A recent study published in Cerebral Cortex reveals that loneliness can blur the brain's distinction between real-life friends and fictional characters, particularly in fans of the TV series "Game of Thrones." Neuroimaging showed lonelier individuals have similar neural responses when...
A recent study in Scientific Reports shows that creativity can be boosted by influencing dreams during the N1 sleep phase. Using the Dormio device, researchers found that participants who experienced dream incubation with thematic cues demonstrated notably improved creative performance.
A new study found that background sexual imagery caused more response errors to visual cues, indicating heightened impulsivity, especially in men. The study was published in the Archives of Sexual Behavior.
A study exploring "directed forgetting" found people resist forgetting politically congruent information, with a stronger effect among conservatives. This selective memory may influence political polarization and democratic processes.
Regular running in mice enhances adult neuron functionality and synaptic connectivity, potentially safeguarding cognitive abilities during aging, according to a study in eNeuro.
A study of young adult gamers found that players of action games possess superior visual acuity compared to players of nonaction games and individuals with little gaming experience. Individuals playing action games for more than 5 hours per week performed...
Researchers have developed a brain-computer interface that allowed a group of 22 users to play a simple multiplayer game. The interface was 94% accurate in translating players’ thoughts into game moves, with each move taking just over 5 seconds. The...
A sociologist and a cognitive neuroscientist investigated why people enjoy being scared. Through studies at an extreme haunted attraction, they found that participants felt happier, less anxious, and more accomplished after the experience. The brain showed decreased reactivity, similar to...
New research reveals the TRPC2 gene's pivotal role in mouse brain development and behavior, especially concerning sex differences. This gene affects pheromonal signals, influencing structures linked to sex-specific behaviors. The study challenges traditional beliefs about brain sex differentiation and emphasizes...
Research from the European Journal of Neuroscience reveals that playing with dolls, especially in social settings, activates the posterior superior temporal sulcus, a brain region linked to social processing. This is true for children across varying neurodevelopmental profiles, underscoring the...
A study in Nature Communications used intracerebral electrodes to study the midfusiform gyrus's role in face recognition. Findings revealed diverse neuron responses to faces and places, challenging assumptions about recognizing familiar faces. The research provides new insights into the neural...
A new study published in Neurobiology of Stress reveals a link between epigenetic age acceleration and cognitive abilities, suggesting gene aging could serve as a biomarker for cognitive health. Conducted by an international team, the research highlights diverse associations between...
Researchers have developed a robotic procedure that induces auditory-verbal hallucinations in healthy individuals, providing insights into how the brain sometimes perceives internally generated events as external voices. The study revealed that the timing of sensory feedback and the use of...
Recent research in Scientific Reports suggests that daily caffeine intake might impair rather than improve working memory. While previous studies highlighted caffeine's acute benefits for attention and alertness, this research focused on the long-term effects of sustained caffeine consumption on...
A 10-week German study found no significant difference in learning performance between cardiovascular and stretching exercise groups. However, those with better learning in the cardiovascular group also showed a stronger post-exercise immune response, suggesting the immune system might mediate exercise's...