on Guam. The study highlights the importance of community formation among refugees through need-based activities and cultu...
Researchers have found that moral dilemmas are often influenced by general biases rather than abstract moral principles. The study highlights the need for more diverse methods in studying moral judgments, moving beyond the use of moral dilemmas.
Camerer discusses his cognitive hierarchy theory, which suggests people only take a few steps of iterated thinking when strategizing. This theory has been tested using various game-theory experiments and field-data sets, showing that people typically choose lower numbers in games like the Swedish LUPI lottery.
A new study investigates how culturally engrained systems of ideas influence persistent goal striving for parenthood. The researchers identify three major discourses: scientific rationalism, self-management, and fatalism, which shape people's appraisals of means, planning, and persistence in achieving parenthood. These discourses help ...
A study published in Neurology found that reading ability is a protective factor against the negative effects of lead exposure on the brain. Workers with higher reading levels showed less cognitive decline compared to those with lower reading abilities.
Research finds that habits of use create a substantial advantage for an incumbent, but only when achieving a specific goal, limiting the impact on consumer choice.
Research at the University of Chicago found that sharing new information with people who know you well can slow down communication. This happens because they often use short, ambiguous messages, assuming the other person already knows the information.
Researchers found that people who use memorization techniques to shorten the number of syllables in prices have better recall. Consumers also store information both verbally and visually, leading to better recall of unusual looking prices.
Researchers have mapped a link between the size of the hippocampus and progression to Alzheimer's dementia. The technique allows for subtle anatomical differences to be detected, which holds great promise for predicting cognitive decline and improving patient counseling.
Researchers found that visual cues, such as pictures of objects, can elicit significant brain activity, but this response differs from the electrical signal triggered by verbal cues like words. The study suggests that image processing and word processing may involve separate neural networks.
Researchers Sucharita Chandran and Vicki Morwitz found that participative pricing affects consumers' goal-related focus, influencing their cognitions and purchasing decisions. By measuring personal characteristics like perceived control, marketers can tailor offerings to match different consumer types.
Researchers found that language comprehension involves continuous processing and competition between representations, contradicting traditional discrete models. The study used mouse movements to track students' processing of words, revealing curved trajectories indicating gradual ambiguity resolution.
In a study published in Psychophysiology, researchers found that humans display decreased balance control and increased muscle stiffness when viewing unpleasant images, mirroring the behavior of deer in a threatening situation. This phenomenon is linked to neural circuits promoting defensive survival and is observed in various species.
A study by researchers at University College London found that when participants were lifting a heavy box, they perceived the weight of an actor's lifted box as lighter than it actually was. This suggests that our brains use simulation theory to understand others' actions, which can lead to biased judgments in social situations. Accord...
A study by Catherine Ortner found that intoxicated individuals may actually make more cautious decisions than sober counterparts in certain situations. The research suggests a complex relationship between alcohol consumption and decision-making processes.