Articles tagged with Human Thought
A common gene variant is found to optimize brain function and improve thinking abilities, but also increases the risk of developing schizophrenia. The study suggests that this variant may have a paradoxical effect when combined with impaired prefrontal cortex function.
A recent study found that people with higher self-esteem enjoy mystery stories with unexpected twists, whereas those with lower self-esteem prefer stories with confirmed endings. The study involved 84 German college students who rated their enjoyment of a mystery story with varying levels of uncertainty and confirmation.
A study found that inducing fast thinking can lead to feelings of happiness, energy, creativity, power, and grandiosity. The speed of cognitive processing was as important as the content of thoughts in determining mood. Researchers suggest simple manipulations of thought speed could improve mood and self-esteem.
Researchers found that copper modulates critical events within the central nervous system, influencing how well we think. Variations in genes coding for Atp7a, a copper transporter, may contribute to differences in thinking among individuals.
Researchers found that people with autism have lower brain synchronization and rely heavily on visualization to process information. The studies suggest that these differences are related to the brain's cabling and connectivity problems.
Frequent marijuana use leads to deteriorated cognitive functions, particularly in remembering new information. Long-term users showed significant impairment in cognitive abilities compared to non-users, with more severe decline over time.
Researchers isolate causes of cognitive loss following coronary artery bypass surgery, finding that minimal aortic movement significantly reduces neurological deficits. The study suggests that emboli are the cause of cognitive problems, and patients who did not use the heart-lung machine had fewer emboli.
A new study by McMaster University found a significant correlation between brain size and intelligence in women. In contrast, men's spatial ability was not strongly related to overall brain size. The study suggests that sex differences may play a role in cognitive processes.
Researchers found that schizophrenic patients lacked gamma band response, indicating defective communication between neurons, while healthy brains showed synchronized activity at 40 hertz. The study suggests that drugs promoting a normal gamma response may help alleviate schizophrenia symptoms.
Scientists have pinpointed the site of a defect in a brain circuit associated with Williams Syndrome, a genetic disorder that affects thinking and cognitive abilities. The study used MRI scans to identify a small region in the brain's white matter that lacked grey matter in people with the disorder.
Researchers used fMRI scans to identify whether participants were imagining faces or places, achieving an accuracy rate of 85% in some trials. The study has implications for understanding the minds of individuals unable to communicate due to injuries or disorders.