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communication

·May 11, 2024·6 min read

Friendly Chats Mitigate Social Exclusion Effects

Simple social interactions, like chatting with a friend, can mitigate the effects of social exclusion. The research found that both face-to-face conversations and anticipating future interactions help individuals recover quicker from social slights and feel more secure.

This shows an older man using a cell phone.

Featured Neuroscience

·April 28, 2024·5 min read

Let’s Talk: Web-Based Chats Boost Brain Function in Older Adults

Internet-based conversations can significantly improve cognitive functions in socially isolated older adults. The trial, known as I-CONECT, involved 186 participants aged 75 and older who engaged in structured video chats four times weekly, which helped enhance memory and executive function, particularly among those with mild cognitive impairment.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·March 26, 2024·5 min read

Talking Hands: Cultural Codes in Hand Gestures

A new study confirms Italians gesture more than Swedes, but more importantly, it reveals the diverse functions and frequencies of gestures across cultures. Analyzing storytelling methods, the study found Italians favor pragmatic gestures to guide narrative flow, while Swedes prefer representational gestures to depict actions and events.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 6, 2023·6 min read

Neural Implant Translates Brainwaves Into Words

A new speech prosthetic offers hope for those with speech-impairing neurological disorders. By converting brain signals into speech using high-density sensors and machine learning, the technology represents a significant advancement over current slower communication aids.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 26, 2023·7 min read

Decoding Baby Talk: How Adults Understand Early Linguistic Efforts

New research delves into how adults make sense of the limited vocabulary of young children. Through analyzing thousands of hours of transcribed audio, researchers created computational models to understand adult interpretations of baby talk.

Featured Neuroscience

·October 26, 2023·3 min read

Zoom Conversations vs In-Person: Brain Activity Tells a Different Tale

A new study reveals a significant disparity in neural activity during face-to-face conversations compared to Zoom interactions. Using advanced neuroimaging, researchers observed suppressed neural signals during online exchanges.

This shows a politician on social media.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·September 25, 2023·5 min read

Congress Tweets: Belief-Speak, Facts, and Trustworthiness Decoded

A new study delves into the tweet behavior of Congress members over the last decade. Both Republican and Democratic politicians have shown an uptick in sharing their convictions and beliefs along with evidence-backed information.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 22, 2023·4 min read

Woofs & Whispers: Dogs Tune In More to Women’s Deliberate Tones

A recent study highlights that dogs are more receptive to speech directed specifically at them, especially when spoken by women. Using fMRI scans on trained family dogs, the study discovered that the canine brain responds more strongly to dog- and infant-directed speech than to regular adult speech.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 11, 2023·5 min read

Dopamine Tunes the Brain for Both Singing and Speech

Contrary to popular belief, speech and singing use overlapping brain circuits, primarily located in the left hemisphere. This discovery challenges the 50-year notion that the right hemisphere supports the singing ability in aphasia patients.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·August 7, 2023·5 min read

Dog’s Facial Markings Influence Human-Canine Communication

Researchers discovered that the complexity of a dog's facial markings affects human interpretation of their expressions. It was revealed that dogs with plainer faces make more facial expressions and are better understood by humans than dogs with more complex markings.