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Exploring Aphantasia: The Mind Without a Mental Picture - Neuroscience News "Researchers reviewed 50 studies to deepen our understanding of aphantasia, a phenomenon where individuals can’t visualize mentally. The research reveals aphantasia’s diverse impact, from reduced autobiographical memory and face recognition to broader implications in music imagination and occupation choices, suggesting a spectrum rather than a binary condition. Additionally, the review highlights genetic predispositions and familial patterns, offering a glimpse into the physiological and neural underpinnings of both aphantasia and its opposite, hyperphantasia. This exploration not only clarifies the range of human cognitive experience but also challenges misconceptions about imagination and visual thinking." " ... People who cannot visualise are more likely to have scientific occupations. Unexpectedly, although people with aphantasia can’t visualise at will, they often dream visually. Professor Zeman’s review provides evidence that whether people have aphantasia or hyperphantasia – a particularly vivid visual imagination – is linked to variations in their physiology and neural connectivity in the brain, as well as in behaviour." #Aphantasia https://lnkd.in/ePHb_c2u L

🧠 Breakthrough in Neuroscience: Understanding How Our Brains Tune Out Distractions 🧠 Researchers at Brown University have made a groundbreaking discovery that could change how we understand attention and focus. Their study, published in Nature Human Behaviour, reveals how the brain manages to concentrate in noisy environments, a capability critical to our daily lives. 🔍 Key Insights: - Dual Control of Attention: The brain has separate mechanisms for enhancing relevant information and filtering out distractions. This dual control allows for complex mental focus, akin to using multiple muscles for physical tasks. - Brain Region Coordination: The anterior cingulate cortex and the intraparietal sulcus work together to adjust our focus and filter settings. This coordination helps prioritize and process important stimuli, optimizing our attentional focus. - Implications for Attention Disorders: These findings offer new perspectives on conditions like ADHD and could inform strategies for treatment-resistant depression. Imagine trying to focus in a bustling restaurant. This study explains the brain's incredible ability to filter noise and focus on what matters. The research sheds light on the flexibility of human attention and opens new avenues for understanding and treating attentional disorders. 🔬 The Study: Participants were tasked with distinguishing colors and movements among a swirling mass of dots while their brain activity was monitored using fMRI. This revealed how specific brain regions adjust sensitivity to stimuli, enabling better focus on relevant tasks. This research emphasizes the importance of mental coordination over capacity, challenging the misconception that our focus limitations are due to a lack of "mental power." Instead, it's the intricate coordination that poses a challenge. Future Directions: Ongoing projects explore focus-and-filter strategies in patients with treatment-resistant depression and how motivation influences attention, with implications for mental health and cognitive science. This study, funded by the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and a C.V. Starr Foundation fellowship, marks a significant step forward in our understanding of cognitive control and attention. Neuroscience News, thank you for the opportunity to share. #Neuroscience #Attention #Focus #BrainResearch #ADHD #CognitiveScience #BrownUniversity London Intercultural Academy | LIA London Intercultural Center (LIC) Hadi B. Dr. Hala ElMiniawi

Glad to see online our editorial article on "New challenges and future perspectives in cognitive neuroscience". This research topic summarized state-of-the-art approaches for inter-disciplinary approaches in consciousness, human-computer & social interaction, memory, and aging. It shapes the future of human neuroscience by highlighting the need to shift from phenomenological studies to mechanistically driven approaches that would provide greater insight. https://lnkd.in/dYg26-VJ

Understanding Attention and Memory: A Cognitive Evolution Understanding the intricate relationship between attention and memory has been a long-standing challenge in cognitive psychology. Pioneers like William James, Donald Broadbent, and Atkinson and Shiffrin have laid the groundwork, but the complexities of how attention selectively filters environmental stimuli and how memory encodes, stores, and retrieves information continue to evolve. As technology advances, we uncover new insights into how these cognitive processes work together and influence our daily experiences. Cognitive psychologists have proposed models to address these challenges, such as Broadbent’s Filter Model and Atkinson and Shiffrin’s Multi-Store Model. These frameworks conceptualize attention as a cognitive filter and memory as a three-phase system: encoding, storage, and retrieval. Understanding how these processes interact has opened doors to more precise studies of how attention enhances memory retention and impacts cognitive load, shedding light on human performance in both high-stakes and everyday situations. Research has shown that attention plays a pivotal role in memory enhancement. By selectively focusing on relevant stimuli, attention improves the quality of memory encoding and retrieval. However, when attention is divided or overloaded, memory can falter, leading to forgetfulness or inaccurate recall. These findings hold significant implications for industries like education, marketing, and mental health, where optimizing attention and memory can improve learning outcomes, communication, and overall well-being. Looking ahead, breakthroughs in neuroimaging and cognitive neuroscience promise to deepen our understanding of attention and memory. As real-time brain activity tracking becomes more advanced, we will be able to observe the neural connections between attention and memory, paving the way for innovative solutions in education, cognitive enhancement, and personalized therapy. The future of these cognitive processes is bright, and the possibilities are endless. #CognitivePsychology #AttentionAndMemory #Neuroscience #Education #MemoryEnhancement #CognitiveLoad #DigitalInnovation #FutureOfLearning #Neuroimaging #PsychologyInsights #AIandCognition

🚀 Exciting Breakthrough in Neuroscience! 🧠 A groundbreaking study published in *Nature Communications* has unveiled how our brain's occipital temporal cortex (OTC) processes emotionally charged scenes, guiding our nuanced reactions. This research, led by Prof. Sonia Bishop from Trinity College Dublin and Google researcher Samy Abdel-Ghaffar, reveals that the OTC differentiates not only the type but also the emotional intensity of stimuli. 🌟 🔍 Key Insights: 1. Brain Response: The OTC is finely tuned to distinguish between different categories of stimuli and their emotional characteristics. 2. Guiding Behavior: This differentiation helps us make complex behavioral choices beyond simple 'approach or avoid' responses. 3. Research Implications: These findings could revolutionize our understanding of neurological and psychiatric conditions. The study used advanced machine learning and voxel-wise modeling to analyze brain activity as participants viewed over 1,500 emotional images. The results show that the OTC efficiently extracts and represents the information needed to guide behavior, offering a new perspective on how our brain supports complex decision-making in emotionally charged situations. 💡 Why It Matters: Understanding how the brain processes emotional stimuli can lead to new treatments and interventions for various neurological and psychiatric conditions. This research is a significant step forward in neuroscience, providing deeper insights into the neural mechanisms that underlie our emotional and behavioral responses. 🔗 Read the full article here: [(https://lnkd.in/eMA2EJdg) Kudos to the incredible team from Trinity College Dublin, UC Berkeley Extension, The University of Texas at Austin, Google, and University of Nevada, Reno for this remarkable scientific contribution! 👏 Neuroscience News, thank you for the opportunity to share! #Neuroscience #BrainResearch #EmotionalIntelligence #MentalHealth #Innovation #ScienceNews #ResearchBreakthrough #riseaboveandempoweryourself Ignite Your Leadership Journey London Intercultural Centre (LIC) London Intercultural Academy | LIA

#Decoding #Emotions: #Beyond #Senses in the #HumanBrain #neuroscience #psychology ------- https://lnkd.in/gTdtfWvv ------- The viewers of the movie in the scanner were both individuals with typical development and congenitally blind and congenitally deaf volunteers, who were presented with the audio play and the silent version of the movie, respectively. #Credit: #NeuroscienceNews #Summary: A new study explores how the human brain constructs emotions, regardless of sensory input. By analyzing brain activity in individuals with and without sensory deprivations while they experienced the film 101 Dalmatians, researchers discovered that emotions are represented in the brain through an abstract coding system that transcends sensory modalities. This system involves a distributed network, including the ventromedial prefrontal cortex, which stores abstract representations of emotions. The findings challenge traditional views on emotion and perception, suggesting that our emotional experiences are not solely dictated by our immediate sensory input but are instead constructed by the brain in a more abstract manner. #KeyFacts: -------- #Abstract #Emotion #coding : The study reveals that emotions are encoded in the brain abstractly, independent of sensory experiences. #Crossmodal #Emotional #Representation: Individuals with congenital sensory deprivations, such as blindness or deafness, exhibit similar emotional brain responses to those with typical sensory development, highlighting a universal neural basis for emotions. #Ventromedial #Prefrontal #Cortex #Role: This brain area emerged as crucial for forming an abstract representation of emotions, indicating its significance in emotional processing beyond sensory input. #Source: #IMT How much do our emotions depend on our senses? Does our brain and body react in the same way when we hear a fearful scream, see an eerie shadow, or smell a sinister odor? And does hearing an upbeat music or seeing a colorful landascape bring the same joy? In an innovative study published in Science Advances, researchers have unveiled new insights into the intricate relationship between emotion and perception. Led by a #team of #Italianneuroscientists from the IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca, and conducted in collaboration with the University of Turin, the research project investigates whether the brain employs sensory-specific or abstract codes to construct emotional experiences. “Emotion and perception are deeply intertwined, yet the exact mechanisms by which the brain represents emotional instances have remained elusive,” says Giada Lettieri, researcher in psychology at the IMT School, and lead author of the study. “Our research addresses this fundamental question, providing critical insights into how the brain organizes and represents emotional information across different sensory modalities and as a result of past sensory experience.”

Our weekly digest on Neuroscience is here, check the thread to learn about the news and updates from the Neuroscience industry. 🧠 -- 1️⃣ Sleep Mechanisms Boost Cognitive Function New research at Rice University uncovers how sleep enhances neuronal and behavioral performance, specifically through NREM sleep. https://lnkd.in/dAUBreCd -- 2️⃣ Brain Mapping for Urban Design Using brain activity, researchers Michigan State University show how the reward system predicts behavior in urban spaces. https://lnkd.in/dGaXWQzA -- 3️⃣ Neural Coding of Behavior from Wiring Diagrams A new study on the zebrafish brainstem reveals how synaptic wiring diagrams predict behavioral functions like eye and body movements. https://lnkd.in/dmaFaMXh -- 4️⃣ Cells Can 'Learn' Like Brains A new study suggests individual cells can learn from their environments, challenging the belief that learning is exclusive to organisms with complex nervous systems. https://lnkd.in/dij77tY6 -- 5️⃣ Infant Brain Rewires at Birth New research at NYU Grossman School of Medicine shows a rapid increase in functional brain connectivity at birth, revealing how the brain adapts to the external environment. https://lnkd.in/dVBXcGAt -- 6️⃣ Reptilian Brain Areas & Social Skills A study at Northwestern University reveals constant communication between the social cognitive network and the amygdala, enhancing emotional processing in social interactions. https://lnkd.in/dvjayHp3 -- Join the DeSci movement and be part of Cerebrum DAO, get access to news and updates on Neuroscience and a funding opportunity on your projects.

The Neuroscience of Empathy: Brain, Face and the Emotion - new book by Dr. Freitas-Magalhães Dr. Freitas-Magalhães' new book, "The Neuroscience of Empathy: Brain, Face and the Emotion," is an insightful exploration into how our brains process and express emotions through facial expressions. Dr. Freitas-Magalhães, a renowned expert in neuroscience and biobehavioral psychology, argues that the brain plays a central role in orchestrating emotional responses, which are then reflected on the face. This book delves into the complex interactions between the brain's neurological processes and the facial muscles, which together create the expressions that convey our feelings to others. Dr. Freitas-Magalhães emphasizes the importance of empathy in human interactions and how understanding these processes can enhance our ability to connect with others on a deeper emotional level. The book is a valuable resource for academics, practitioners, and students interested in the fields of emotion psychology, facial expression, and neuroscience. It combines empirical research with practical insights, making it a comprehensive guide for those seeking to understand the intricate link between brain activity and emotional expression. For those interested in furthering their knowledge on this topic, "The Neuroscience of Human Face: Brain and Emotion" by the same author is also recommended. This work highlights the brain's role as a maestro in controlling facial expressions and emotions, providing additional context and depth to the study of emotional expression.

The Neuroscience of Empathy: Brain, Face and the Emotion - new book by Dr. Freitas-Magalhães Dr. Freitas-Magalhães' new book, "The Neuroscience of Empathy: Brain, Face and the Emotion," is an insightful exploration into how our brains process and express emotions through facial expressions. Dr. Freitas-Magalhães, a renowned expert in neuroscience and biobehavioral psychology, argues that the brain plays a central role in orchestrating emotional responses, which are then reflected on the face. This book delves into the complex interactions between the brain's neurological processes and the facial muscles, which together create the expressions that convey our feelings to others. Dr. Freitas-Magalhães emphasizes the importance of empathy in human interactions and how understanding these processes can enhance our ability to connect with others on a deeper emotional level. The book is a valuable resource for academics, practitioners, and students interested in the fields of emotion psychology, facial expression, and neuroscience. It combines empirical research with practical insights, making it a comprehensive guide for those seeking to understand the intricate link between brain activity and emotional expression. For those interested in furthering their knowledge on this topic, "The Neuroscience of Human Face: Brain and Emotion" by the same author is also recommended. This work highlights the brain's role as a maestro in controlling facial expressions and emotions, providing additional context and depth to the study of emotional expression.