Cognitive Science

The latest breakthroughs, innovations, and cool happenings at the cutting edge of the world of cognitive science. Updated daily.

Diurnal Cortisol Slope Mediates the Association Between Affect and Memory Retrieval in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Path-Analytical Study

BackgroundMemory deficits are linked to dysfunctional HPA axis activity and negative affect in older adults. This study evaluated the mediating effect of the diurnal cortisol pattern on the relationship between affect and memory in older people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).MethodsThis longitudinal study recruited 189 Chinese older adults with MCI from elderly centers in Hong […]

Published on February 22, 2020

Can Brief Cognitive or Medication Management Tasks Identify the Potential for Dependence in Instrumental Activities of Daily Living?

Background and Objectives: The identification of functional performance deficits is critical to the community independence of older adults. We examined whether a combined cognitive and performance-based medication management measure would be able to better classify an individual’s functional cognitive status and potential for instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) impairment than either measure alone.Research Design […]

Published on February 21, 2020

Broca’s Area Is Not a Natural Kind

Theories of human cognition prominently feature ‘Broca’s area’, which causally contributes to a myriad of mental functions. However, Broca’s area is not a monolithic, multipurpose unit – it is structurally and functionally heterogeneous. Some functions engaging (subsets of) this area share neurocognitive resources, whereas others rely on separable circuits. A decade of converging evidence has […]

Published on February 21, 2020