Cognitive Science

A new study shows that male and female mice engage distinct brain circuits when responding to threat, challenging the assumption that similar behavior reflects identical brain function. The findings highlight the need for sex-inclusive neuroscience research.

From children to older adults, exercise enhances brainpower. A sweeping new analysis shows that physical activity improves general cognition, memory, and executive function in both healthy and clinical populations, reinforcing its value for mental sharpness at any age.

New research suggests that difficulty recalling specific personal memories may be an early warning sign of mental illness in youth. A meta-analysis finds this memory trait predicts first-time psychiatric diagnoses, especially depression, during adolescence and early adulthood.

Researchers conducted a large-scale comparison of herbal supplements and found that certain natural extracts can improve memory, executive function, and cognitive flexibility in healthy adults—suggesting potential support for brain health through plant-based compounds.

A new study finds that mindfulness meditators are more likely to report feeling a touch — even when none occurs — and that this sensitivity is linked to altered brain rhythms.

A new study reveals that the brain’s default mode network is made up of distinct anatomical types that support both internal thoughts and external processing. This structural diversity helps explain the network’s role in everything from memory to imagination.

A new study shows that 36 hours without sleep impairs table tennis players’ reaction times, attention, and brain connectivity. The findings reveal how acute sleep deprivation disrupts spatial cognitive processing, with potential consequences for athletic performance and decision-making under pressure.

Stimulating the brain’s amygdala during memory formation can boost recall after 24 hours, a new study finds. But the effect varies: some people’s memory improves, others’ worsens—and baseline memory performance appears to be the best predictor of outcome.

A groundbreaking collaboration has tested two of the most influential theories of consciousness—global neuronal workspace and integrated information theory. While neither came out on top, the project marks a major shift in how scientists approach one of the mind’s biggest...

A recent brain imaging study finds that sucralose, unlike sugar, increases activity in the hypothalamus and boosts hunger, suggesting that calorie-free sweetness may confuse the brain’s appetite control system.

People prone to conspiracy theories may share cognitive tendencies with those who experience delusional thinking. Two new studies suggest that biases like anomalous perception and impulsive reasoning help explain why some are more likely to embrace conspiratorial beliefs.

A new study suggests life feels like it speeds up during periods of personal growth and satisfaction. Rather than routine making time seem short, researchers found that fulfilled, nostalgic memories are more likely to make the past feel like a...

A study using brain scans shows that flashes of insight reorganize neural patterns in the visual cortex and engage memory and emotion regions, helping embed the solution more deeply in long-term memory.

A new study finds that a therapeutic video game, AKL-T01, improved task-switching and processing speed in people with post-COVID cognitive deficits. While sustained attention did not improve, participants reported better quality of life and reduced fatigue after six weeks of...

A new study reveals that creative metaphor generation involves shifting patterns of brain activity, with alpha oscillations playing a key role at different stages of the process, offering fresh insight into the neural dynamics behind verbal creativity.