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·May 10, 2025·4 min read

Your Brain Maps Actions Like It Maps Space

A new study shows that the human brain organizes action-outcome associations in cognitive maps, much like how it maps physical space for navigation. These action maps are formed in the hippocampus and communicate with the motor system to support goal-directed behaviors and flexible decision-making.

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·April 18, 2025·5 min read

How Intent Shapes Perception of Action

A groundbreaking study used a brain-machine interface to explore how intentions, actions, and their outcomes are temporally linked in the human brain. By recording single-neuron activity from a paralyzed individual with implanted electrodes, researchers enabled intentional hand movement through machine-learning-driven muscle stimulation.

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·November 28, 2022·4 min read

How Working Memory Provides a Link Between Perception and Anticipated Action

Working memory stores different types of information in flexible codes which provide optimal outcomes for all possible courses of action.

This shows a person looking at an idea board

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·October 5, 2022·7 min read

Do You Act Before You Think or Think Before You Act?

Even though people engage in seemingly impulsive decision-making, they may actually be predisposed to curtail it.

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·October 19, 2018·4 min read

Sleep Helps Us Predict Regular Sequences of Events

A new study reports sleeps help improve learning performance in predictable processes.

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·August 22, 2018·3 min read

How Brains of Doers Differ From Those of Procrastinators

Researchers use neuroimaging technology to identify brain differences between those who procrastinate and those who are doers. The study reveals people with poor action control have a larger amygdala, and the connection between the dorsal ACC and amygdala is less pronounced.

the researcher and a participant in an EEG helm

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·August 2, 2018·4 min read

Acting is Key to Remembering Tasks

Researchers say acting out scenarios may help to improve prospective memory. Poor prospective memory, researchers report, may be an early indicator of Alzheimer's disease.

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·July 3, 2018·6 min read

Where the Brain Transforms Seeing into Acting

Researchers provide evidence that the posterior parietal cortex plays a vital role in converting vision into action.

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·February 14, 2018·6 min read

Surprise Stimulus Helps People Stop an Action

Unexpected sounds make people stop an action more often than when they hear no sounds at all. A new study offers an insight into how sensory cues would speed up the brain's communication with the motor system.

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·January 3, 2018·4 min read

Pong Paddles and Perception: Our Actions Influence What We See

A new study explores how actions influence perception.

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·September 28, 2017·4 min read

Actions Are At Odds With Beliefs For People With OCD

Researchers report the actions of those with OCD don't take into account things they have learned.

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·August 22, 2017·4 min read

Both Chimps and Humans Spontaneously Imitate Each Other’s Actions

Researchers reveal the social divide between chimps and humans isn't as clear cut as once thought. Observing both animals and visitors at a zoo, researchers discovered about 10% of the actions produced by one species was an imitation of the other species.