Cognitive Science

Does playing video games make you better at judging distances and visualizing objects? A new study of university students found no link between playing video games and performing well on real-world visual or auditory spatial tasks.

Ever felt a sudden, creepy sense of dread in an old building? New research suggests the culprit isn't a ghost, but infrasound. These unheard, low-frequency vibrations can trick the body into feeling stressed, sad, and irritated.

A recent study reveals that the human brain uses the physical length of a multi-digit number as a rapid visual shortcut to estimate its size, occurring within just 150 milliseconds of seeing the symbols.

A new study explores how different types of fitness—aerobic, strength, balance, and flexibility—affect the brains of university students. The findings suggest that men and women's brains respond differently to certain types of physical fitness.

Mice wearing specialized goggles reveal that the brain’s internal visual networks rewire themselves to match the exact patterns they see in the world. The study shows how visual feedback loops actively learn to predict our surroundings.

A new study reveals that the size of a specific language-processing region in a fetus's brain can predict how many words that child will be able to say at two to three years of age.

Are the eyes really the window to the soul? New electroencephalogram research provides evidence that the brain works much harder to evaluate an expression when the rest of the face is hidden.

When readers encounter expected political viewpoints, they often fall for misinformation. A new study reveals that reading surprisingly opposed viewpoints on trusted platforms forces people to think harder, dramatically improving their ability to spot false claims.

A recent study found that the human brain applies different standards of beauty depending on the type of visual art it evaluates. Architects and painters weigh visual features like symmetry and complexity quite differently.

Learning to read does more than help you understand written text. A new brain imaging study reveals that formal reading education physically changes the neurological pathways humans use to process and decode spoken language.

Presenting people with highly exaggerated arguments in favor of a controversial topic might actually make them oppose it more strongly. New research suggests that this unconventional persuasion technique can effectively shift opinions on morally charged social issues.

What makes a successful college student? Researchers analyzing data from over 35,000 graduates found that general cognitive ability and a strong work ethic predict college grades better than any specialized academic skills.