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cognition

·May 11, 2025·7 min read

Brain Cells That Predict What Comes Next, Even When It’s New

A new study reveals that the brain uses special neurons to track where we are in a sequence of actions—not just where we are in space. In mice, researchers found “goal-progress cells” that fire based on how far along the animal is in a behavioral task, enabling them to infer what comes next even in novel scenarios.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 8, 2025·6 min read

Curiosity May Hold Key to Healthy Brain Aging

New research suggests that while general curiosity tends to decline with age, specific curiosity, or "state curiosity", actually increases later in life, potentially protecting against cognitive decline. Older adults showed heightened interest in learning new information, especially topics related to personal interests, which may help keep the brain sharp.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·May 8, 2025·5 min read

Heart’s Rhythm May Help Forecast Cognitive Longevity

Healthy hearts show complex, adaptive rhythms that reflect resilience to internal and external changes. Researchers applied a novel method to analyze heart rate complexity using wearable pulse oximeters and found that greater complexity predicted slower cognitive decline in older adults.

This shows a woman sleeping and a brain.

Featured Neuroscience

·May 7, 2025·3 min read

Sleep Apnea May Harm Brain Areas Key to Memory

A new study has linked obstructive sleep apnea to brain damage in areas critical for memory, likely due to low oxygen levels during REM sleep. Researchers found that people with lower oxygen saturation during REM had more white matter hyperintensities—signs of small vessel damage—on brain scans.

This shows two heads, sound waves, and a brain.

Auditory Neuroscience Featured Neuroscience

·May 7, 2025·5 min read

Midlife Hearing Loss Linked to Faster Brain Aging

A Brazilian study of over 800 adults in their 50s shows that hearing loss is strongly linked to accelerated cognitive decline. Participants with hearing loss experienced faster reductions in memory, language, and executive function over eight years.

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Autism Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·May 7, 2025·6 min read

Can Genetics Predict Autism Intellectual Disabilities?

A new predictive model combining genetics with developmental milestones may help forecast which autistic children are at risk of developing intellectual disabilities. In a large study of over 5,600 children, researchers were able to correctly predict 10% of such cases and differentiate between low and high-risk groups twice as well as current methods.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 29, 2025·5 min read

Boosting Iron May Ease Brain Fog

New research shows that women with healthy blood iron levels during menopause perform better on cognitive tasks like memory and attention. The study found that sufficient blood iron was linked to better brain function without increasing harmful iron deposits in the brain.

This shows an older lady walking in a park.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 29, 2025·5 min read

Just 5 Minutes of Exercise Can Boost Brain Health

New research shows that even small amounts of moderate-to-vigorous exercise, like brisk walking or jogging, can significantly improve brain health in older adults. Higher-intensity physical activity was linked to better processing speed, working memory, and executive function.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 28, 2025·5 min read

Brain Growth Charts Reveal Early Cognitive Development Patterns

A new study has created the first normative charts of brain functional development from birth to six years old, highlighting how brain network growth tracks with cognitive milestones. Using MRI scans from over 1,000 children, researchers mapped how different brain networks, such as visual, subcortical, and attention systems, mature and interact over time.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 28, 2025·2 min read

Sugar Substitute May Harm Brain, Blood Vessel Health

New research suggests that erythritol, a popular low-calorie sweetener, may impair blood vessel health by disrupting the brain’s production of nitric oxide. Cells exposed to typical erythritol levels showed increased oxidative stress and reduced nitric oxide, potentially impairing blood flow.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 26, 2025·6 min read

Critical Hub for Logical Thinking Identified

Researchers have identified that the right frontal lobe plays a critical role in logical thinking and problem-solving. Using lesion-deficit mapping in 247 patients with brain injuries, they found that damage to this area leads to significantly more reasoning errors.

This shows an older lady exercising and a brain.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·April 25, 2025·9 min read

Low and Moderate Exercise May Help Prevent Alzheimer’s Decline

New findings from the EXERT study reveal that both low and moderate-high intensity exercise may help preserve cognitive function in older adults with mild memory problems, a major risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. Over 12 months, participants who engaged in either form of exercise showed significantly less cognitive decline and reduced brain volume loss, especially in the prefrontal cortex, compared to a usual-care group.