Cognitive Science

A quick 20-minute run could temporarily sharpen your focus and speed up your reaction time. A new study reveals how a brief workout alters brain activity to optimize mental efficiency in both younger and older adults.

A new study suggests that hunger amplifies our immediate enjoyment of sweetness, regardless of calories. The research also reveals that regular consumers of artificial sweeteners show heightened brain activity in areas linked to self-control.

A new study reveals that single human brain cells possess remarkable computational power compared to those of rodents. Sprawling branch-like structures and highly reactive synapses allow individual human neurons to act as sophisticated mini-computers.

Society often doubts memories of childhood trauma, assuming emotions distort the past. However, a major new study reveals that survivors are highly reliable narrators, with accounts of abuse remaining remarkably stable over time.

As we age, our ability to temporarily hold and process information tends to decline. However, a recent study of over 30,000 adults suggests that having more physical tissue in six specific brain regions predicts better working memory.

A new study reveals that the "K-factor"—a measure of future-oriented and long-term life strategies—predicts university GPAs. This metric forecasts academic success even after accounting for SAT scores and personality traits.

A comprehensive review of 38 studies provides evidence that targeting the brain's hippocampal network with noninvasive magnetic pulses selectively improves a person's ability to recall specific, personal experiences without affecting other cognitive skills.

Learning to control a robotic limb or recover movement after a stroke is incredibly difficult. But a new study reveals that providing real-time, instantaneous feedback about task success can dramatically boost motor control when sensory information is missing.

Can you strengthen your brain health as you get older? New research shows that adults of all ages who engage in brief, daily cognitive exercises can significantly improve their mental clarity, social connectedness, and emotional resilience over time.

A new study in Nature reveals how individual brain cells act as specialized building blocks for language. By tracking neurons during conversations, scientists discovered that single cells are dedicated to specific parts of speech and sentence structures.

A new genetic analysis reveals that the DNA linked to conditions like schizophrenia and ADHD has specific, diverging effects on different types of intelligence, separating how we process information from what we know.

A new study in Cell Reports reveals that the boundary between wakefulness and sleep is highly porous. Researchers found that humans can experience bizarre, dream-like states while awake and engage in rational planning while asleep.

While raw processing speed declines after your 20s, a combination of emotional intelligence, accumulated knowledge, and mature personality traits pushes optimal human functioning into late midlife. New research reveals the ideal age for complex decision-making.