Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Protein p53 regulates learning, memory, sociability in mice

Researchers discovered protein p53's role in regulating sociability, repetitive behavior, and hippocampus-related learning and memory in mice. Lowering p53 levels led to changes in gene expressions related to behavior, while elevated p53 levels were linked to positive learning outcomes.

SourceBeckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 27, 2023

Study shows simulator, combined with app, helps teachers correct mistakes before entering classroom

A new study co-written by a researcher from the University of Kansas examined TeachLivE, a simulator that allows pre-service teachers to deliver lessons in front of a virtual classroom of avatars. The results showed that the simulation experience combined with personalized feedback data can support teachers' practice of skills of their...

SourceUniversity of Kansas·JournalEducation Sciences·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateSep 21, 2023

Wolves and dogs appear to remember where people hid food

A study involving wolves and dogs found that both species can remember where people hid food if they observed the hiding process. However, wolves outperformed dogs in finding caches, suggesting differences in traits like persistency and food-related motivation.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS ONE·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 13, 2023

Good smells, bad smells: It’s all in the insect brain

Researchers found that locusts have a clear preference for certain odors, such as grass and banana, while avoiding others like almond and citrus. They developed a model explaining how innate and learned preferences are generated in the locust's olfactory system.

SourceWashington University in St. Louis·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 8, 2023
Creality K1 Max 3D Printer

Creality K1 Max 3D Printer rapidly prototypes brackets, adapters, and fixtures for instruments and classroom demonstrations at large build volume.

Spirit mediums could help unlock tourism secrets – study

A study reveals that spirit mediums can teach tourism researchers to challenge traditional Western approaches to creating knowledge. By adopting a selfless epistemology, researchers can foster a more inclusive approach to knowledge production and promote the inclusion of marginalized knowledge systems.

SourceUniversity of Birmingham·JournalAnnals of Tourism Research·TypeMeta-analysis·DateAug 1, 2023

Complex-domain neural network advances large-scale coherent imaging

A new complex-domain neural network enhances large-scale coherent imaging by exploiting latent coupling information between amplitude and phase components. The technique reduces exposure time and data volume significantly while maintaining high-quality reconstructions.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalAdvanced Photonics Nexus·DateJul 27, 2023

Study finds tracking brain waves could reduce post-op complications

A new MIT study reveals that analyzing brain wave patterns can help doctors determine when patients are at risk of entering a deeper state of unconsciousness during surgery. By tracking these patterns, anesthesiologists may be able to prevent postoperative cognitive impairments and reduce the risk of complications.

SourceMassachusetts Institute of Technology·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJul 17, 2023
GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter

GQ GMC-500Plus Geiger Counter logs beta, gamma, and X-ray levels for environmental monitoring, training labs, and safety demonstrations.

Migrant orangutans learn which foods are good to eat by watching the locals

Researchers found that migrant male orangutan males use 'peering' behavior to observe local individuals and learn about new ecological knowledge, including how to process difficult-to-eat foods. This ability provides a survival advantage and is likely ancestral in the hominin lineage.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Ecology and Evolution·TypeObservational study·DateJul 5, 2023

Robot ‘chef’ learns to recreate recipes from watching food videos

Researchers trained a robotic chef to watch and learn from cooking videos, enabling it to identify ingredients and actions. The robot recognized 93% of the correct recipe from 16 videos, including variations and new recipes, showcasing its potential for automated food production and cost-effective deployment.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalIEEE Access·DateJun 4, 2023

Serine racemase upregulation improves learning and synaptic function

Researchers found that enhancing NMDAR function via increased serine racemase expression improved attention and cognitive flexibility in middle-aged rats. Upregulating serine racemase in the medial prefrontal cortex also increased glutamatergic synaptic transmission, including NMDAR activity.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 19, 2023

This elephant’s self-taught banana peeling offers glimpse of elephants’ broader abilities

Researchers discovered an Asian elephant named Pang Pha's exceptional banana-peeling ability, which suggests that elephants have impressive cognitive and manipulative skills. The study found that Pha learned to peel bananas through observational learning from humans, challenging the idea that such complex behaviors are unique to humans.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateApr 10, 2023

Deep learning model estimates cancer risk from breast density

A new deep learning-based model estimates breast density with high precision, correlating it to cancer risk. The model's performance is comparable to that of human experts, but it can be trained faster and on smaller datasets.

SourceSPIE--International Society for Optics and Photonics·JournalJournal of Medical Imaging·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 7, 2023
SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB

SAMSUNG T9 Portable SSD 2TB transfers large imagery and model outputs quickly between field laptops, lab workstations, and secure archives.

Rats trade initial rewards for long-term learning opportunities

Researchers found that rats adopt a non-greedy strategy to balance speed and accuracy, sacrificing immediate rewards for improved learning outcomes. The study suggests that slower reaction times lead to faster learning and higher rewards in both experimental and simulated environments.

SourceeLife·JournaleLife·DateFeb 14, 2023

Deep learning-assisted visual sensing to detect overcrowding in COVID-19 infected cities

A real-time visual sensing system developed by researchers at Incheon National University can detect overcrowding with an accuracy of 96.55% in real-time. The system uses drones to capture footage, analyze it using a modified ResNet architecture, and feed the data into a social monitoring system.

SourceIncheon National University·JournalIEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateFeb 7, 2023
DJI Air 3 (RC-N2)

DJI Air 3 (RC-N2) captures 4K mapping passes and environmental surveys with dual cameras, long flight time, and omnidirectional obstacle sensing.

Hearing is believing: sounds can alter our visual perception

Research found that sounds can influence how we perceive objects visually, making related sounds prioritize certain features. This effect was observed in three experiments, showing that audio input influences object-morph selection speed and accuracy when played during visual discrimination phase.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·TypeExperimental study·DateDec 7, 2022

Researchers from Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology develop an intelligent observer for Esports

A new intelligent observer for Esports has been developed using a Mask R-CNN algorithm to learn from human spectating data. This approach overcomes limitations of existing automatic observers, which require extensive domain knowledge and cannot capture undefined events or changes in event significance.

SourceGIST (Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology)·JournalExpert Systems with Applications·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateNov 24, 2022

Children learn more quickly than adults

A study published in Current Biology found that children exhibit rapid boosts of GABA during visual training, stabilizing new learning and making it more efficient. This discovery suggests that children may acquire new knowledge and skills faster than adults, with implications for teaching and learning strategies.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 15, 2022

Machine learning, from you

Researchers from the University of Tokyo's Interactive Intelligent Systems Laboratory developed a new system called LookHere that incorporates natural hand gestures into the teaching process. This approach eliminates extraneous details and provides better input data for machines to create models, resulting in improved efficiency and ac...

SourceUniversity of Tokyo·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 31, 2022

How the brain develops: a new way to shed light on cognition

A new neurocomputational model introduces a three-level information processing framework to understand brain development and cognition. The model focuses on Hebbian learning and reinforcement learning, highlighting two fundamental mechanisms for multilevel cognitive ability development in biological neural networks.

SourceUniversity of Montreal·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 20, 2022
Apple iPhone 17 Pro

Apple iPhone 17 Pro delivers top performance and advanced cameras for field documentation, data collection, and secure research communications.

The science of super-recognizers’ amazing feats of recognition

Research in Psychological Science found that super-recognizers process faces by dividing them into parts and storing composite images. They can recognize faces better than others even when only seeing smaller regions at a time.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalPsychological Science·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 8, 2022

Can ‘random noise’ unlock our learning potential?

A recent ECU study discovered that tRNS can enhance neuroplasticity, allowing the brain to form new pathways and connections. This technology has shown promise as a tool to assist individuals with learning difficulties or neurological conditions.

SourceEdith Cowan University·JournalNeuroscience·TypeLiterature review·DateSep 4, 2022

What guides our attention to faces in videos changes with age

Researchers discovered that face centering, not saliency, plays a key role in guiding attention to faces in videos as people age. The findings have implications for children's television programming and the diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder.

SourceUniversity of California - Riverside·JournalInfancy·TypeObservational study·DateAug 15, 2022

Seven-month-old babies already have a sense of symmetry

Researchers found that 7-month-old infants quickly discriminate between symmetrical and asymmetrical mosaics, indicating a robust ability to detect structural symmetry. This skill coincides with those found in studies using other stimuli, suggesting babies are good at extracting structure and rules from various media.

SourceUniversity of the Basque Country·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 7, 2022
Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars

Nikon Monarch 5 8x42 Binoculars deliver bright, sharp views for wildlife surveys, eclipse chases, and quick star-field scans at dark sites.

Understanding learning by inference

A study from the University of California, Davis, shows how humans use cognitive maps to infer indirect outcomes, allowing for accelerated learning and faster decision-making. The researchers found activity linked to inferential learning in the prefrontal cortex and midbrain, implicating dopamine in updating beliefs through inference.

SourceUniversity of California - Davis·JournalNeuron·TypeExperimental study·DateJun 16, 2022

New insights on infant word learning reported in study

A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences offers fresh insights into infant word learning. Researchers found that infants between 7 and 11 months old learn words by building up memory representations over time, rather than through repeated connections between words and objects.

SourceIndiana University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 7, 2022
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C)

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd Generation, USB-C) provide clear calls and strong noise reduction for interviews, conferences, and noisy field environments.

Mice choose best escape route without ever experiencing threat

Researchers at Sainsbury Wellcome Centre found that mice can choose the best escape route after only 10 minutes of exploration, without needing to experience threat. The study suggests that mice use innate heuristics and natural exploration to learn this information.

SourceSainsbury Wellcome Centre·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 25, 2022

Photo or the real thing? Mice can inherently recall and tell them apart

Researchers at Florida Atlantic University found that mice can perceive the difference between a picture of an object and the actual 3D object, employing higher-order cognitive processes. The study suggests that mice's hippocampus plays a significant role in associating memories with visual stimuli.

SourceFlorida Atlantic University·JournalScientific Reports·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 14, 2022

Researchers teach algorithm to predict success in effortful tasks

A machine learning model has been developed to predict cognitive performance based on reaction time, eye movement, and difficulty level. The model achieved an accuracy of 82.8% in predicting participant success in visual attention tasks.

SourceNational Research University Higher School of Economics·JournalDecision Support Systems·DateMar 2, 2022

Face detection in untrained deep neural networks​

A KAIST research team found that visual selectivity of facial images can arise spontaneously in completely untrained deep neural networks. This discovery reveals the emergence of primitive visual cognitive functions in biological and artificial neural networks, raising questions about the origin of early brain functions.

SourceThe Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)·JournalNature Communications·TypeMeta-analysis·DateDec 21, 2021

Using rocks to hammer out a connection between visual gaze and motor skills learning

A new study published in Communications Biology found a significant connection between visual gaze and motor skills learning, as participants learned to make stone tools through video training. The researchers discovered that the connection evolved over time, with certain phases of learning being more closely tied to gaze patterns.

SourceGeorgia Institute of Technology·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeObservational study·DateNov 17, 2021
Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter

Fluke 87V Industrial Digital Multimeter is a trusted meter for precise measurements during instrument integration, repairs, and field diagnostics.

“Can you show me how to calm myself down?” Observing adults can help toddlers regulate their emotions

Toddlers increased their use of distraction as a mechanism to calm themselves after observing others. Toddlers also benefited from observing both calm and active distraction strategies, regardless of temperament or play preferences. Observing strangers can help toddlers develop emotional regulation skills.

SourceSociety for Research in Child Development·JournalChild Development·TypeObservational study·DateNov 17, 2021

From amateur to expert

Researchers used mice to demonstrate that acquired knowledge is stored in early visual areas of the brain, highlighting the widespread storage of semantic memories. The study showed that part of category knowledge is already present in the visual cortex.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Neuroscience·DateSep 21, 2021

Researchers discover how the brain learns from subconscious stimuli

A study published in Neuron reveals that the brain learns from subconscious visual stimuli through the activation of dopamine-producing cells. The discovery has significant implications for developing targeted therapies for conditions like Parkinson's disease and improving brain plasticity in situations such as trauma or ageing.

SourceKU Leuven·JournalNeuron·DateMar 15, 2021
AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope

AmScope B120C-5M Compound Microscope supports teaching labs and QA checks with LED illumination, mechanical stage, and included 5MP camera.

Learn what you live? Study finds watching others can reduce decision bias

Researchers at Indiana University Kelley School of Business found that observing others make decisions can help reduce bias and improve decision-making. The study used computer games to decrease bias and showed that watching others solve problems helped observers learn about decision biases and improve their own.

SourceIndiana University·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·DateFeb 11, 2021

Learning by observation reduces cognitive bias, research suggests

New research suggests that observing others' decision-making can teach people to make better decisions themselves. The study, co-authored by Professor Irene Scopelliti, tested the effectiveness of a new debiasing training strategy and reports first evidence that watching others make decisions can improve our own decision making.

SourceCity St George’s, University of London·JournalOrganizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes·DateFeb 11, 2021

Growing up in a bilingual home has lasting benefits

A new study found that adults who acquired their second language as a young child show quicker attention shifting and faster visual change detection than those who learned later. These cognitive benefits are thought to be linked to adaptations made by infants in bilingual homes.

SourceAnglia Ruskin University·JournalScientific Reports·DateJan 22, 2021
Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply

Rigol DP832 Triple-Output Bench Power Supply powers sensors, microcontrollers, and test circuits with programmable rails and stable outputs.

Tweaking AI software to function like a human brain improves computer's learning ability

Artificial intelligence can learn new visual concepts faster using a technique that mirrors human visual learning, improving its ability to quickly recognize objects from sparse data. The approach enables computers to leverage prior learning and simplify complex visual concept representations, leading to improved learning efficiency.

SourceGeorgetown University Medical Center·JournalFrontiers in Computational Neuroscience·DateJan 12, 2021

New review says the ineffective 'learning styles' theory persists in education

A new review by Swansea University reveals that the 'learning styles' theory, which advises matching teaching to students' supposed learning styles, persists despite being ineffective and potentially harmful. The study found that nearly 90% of educators worldwide believe in the efficacy of learning styles.

SourceSwansea University·JournalFrontiers in Education·DateJan 6, 2021

Humans are born with brains 'prewired' to see words

Researchers found connections between newborn brain's visual word form area and language network, suggesting an innate sensitivity to visual words. The study suggests that the pre-reading VWFA is more connected functionally to the language network than other areas.

SourceOhio State University·JournalScientific Reports·DateOct 22, 2020
CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock

CalDigit TS4 Thunderbolt 4 Dock simplifies serious desks with 18 ports for high-speed storage, monitors, and instruments across Mac and PC setups.

Visual learning in honeybees and humans

Researchers found that honeybees use a simple counting-based model to learn from visual scenes, unlike humans who employ complex probabilistic learning to recognize patterns. This difference may contribute to human superiority in cognitive capacities.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 28, 2020

Scientists observe learning processes online in the brain

Researchers at Ruhr-University Bochum used EEG to study the impact of repetitive tactile stimulation on brain activity. They found that neuronal responses adapted to the frequency of stimulation and showed changes over time, potentially illustrating a learning process.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalFrontiers in Human Neuroscience·DateJul 21, 2020
Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter

Kestrel 3000 Pocket Weather Meter measures wind, temperature, and humidity in real time for site assessments, aviation checks, and safety briefings.

Vision: Observing the world during childhood affects the rest of life

A SISSA study shows that passive visual experience plays a key role in maturing the brain's 'complex' neurons involved in vision. This discovery has important implications for understanding cerebral development and could lead to new clinical and technological applications.

SourceScuola Internazionale Superiore di Studi Avanzati·JournalScience Advances·DateMay 29, 2020

Can copying your friends help you achieve your goals?

A new study finds that encouraging people to mimic successful exercise strategies used by their friends increases time spent exercising. Copy-paste prompts, a simple and costless nudge, can boost goal achievement in various domains.

SourceUniversity of Chicago Press Journals·JournalJournal of the Association for Consumer Research·DateMay 26, 2020

Risk aversion as a survival strategy in ants

Ants adapt their behavior to avoid traps by associating visual cues with negative experiences. Researchers studied two species of ants that changed their route on the second attempt after experiencing a setback.

SourceCNRS·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 9, 2020

Putting the power of a film director in an autonomous drone

A team of Carnegie Mellon University researchers has developed a fully autonomous aerial cinematography system that can learn humans' visual preferences. The system uses deep reinforcement learning to reason about visually interesting scenes, safety, and context, making it useful beyond entertainment and sports applications.

SourceCarnegie Mellon University·DateOct 15, 2019

Learning to read boosts the visual brain

A recent study by Max Planck Institute researchers found that learning to read does not harm the brain's ability to process culturally relevant objects like faces and houses. In fact, reading may even enhance overall visual processing.

SourceMax Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics·JournalScience Advances·DateSep 18, 2019
Meta Quest 3 512GB

Meta Quest 3 512GB enables immersive mission planning, terrain rehearsal, and interactive STEM demos with high-resolution mixed-reality experiences.

Brain stimulation speeds up visual learning and recovery

A combination of visual training and brain stimulation enhances learning in healthy adults, with twice as much improvement seen on a visual motion task. The study also found that this technique can lead to faster visual recovery and improved quality of life for patients who suffered a stroke or traumatic brain injury.

SourceSociety for Neuroscience·DateMay 27, 2019

Brain stimulation enhances visual learning speed and efficiency

Researchers found that transcranial random noise stimulation improved participants' motion integration thresholds, enabling better learning of visual cues. The technique also showed long-term retention of benefits, suggesting a promising approach for overcoming key hurdles in vision therapy.

SourceUniversity of Rochester·DateMay 27, 2019

'Mindreading' neurons simulate decisions of social partners

Researchers identified special brain cells that allow animals to reconstruct their social partner's state of mind and predict their intentions. Dysfunction in these 'simulation neurons' may contribute to social cognition difficulties in conditions like autism and social anxiety.

SourceUniversity of Cambridge·JournalCell·DateApr 11, 2019
Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)

Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4) runs demanding GIS, imaging, and annotation workflows on the go for surveys, briefings, and lab notebooks.

Arbitrary categories improve visual learning transfer, study finds

A new study at Brown University found that using arbitrary categories can improve the transfer of visual learning to real-life skills. Participants trained on categorizing blurry striped circles showed significant improvement in recognizing patches with the same angle, even when not training specifically on it.

SourceBrown University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateMar 28, 2019