Cognitive Science

A new study reveals that while zero-calorie sweeteners generally affect the body like water, they trigger distinct activity in the brain’s reward centers compared to real sugar. Interestingly, some even delay stomach emptying without spiking blood sugar.

A new study reveals that genetic risks for conditions like schizophrenia are linked to lower problem-solving skills but higher accumulated knowledge. The findings show that intelligence and mental health share a highly complex genetic relationship.

Elementary school students who learn to calculate using a mental abacus tend to perform better on math tests than their peers. A new study suggests this advantage is partly explained by enhanced numerical processing, attention, and memory.

A study of adults across three countries reveals that self-reported cultural intelligence and actual cross-cultural problem-solving rely on entirely different mental traits, highlighting the need for diverse testing methods to understand intercultural skills.

A new study explores the distinct mental pathways that lead to impulsive versus planned aggression in adults. The findings reveal that men and women rely on different cognitive habits when navigating hostile social situations.

When temperatures rise, the brain's hypothalamus works overtime to regulate body heat. This intensive thermoregulation demands significant physiological resources, leaving individuals with reduced cognitive capacity for concentration, decision-making, and memory retention.

People who practice dance might be better at regulating their physical actions in positive emotional situations. A new study found that dancers were faster at stopping an ongoing movement when shown happy faces compared to people without dance training.

Do women really multitask better than men? Researchers put both sexes through a rigorous real-world simulation. While they scored the same on most metrics, one difference emerged that explains why men often look like they are struggling.

New research published in Brain Imaging and Behavior suggests that estradiol influences how brain areas communicate during memory tasks in middle-aged women. The findings provide evidence that higher hormone levels tend to allow for more efficient brain connectivity.

College students who rely on automated answers without critical reflection show a diminished ability to learn independently. A new survey suggests this habit lowers academic self-confidence and reduces the internal drive to succeed in school.

A large study of brain scans from over 4,000 people has identified four distinct ages when the brain's structural network shifts its developmental trajectory. These turning points separate human life into five unique epochs of topological change.

A recent study in Intelligence & Cognitive Abilities indicates that people with higher general intelligence tend to possess more specialized knowledge about wine. The research suggests cognitive ability drives the accumulation of deep facts without formal rewards.

A new analysis of brain imaging data suggests that migraines can be categorized into two biological groups based on brain structure and network connectivity, offering a potential new framework for understanding the condition.

When humans learn new rules, our brains use the exact same evidence-gathering process to make decisions as they do when processing basic physical sensations. A recent study shows that decision-making brain waves adapt to track arbitrary, newly learned categories.

A large study of young men in Denmark reveals that growing up with a parent who has a mental illness is linked to slightly lower cognitive scores, but this association shifts dramatically depending on other family hardships.