Napping and Teenage Learning
Teens who take a daytime nap have better attention, nonverbal reasoning and spatial memory skills than their peers who do not nap, researchers report.... Read More...
cognition
Culture Shapes the Brain: How Reading Changes the Way We Think
A new study sheds light on how reading shapes our brain and can improve our memory. Those who are not practiced readers, researchers discovered, find it more difficult to distinguish how an object is oriented in space.... Read More...
Our Brains Automatically Process Opinions We Agree With As If They Are Facts
A new study reveals we quickly process opinions we agree with as facts, even if the opinion is non-factual.... Read More...
Pregnant Mothers and Offspring Should Limit Added Sugars in Diet to Protect Childhood Cognition
Researchers warn pregnant women and their children to avoid drinking too many sodas, as excessive amounts of sugar in these drinks can negatively impact memory and learning. However, consuming fruits appears to be beneficial for cognitive development, the study reports.... Read More...
Pathways in Young Brains Associated with Susceptibility for Mental Disorders
Disruptions in fiber tracts connecting brain regions associated with cognitive behavior and emotional regulation in teens appear to be linked to higher risk of psychiatric disorders, researchers report.... Read More...
Overcoming Bias About Music Takes Work
Researchers reveal telling people whether a musician in a professional or student can change the way the brain responds to the music they are playing. ... Read More...
Mother’s Depression May Negatively Impact Child’s IQ
A new study reveals maternal depression can have a negative effect on her child's cognitive development. Researchers found children whose mothers were depressed scored lower on verbal IQ tests at the age of 5 than their peers whose mothers did not suffer from depression.... Read More...
People with Misophonia Find Background Chewing Sounds so Annoying it Affects Their Ability to Learn
People with misophonia perform poorly in cognitive exercises when triggered by non-verbal sounds, such as chewing, researchers report.... Read More...
Connection Between Postnatal Sensory Experiences and Brain Development
A new Zebra fish study reveals a lack of sensory stimulation following birth can impact neurogenesis and brain development.... Read More...
Americans with a College Education Live Longer Without Dementia
Two new studies from researchers at USC provide fresh insight into Alzheimer's risks. Researchers say attending college can stave off dementia and help retain memories in old age. Additionally, researchers report reducing diabetes and hypertension after 50 could increase longevity in people with Alzheimer's disease.... Read More...
Brain Activity Study Offers Potential Insight into Alzheimer’s Disease
A new study may provide key insights into the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Researchers report people with higher levels of amyloid beta showed less activity in brain areas associated with working memory when engaged in cognitively demanding tasks.... Read More...
Children’s Gestures, and What They Mean
A new study explores how children's use of gestures is connected to communication and language acquisition.... Read More...