Cognitive Science

Does dropping an f-bomb make you stronger? A new study suggests that swearing improves physical performance. Researchers discovered that cursing tricks the brain into dropping its inhibitions, allowing people to tap into extra strength.

A new brain imaging study suggests that highly proficient adults rely less on the brain's motor regions to process numbers. As math skills improve, the brain shifts away from physical representations to highly automatic, efficient processing networks.

A recent study suggests that negative emotions tied to everyday memories fade much faster than those linked to sexual experiences. Researchers found that while the brain naturally softens bad memories, intimate encounters resist this emotional fading process.

A new psychological study reveals that cognitive difficulties are linked to behavioral addiction, not the mere act of playing video games. While individuals at risk of gaming disorder struggle with working memory, recreational gamers actually display enhanced attention.

Smart people tend to trust others more easily. But if you grew up facing economic or family hardships, your intelligence is far less likely to translate into this highly beneficial social trait.

Daydreaming is often viewed as a failure of attention, but new research suggests it serves a hidden purpose. Scientists have discovered that the temporary drop in self-control during mind wandering actually boosts the brain’s ability to unconsciously learn complex environmental...

Does learning to play an instrument actually make you more focused? A new study shows that musically trained individuals are faster, more alert, and less prone to "zoning out" than non-musicians with identical backgrounds.

Standard multiple-choice tests might be fundamentally mismeasuring human cognition. When researchers updated traditional intelligence tests to allow test-takers to express uncertainty and manage risk, women scored higher than men.

New research shows that genetic predispositions for cognitive performance can shift our economic views in opposite directions depending on our childhood class background, pushing poor individuals leftward and wealthy individuals rightward.

By tracking the brain activity of volunteers estimating the duration of flashing lights, scientists have uncovered the sequential neural pathway that allows us to experience the passage of time.

A new eye-tracking study reveals that our preexisting beliefs dictate how we learn new information. Researchers found that people struggle to adapt when facts challenge their views, shedding light on why fake news is so hard to combat.

A recent experiment shows that a quick jog on a treadmill can lower academic distress and sharpen mental focus. Researchers found that a short bout of aerobic activity physically rebalances the brain's ability to ignore distracting information.

A recent study reveals that adults can boost their cognitive and emotional well-being using brief, daily mental exercises. This research suggests mental decline is not inevitable, offering a proactive approach to extending brain vitality.

A persistent cultural myth holds that people default to cursing because they lack the vocabulary for proper expression. Recent psychological research contradicts this idea, showing that knowledge of swear words correlates directly with overall verbal fluency.

Scientists have tested whether triggering analytical thinking can lower a person's religious beliefs. Recent experiments provide evidence that prompting logical thought does not actually change deeply held faith.