cognitivescience
New research published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General suggests reading fiction offers small but meaningful cognitive benefits, particularly for verbal skills, empathy, and the ability to understand others’ perspectives. Despite the longstanding popularity of fiction, its cognitive benefits have remained a topic of debate among educators, psychologists, and the general public. Fiction is often seen primarily as a source of entertainment, but there’s a growing body of research suggesting it might also play an important role in enhancing cognitive abilities. The new study aime...
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In a study published in Brain Communications, researchers have found evidence that individuals with aphantasia, a condition where people struggle to create mental images, exhibit significant differences in brain activity related to motor simulations compared to those without this condition. The study found that people with aphantasia do not show the expected increase in brain activity that typically occurs when imagining or observing movements, which contrasts sharply with individuals who can easily generate mental images. Aphantasia is a condition where individuals are unable to generate volu...
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In a recent study from Beijing Normal University, researchers have demonstrated that certain cognitive abilities, particularly those related to metacognition and mentalizing, are significantly influenced by environmental factors, potentially more so than by genetics. The study, published in Cell Reports00388-7), utilized a twin-based experimental model to explore how both genetic and environmental factors contribute to cognitive processing, revealing surprising insights into how we think and understand our own and others’ mental states. Research has shown that general intelligence, often measu...
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Researchers at the Paris Brain Institute have conducted a groundbreaking study on the processes that occur in the brain as it transitions from life to death, particularly focusing on a phenomenon called the “wave of death.” The study, published in the journal Neurobiology of Disease, reveals that the final cessation of brain activity involves a dramatic wave of neuronal depolarization, which could potentially inform interventions in cases of acute brain injury and cardiorespiratory arrest. Understanding the brain’s response to severe oxygen deprivation has long been a subject of intense resear...
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A recent study published in the Journal of Vision reveals that humans are better at estimating the motion of objects moving downwards compared to upwards, regardless of the direction relative to gravity. This new research suggests that our perception of downward-moving objects is enhanced by the congruence of their motion with the direction toward our legs rather than the influence of gravity detected through our inner ear. “Previous studies have shown that the people can catch a descending object more accurately than an ascending object. When people heard this asymmetric performance for catch...
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Every day, we are bombarded with a deluge of information, especially online, where news spreads faster than ever. But what kind of information do we choose to share, and why? A new study published in Scientific Reports explores this, revealing that people are more likely to share information that aligns with their beliefs, even if it isn’t particularly surprising. This challenges the common notion that novelty and surprise are primary drivers of information sharing. Information theory posits that the value of information is largely derived from its novelty or the surprise it generates. The mor...
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Learning new skills involves intricate brain processes that scientists are still working to fully understand. A recent study published in the journal Brain Sciences examines how older adults learn motor sequences—such as playing a musical instrument—and how their cognitive and motor abilities support this learning over time. The research provides insights into the connections between mental and physical capabilities and their roles in learning new tasks. Previous studies have established that motor learning is not a one-size-fits-all process. Different types of motor learning—like learning to ...
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Why is my awareness here, while yours is over there? Why is the universe split in two for each of us, into a subject and an infinity of objects? How is each of us our own center of experience, receiving information about the rest of the world out there? Why are some things conscious and others apparently not? Is a rat conscious? A gnat? A bacterium? These questions are all aspects of the ancient “mind-body problem,” which asks, essentially: What is the relationship between mind and matter? It’s resisted a generally satisfying conclusion for thousands of years. The mind-body problem enjoyed a m...
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Scientists in Germany have found evidence that a single large dose of creatine, a supplement commonly embraced by athletes for physical performance enhancement, can temporarily uplift cognitive abilities diminished by lack of sleep. Published in Scientific Reports, the findings open a new chapter in understanding how dietary supplements can influence brain function under stress conditions such as sleep deprivation. Modern lifestyles often compromise sleep, leading to decreased productivity and an increase in accidents and chronic health issues. To combat these negative effects, people frequent...
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Do you ever get that feeling that there aren’t enough hours in the day? That time is somehow racing away from you, and it is impossible to fit everything in. But then, you step outside into the countryside and suddenly everything seems slower, more relaxed, like time has somehow changed. It’s not just you – recent research showed nature can regulate our sense of time. For many of us, the combined demands of work, home and family mean that we are always feeling like we don’t have enough time. Time poverty has also been exacerbated by digital technologies. Permanent connectivity extends working ...
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