Cognition3949 articles archived since 1845

Our Brain Is Better at Remembering Where to Find Brownies Than Cherry Tomatoes

Humans’ spatial recall makes mental notes about the location of high-calorie foods

How COVID-19 is Changing the English Language

From ‘social distancing’ to ‘self-quarantining,’ the pandemic is leaving a lasting impact on the English lexicon

Does ‘Brain Training’ Actually Work?

An online citizen science project is recruiting 30,000 volunteers to assess whether exercises to improve memory and attention are valid—and if so, for whom

How to Be a Mystical Skeptic

Psychologist Susan Blackmore stays grounded in science while exploring the outer reaches of consciousness.

How Do I Know I’m Not the Only Conscious Being in the Universe?

The solipsism problem, also called the problem of other minds, lurks at the heart of science, philosophy, religion, the arts and the human condition

New Views of Our Mesmerizing, Maddening Minds

Invisible Qualities such as ‘Hardness’ Can Pinpoint Objects

Objects’ hidden physical traits can help people locate them faster

COVID-19 Vaccine Ethics: Who Gets It First and Other Issues

Contributing editor W. Wayt Gibbs spoke with Arthur Caplan, head of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine’s division of medical ethics, about some of the ethical issues that researchers have to consider in testing and distributing vaccines against COVID-19...

How Dozens of Languages Help Build Gender Stereotypes

Usage patterns shape biases worldwide, whether in Japanese, Persian or English

The Weirdness of Watching Yourself on Zoom

As babies, we learn that it’s ourself we see in a mirror. But online meeting rooms are a whole different thing

Can People ID Infectious Disease by Cough and Sneeze Sounds?

Individuals aren’t very good at judging whether someone coughing or sneezing has an infectious condition or is simply reacting to something benign.

Why Some Birds Are Likely To Hit Buildings

Those that eat insects, migrate or usually live in the woods are most likely to fly into buildings that feature a lot of glass.

Bat Says Hi as It Hunts

Velvety free-tailed bats produce sounds that help them locate insect prey but simultaneously identify them to their companions.

Why Do Smells Trigger Memories?

Your sense of smell may be a better memory trigger than your sense of sight. Here's why a whiff of apple pie may instantly transport you home in your mind

The Messenger Is the Message

Behavioral scientist Stephen Martin and psychologist Joseph Marks talk about their book Messengers: Who We Listen To, Who We Don’t, and Why.

The Brain Interprets Smell like the Notes of a Song

The sequence in which clusters of olfactory neurons switch on can evoke the smell of an apple instead of a pear

How to Keep COVID-19 Conspiracies Contained

An expert on climate denial offers tips for inoculating people against coronavirus conspiracy notions.

Review of Learned Hopefulness: The Power of Positivity to Overcome Depression

By refocusing on the positive potential that already lies within, you will restore a greater sense of hope than you ever thought possible

Music Synchronizes the Brains of Performers and Their Audience

The more people enjoy music, the more similar their brain activity is to that of the musician

Your Brain, Free Will and the Law

Stanford University neuroscientist Robert Sapolsky talks about human behavior, the penal system and the question of free will.