Mechanisms of real-time speech interpretation in the human brain revealed
Study reveals the dynamic patterns of information flow between critical language regions of the brain.... Read More...
communication
Teenagers less likely to respond to mothers with controlling tone of voice
Mothers who address their teens with a neutral tone of voice elicit more positive and less negative emotions in their children, increasing closeness. Those who speak with a controlling tone evoke negative emotions and have a less close bond with their teenage child.... Read More...
Babbling babies’ behavior changes parents’ speech
Parents unconsciously modify their speech to include fewer unique words, shorter sentences, and one-word replies when their baby babbles, but not when they are simply speaking to the baby.... Read More...
Recursive language and modern imagination were acquired simultaneously 70,000 years ago
A mathematical model suggests a genetic mutation which extended the critical period by slowing prefrontal cortex development in two or more children 70,000 years ago was one factor for the emergence of recursive language and modern imagination. ... Read More...
Team IDs Spoken Words and Phrases in Real Time from Brain’s Speech Signals
Using ECoG and machine learning, researchers decoded spoken words and phrases in real-time from brain signals that control speech. The technology could eventually be used to help those who have lost vocal control to regain their voice.... Read More...
Screams contain a ‘calling card’ for the vocalizer’s identity
Listeners can correctly identify whether pairs of screams originate from the same person or two different people. Findings suggest human screams convey a level of individual identity and shed new light on their evolutionary origin.... Read More...
Can Facebook improve your mental health?
Contrary to popular belief, using social media sites like Facebook can actually help improve mental health in adults. Researchers found adults who use Facebook regularly are 63% less likely to experience psychological distress, such as depression and anxiety, over time.... Read More...
Puppy love: Why puppy dog eyes evolved to benefit communication with humans
Domestication transformed the facial muscle anatomy of dogs specifically for facial communication with humans. The muscular movement around the eyebrows resembles expressions humans produce when upset, triggering a nurturing response from the dog's owners. ... Read More...
Fussy, hungry, or even in pain? Scientists create an AI tool to tell babies’ cries apart
A new deep learning algorithm, based on automatic speech recognition, is able to accurately identify features in an infant's cry and differentiate between normal versus abnormal cry signals. ... Read More...
Extroverts enjoy four key advantages according to science; here they are
Being extroverted may be a clear advantage in the workplace. A new study reveals extroverts tend to be more motivated, conscientious, emotionally positive and better communicators than their more introverted peers.... Read More...
Research rules out mental flexibility, attention as advantages for some bilingual children
While learning a second language has positive benefits for children, there is little evidence that bilingual children have more advanced executive function or improved attention over those who are monolingual.... Read More...
‘Implicit measures’ better assess vocabulary for those with autism than standard tests
Eye tracking and EEG may help to assess vocabulary knowledge in those on the autism spectrum. ... Read More...