Air Pollutants (PAHs) and Brain Development

LA and NYC researchers link perinatal exposure to air pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) with slower processing and ADHD symptoms via effect on brain's white matter.

Peterson, B.S., Rauch, V.A., Bansal, R., Hao, X., Toth, Z., Nati, G., Walsh, K., Miller, R.L., Semanek, D. & Perera, F. (2015). Effects of prenatal exposure to air pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) on the development of brain white matter, cognition and behavior in later childhood. JAMA Psychiatry. doi: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2015.57

Adding Words to the Brain's Visual Dictionary

Georgetown neuroscientists show how the brain learns sight words.

Glezer, L.S., Kim, J., Rule, J., Jiang, X. & Risenhuber, M. (2015). Adding words to the brain's visual dictionary: Novel word learning selectively sharpens orthographic representations in the VWFA. The Journal of Neuroscience, 35(12), 4965-4972.

Compensatory Role of Declarative Memory in Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Scientific review indicates declarative memory may compensate for deficits in language disorder, dyslexia, autism, Tourette's and OCD.

Ullman, M.T. & Pullman, M.Y. (2015). A compensatory role for declarative memory in neurodevelopmental disorders. Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews, 51, 205-222.

Retrieval Induces Adaptive Forgetting

University of Birmingham and Cambridge scientists show retrieval induces adaptive forgetting of competing memories.

Wimber, M., Alink, A., Charest, I., Kriegeskorte, N. & Anderson, M.C. (2015). Retrieval induces adaptive forgetting of competing memories via cortical pattern suppression. Nature Neuroscience. doi: 10.1038/nn.3973

Sensory Gating, Attention and Creativity

Northwestern University researchers explore link between sensory gating, attention and creativity.

Zabelina, D.L., O’Leary, D., Pornpattananangkul, N., Nusslock, R. & Beeman, M. (2015). Creativity and sensory gating indexed by the P50: Selective versus leaky sensory gating in divergent thinkers and creative achievers. Neuropsychologia, 69, 77-84.

SuperAgers

Northwestern University researchers uncover brain differences in SuperAgers.

Gefen, T., Peterson, M., Papastefan, S.T., Martersteck, A., Whitney, K., Rademaker, A., Bigio, E.H., Weintraub, S., Rogalski, E., Mesulam, M.M. & Geula, C. (2015). Morphometric and histoligic substrates of cingulate integrity in elders with exceptional memory capacity. The Journal of Neuroscience, 35(4), 1781-1791.

Mindfulness and Attention

Research review suggests mindfulness training may support self-regulation and attention.

Cassone, A.R. (2015). Mindfulness training as an adjunct to evidence-based treatment for ADHD within families. Journal of Attention Disorders, 19(2), 147-157.

Scientific Consensus on Brain Training Industry

The Stanford Center on Longevity and 70+ of the world’s leading cognitive psychologists and neuroscientists (signatories) issue a position statement on brain training.

Max Planck Institute for Human Development and Stanford Center on Longevity (2014). A consensus on the brain training industry from the scientific community. http://longevity3.stanford.edu/blog/2014/10/15/the-consensus-on-the-brain-training-industry-from-the-scientific-community/

Exercise and Attention

Emerging evidence suggests regular morning exercise may improve attention in youth.

Hoza, B., Smith, A.L., Shoulberg, E.K., Linnea, K.S., Dorsch, T.E., Blazo, J.A., Alerding, C.M. & McCabe, G.P. (2014). A randomized trial examining the effects of aerobic physical activity on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder symptoms in young children. Journal of Abnormal Clinical Psychology. doi: 10.1007/s10802-014-9929-y

Rommel, A., Halperin, J.M., Mill, J., Asherson, P. & Kuntsi, J. (2013). Protection from genetic diathesis in ADHD: Possible complementary roles of exercise. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(9), 900-910.

Talent in Autism

Theory connects sensory sensitivity and detail-oriented attention to systemizing and talent in Autism.

Baron-Cohen, S., Ashwin, E., Ashwin, C., Tavassoli, T. & Chakrabarti, B. (2009). Talent in autism: Hyper-systemizing, hyper-attention to detail and sensory hypersensitivity. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society Biological Sciences, 364, 1377-1383.