News Feature Channel: Cognition and Learning

FSU Researchers Uncover New Link Between Gut Bacteria and Alzheimer's Disease

Florida State University — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 11:35:01 EST

A groundbreaking study by researchers at Florida State University's Gut Biome Lab has revealed a potential link between an infection caused by gut bacteria and the progression of Alzheimer's disease.

Let Sleeping Babies Lie: Scientists Highlight Negative Impacts of Sleep Disruption on Early Brain Development

University of North Carolina School of Medicine — Wed, 23 Oct 2024 10:40:36 EST

Researchers at the UNC School of Medicine show how sleep loss during early life impacts key aspects of brain development and how it can increase one's risk for developing autism spectrum disorder.

Epidemiology Researcher Leads $1.7M Study on Shingrix's Impact on Dementia, Stroke in Nursing Homes

University of Delaware — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 12:10:44 EST

Epidemiology professor Daniel Harris is leading research on the link between shingles and dementia in nursing home residents. The $1.7 million study examines the impact of the Shingrix vaccine on dementia risk and other neurological issues among 3.5 million residents.

Brain Blood Flow Resistance More Common in Older Adults with Cognitive Problems

American Physiological Society (APS) — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 07:00:19 EST

Older adults with mild cognitive impairment showed greater resistance to brain blood flow compared to those without cognitive impediments.

Scientists Found Out How Brain Cope with Overwork During Prolonged Cognitive Task

Scientific Project Lomonosov — Mon, 21 Oct 2024 06:30:44 EST

Scientists from Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University found out that prolonged mental load led to decrease of functional connectivity between frontal and parietal lobes of brain, that is followed by decrease of efficiency of information processing.

Challenging Current Understanding, Study Reveals Rapid Release of Dopamine Not Needed for Initiating Movement

Harvard Medical School — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:00:00 EST

At a glance: Study in mice reveals rapid release of dopamine is not needed for initiating movement but is important for activities related to reward-seeking and motivation. The findings help explain why the widely used Parkinson's drug levodopa improves movement-related symptoms but often fails to ameliorate some cognitive ones. The work may inform the development of new therapies that restore both slow and fast dopamine action to treat multiple symptoms.

How Brain Cells Shape Learning and Sensory Experiences

News — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 05:05:51 EST

UTSW Study Explores Link Between High School IQ and Alcohol Use

UT Southwestern Medical Center — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 11:05:52 EST

A person's IQ during high school is predictive of alcohol consumption later in life, according to a study by UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers published in Alcohol and Alcoholism. Participants with higher IQ levels were significantly more likely to be moderate or heavy drinkers, as opposed to abstaining.

Study: Rise in English Learner Students in "New Destination" States Helps, Does Not Hurt, Academic Outcomes for Existing Students

American Educational Research Association (AERA) — Wed, 09 Oct 2024 09:00:00 EST

English learner students represent the fastest growing student group in the United States over the past two decades, with numbers of EL students in public schools soaring in "new destination" states across the South and Midwest.

Echoes in the Brain: Why Today's Workout Could Fuel Next Week's Bright Idea

Aalto University — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 14:00:00 EST

In a pioneering longitudinal study, researchers tracked one person's brain and behavioural activity for five months using brain scans and data from wearable devices and smartphones. They found that the everyday effects of sleep, exercise, heart rate and mood -- both good and bad -- could linger in our brains for over two weeks.

Mom Needs Rehabilitation. Where do I Start?

Hackensack Meridian Health — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 13:05:50 EST

Whether for a stroke, brain injury, sports injury, neurological disorder, or cardiac event, the need for rehabilitation can be daunting to both a patient and caregiver. A Hackensack Meridian Health expert shares what to consider in both undergoing the journey to recovery and determining best needs for a loved one.

ValeRie Courchesne: Promoting the Mental Health of People with Autism

Universite de Montreal — Tue, 08 Oct 2024 12:00:31 EST

Newly appointed to UdeM's Department of Psychology, the assistant professor studies ways to enhance the well-being of those on the autism spectrum.

UC Irvine Pathway Project Revolutionizes Literacy Education Across the Country

University of California, Irvine — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 12:05:09 EST

Irvine, Calif., October 2, 2024 - The Pathway Project, developed by UC Irvine School of Education Professor Emerita Carol Booth Olson as an initiative of the UCI Writing Project at University of California, Irvine, is making significant strides in improving literacy education for students across the country. Using a cognitive strategies approach, the project helps teachers guide students in reading and writing complex texts more effectively.

Cognitive Deficits from Meth and PCP Use Are Generated By a Common Neurotransmitter Switch

University of California San Diego — Thu, 26 Sep 2024 19:05:30 EST

The effects of sustained drug abuse can manifest in many ways. Loss of memory and reduced cognitive functions are some of the effects that can persist for years. Scientists at UC San Diego have now identified a mechanism in the brain that generates drug-induced cognitive impairments.

Encoding Human Experience: Study Reveals How Brain Cells Compute the Flow of Time

University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Health Sciences — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 11:00:00 EST

A landmark study led by UCLA Health has begun to unravel one of the fundamental mysteries in neuroscience - how the human brain encodes and makes sense of the flow of time and experiences.

Activity in Brain System That Controls Eye Movements Highlights Importance of Spatial Thinking

University of Chicago Biological Sciences Division — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 05:00:00 EST

The superior colliculus is a midbrain region that is traditionally thought to help animals orient themselves toward important locations in space, like directing their eyes and head toward a bright flash of light. New research from the University of Chicago shows that this part of the brain also plays a role in complex cognitive tasks like visual categorization and decision making.

UAlbany Analysis Finds Mobile Phone Distractions Adversely Affect Learning in Young Adults

University at Albany, State University of New York — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 13:00:04 EST

A new analysis by University at Albany researchers in the School of Education has found that young adults exposed to mobile technology distractions had worse learning outcomes in the classroom compared to those without distractions.

Next gen teachers take insider tips from practicing professionals

University of South Australia — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 20:05:57 EST

They're the tips and tricks usually learnt on the job, but thanks to a new reading initiative, pre-service teachers at the University of South Australia are gaining valuable insights about how to build students' reading and literacy skills from experienced teachers on the job.

Vaping Bad for Brain Health, First-of-its Kind Study Shows

American Neurological Association (ANA) — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 08:00:02 EST

College students who vaped had lower cognitive function scores than those who didn't, and the more they vaped, the bigger the disparity, according to first-of-its-kind research being presented at the 149th Annual Meeting of the American Neurological Association (ANA). The study also found college students who vaped and smoked had the lowest scores. While using electronic cigarettes (vaping) has been shown to cause lung damage, the research presented at ANA is groundbreaking because there is little to no information on vaping's relationship to cognitive function, such as learning, memory, problem-solving, critical thinking and decision-making. Cognitive testing is rarely performed in young people.

National Literacy Month: FSU Expert Available to Speak on Literacy for Students with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities

Florida State University — Fri, 13 Sep 2024 11:55:13 EST

By: Stephen Stone | Published: September 13, 2024 | 11:35 am | SHARE: September marks National Literacy month, a time to highlight the critical role that reading plays in a child or adult's overall development.Helping to create advancements in the field, the Florida Center for Reading Research (FCRR) takes an innovative approach in its constant quest to improve reading through science.