(Natural News) The ability to recall a popular song is exemplified on “name that tune” game shows where contestants have to identify a snippet of music in just a few seconds. But British and Japanese researchers say that humans may actually do better than that: The brain only takes as little as one-tenth of a second to recognize a familiar tune. The […]

(Natural News) A recent study has shown that odor plays a role in learning, in particular, in improving exam performance. In the report, published in the journal Scientific Reports, lead author Jurgen Kornmeier noted that fragrances have a supportive effect that “works very reliably in everyday life and can be used in a targeted way.” Their […]

(Natural News) A new study shows that napping for 90 minutes can boost motor skills and memory, helping both the body and the mind. Researchers at Northwestern University have found that sleep can enhance a person’s ability to learn challenging motor tasks as it helps the brain in processing and focusing on a new skill. In their […]

(Natural News) Researchers at the University of Washington found that cadmium exposure, combined with a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease, might accelerate cognitive decline. The researchers arrived at this finding after exposing mice with an Alzheimer’s risk gene to cadmium.  They detailed their findings in a paper published in the journal Toxicological Sciences. The effects of cadmium plus an Alzheimer’s risk […]

(Natural News) Researchers from the University of Birmingham and the University of Amsterdam have found strong evidence linking inflammation to “brain fog,” a type of cognitive dysfunction commonly described as mental sluggishness. In their study published in the journal Neuroimage, the researchers explained that a cognitive process responsible for alertness is particularly affected shortly after inoculation with a vaccine […]

(Natural News) Researchers from Northwestern University have found a fascinating way to activate problem-solving during sleep. In a study published in the journal Psychological Science, the researchers explained how they used sound cues to stimulate information processing in sleeping participants. When the volunteers woke up the next day, they were able to work out the brainteasers they failed to solve the previous night. “This […]

(Natural News) Growing in the Himalayan regions of India, Nepal, Northern Myanmar and China is a cold-hardy plant with plenty of traditional uses. Juniperus recurva, also known as Himalayan juniper, is a small ornamental tree that belongs to the cypress (Cupressaceae) family. Known for its aromatic wood and leaves, this plant is widely used to make incense and coffins. Himalayan juniper also bears dark […]

(Natural News) Dreams are quickly forgotten the moment people wake up. This is likely due to a group of neurons that gets activated during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep – the phase of mammalian slumber when most dreams are made. A recent study published in the journal Science examined the neurons that produce appetite and sleep hormones in mice. Japanese […]

(Natural News) A recent study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society showed that poor oral health is linked to cognitive decline. Researchers at New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing, the University of Nevada and Rutgers University found that older Chinese adults in the U.S. who reported teeth symptoms experienced faster cognitive decline than those who reported gum symptoms. This […]

(Natural News) Older adults often suffer from mild cognitive impairment (MCI). It is defined as the stage between cognitive decline that comes naturally with aging and the more serious decline in brain performance (dementia). MCI affects many aspects of cognition, such as memory, language, judgment and thinking. Although researchers have yet to pinpoint a single cause […]