Nobody really knows how the activity in your brain reorganizes as you learn new tasks, but new research from Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh reveals that the brain has various mechanisms and constraints by which it reorganizes its neural activity when learning over the course of a few hours. The new research finds that, when learning a new task, the brain is less flexible than previously thought. Continue reading “Brain is less flexible than we thought when learning”
Pregnant moms and their offspring should limit added sugars in their diets to protect childhood cognition
A new study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine has determined that poorer childhood cognition occurred, particularly in memory and learning, when pregnant women or their offspring consumed greater quantities of sugar. Substituting diet soda for sugar-sweetened versions during pregnancy also appeared to have negative effects. However, children’s fruit consumption had beneficial effects and was associated with higher cognitive scores. Continue reading “Pregnant moms and their offspring should limit added sugars in their diets to protect childhood cognition”
High-stress childhoods blind adults to potential loss
Adults who lived high-stress childhoods have trouble reading the signs that a loss or punishment is looming, leaving themselves in situations that risk avoidable health and financial problems and legal trouble. Continue reading “High-stress childhoods blind adults to potential loss”
Early age of drinking leads to neurocognitive and neuropsychological damage
Although drinking by U.S. adolescents has decreased during the last decade, more than 20 percent of U.S. high-school students continue to drink alcohol before the age of 14 years. This can have adverse effects on their neurodevelopment. Continue reading “Early age of drinking leads to neurocognitive and neuropsychological damage”
Love and fear are visible across the brain instead of being restricted to any brain region
The brain mechanisms of basic emotions such as anger and happiness are fairly similar across people. Differences are greater in social emotions, such as gratitude and contempt. Continue reading “Love and fear are visible across the brain instead of being restricted to any brain region”
Mental, not physical, fatigue affects seniors’ walking ability
Low “mental energy” may affect walking patterns in older adults more than physical fatigue. New research about the relationship between walking ability and self-reported mood will be presented today at the American Physiological Society (APS) annual meeting at Experimental Biology 2018 in San Diego. Continue reading “Mental, not physical, fatigue affects seniors’ walking ability”
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