Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder associated with a progressive decline in memory and mental abilities, which can significantly hinder people's ability to complete daily tasks. Past studies found that patients diagnosed with AD, as...
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Precise map of primate foveolar cortex uncovers intricacies of brain’s visual system
Humans and other primates are innately able to perceive fine details, vibrant colors and focus their attention on specific elements of what they are seeing at a given time. This ability is supported by the foveola, a tiny section of the retina that is densely packed...
Self-esteem influences self-related representations in others’ brains: Observing ‘self-recapitulation’ through MRIs
Different people have distinct and subjective perceptions of their personal worth, broadly referred to as "self-esteem." For decades, neuroscientists and psychologists have tried to pinpoint the neural basis of self-esteem and the neural processes associated with...
Study shows that 2D neural geometry underlies hierarchical organization of sequences in human working memory
The human brain can store salient information, such as numbers, instructions or other details that are important for completing a task, for brief periods of time, via a cognitive system known as working memory (WM). This system is known to be constructive in nature,...
Detailed mapping shows how astrocytes change throughout the progression of Alzheimer’s disease
Astrocytes are star-shaped glial cells in the central nervous system that support neuronal function, maintain the blood-brain barrier, and contribute to brain repair and homeostasis. The evolution of these cells throughout the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD)...
Sensory stimulation enhances the capacity of human visual working memory, study finds
To complete tasks that require storing relevant visual details for short periods of time, such as solving a puzzle, reading or comparing different objects, humans leverage their so-called visual working memory. This is a cognitive system that allows people to store...
Quality of parent-child relationships predicts adulthood well-being, 21-country finds
The link between early life experiences and mental health has been widely explored by psychology researchers. One key aspect of human early life experiences is the relationship that people develop with their parental figures, which is at the center of attachment...
Rodent study explores how early Euclidean geometry experiences shape hippocampal development
Euclidean geometry is the branch of mathematics describing shapes and the spatial relationships between objects in two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) settings. The rules of Euclidean geometry guide our understanding of the world and everything inhabiting...
Flexibility demands influence motor cortex’s involvement in execution of motor sequences, rat study finds
The motor cortex is a part of the mammalian brain and is known to support the planning and control of voluntary body movements. Some past neuroscience studies, however, found that the motor cortex may not be necessary for executing some learned skills and motor...
Large-scale genetic study identifies 14 genes linked to neuroticism
Neuroticism is a key personality trait described by well-established psychological theories, associated with a tendency towards emotional instability and negative emotions. Past studies found that this personality trait often goes hand in hand with various mental...