Cognition

Improving Addiction Treatment by Targeting Cognitive Deficits

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People struggling with substance use disorders often have difficulties with memory, attention, planning, and decision-making. New research explores how these cognitive deficits relate to treatment outcomes and whether targeting them could improve addiction recovery. Key Facts: Cognitive deficits are common in people with substance use disorders, especially relating to memory, attention, self-control, and reward-based decision-making. …

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Cognitive Enhancement: Hidden Costs & Trade-Offs To Consider

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Cognitive enhancement techniques hold great promise for boosting our mental abilities, but they may also come with hidden costs according to new research. Key Facts: Cognitive enhancement aims to improve mental functioning in healthy people through methods like brain stimulation, smart drugs, and cognitive training. While benefits have been the main focus, researchers argue that …

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Estradiol for Cognitive Enhancement: Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) Research

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Estradiol enhances memory and other aspects of cognition in animals and humans, but translating the research into effective hormone replacement therapies (HRTs) has faced challenges. Recent developments indicate multiple mechanisms, along with some key facts: Estradiol enhances memory consolidation via genomic and rapid signaling cascades acting minutes-to-hours after learning. Synaptic plasticity and spine remodeling appear …

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Cognitive Enhancement with Smart Drugs to Optimize Brain Performance? Exploring the Potential

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Researchers explore various drug compounds and their potential to enhance human cognition, including attention, learning, and higher-order thinking. While some progress has been made, many questions remain. Key Facts: Several drug compounds show potential to mildly enhance some cognitive functions like attention, learning, and memory. These include stimulants, wakefulness agents, and compounds that affect memory …

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Neurofeedback for Cognitive Enhancement & Neuroplasticity?

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Neurofeedback is a promising technique that allows people to voluntarily control their own brain activity with the goal of improving cognitive functions or relieving symptoms. Key Facts: Neurofeedback provides real-time feedback on brain activity, allowing a person to learn to control activity in specific brain regions. It has shown clinical benefits for disorders like ADHD, …

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Multitasking in Emergency Medicine: Frequent Task Switching by Doctors Increases Errors

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Emergency medicine doctors work in a fast-paced, high-stress environment filled with interruptions and competing demands on their attention. Research suggests that despite perceptions, true multitasking is limited in how it can be applied in this setting. The ability to efficiently switch between tasks is a critical skill for emergency physicians. Key Facts: Emergency doctors experience …

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The “Perception of Multitasking” May Improve Performance & Motivation

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Research reveals that our perception of multitasking is often an illusion – most cognitive tasks cannot actually be done simultaneously. Surprisingly, this illusion of multitasking can improve performance on activities, even when the tasks remain unchanged. Key Facts: Although multitasking refers to doing multiple things concurrently, true multitasking is rare for cognitive tasks requiring attention. …

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Genetics & Intelligence (IQ): How DNA Shapes Cognition, Problem Solving, etc.

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Our genes influence more than just our raw intelligence and problem-solving abilities. The latest discoveries in the genetics of intelligence are showing how our DNA shapes how we learn, our educational attainment, occupational success, and even our health outcomes. Genetic research is revealing the deep connections between inherited cognitive capacities and multiple aspects of life. …

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