https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/language_acquisition/ Read recent studies pertaining to language acquisition in infants and children. en-us Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:34:03 EDT Wed, 11 Mar 2026 06:34:03 EDT 60 https://www.sciencedaily.com/images/scidaily-logo-rss.png https://www.sciencedaily.com/news/mind_brain/language_acquisition/ For more science news, visit ScienceDaily. https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260219040811.htm Human language may seem messy and inefficient compared to the ultra-compact strings of ones and zeros used by computers—but our brains actually prefer it that way. New research reveals that while digital-style encoding could theoretically compress information more tightly, it would demand far more mental effort from both speaker and listener. Instead, language is built around familiar words and predictable patterns that reflect our real-world experiences, allowing the brain to constantly anticipate what comes next and narrow down meaning step by step. Fri, 20 Feb 2026 09:23:24 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260219040811.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260218031606.htm That viral claim that your frontal lobe “isn’t fully developed until 25” turns out to be more myth than milestone. Early brain scans showed that gray matter changes dramatically through the teen years, and because studies stopped around age 20, scientists estimated development might wrap up in the mid-20s. But newer, massive brain-imaging research paints a different picture: key wiring and network efficiency in the brain continue evolving into the early 30s. Thu, 19 Feb 2026 02:54:09 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260218031606.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260213223926.htm Sleeping on a problem might be more powerful than we ever imagined. Neuroscientists at Northwestern University have shown that dreams can actually be nudged in specific directions — and those dream tweaks may boost creativity. By playing subtle sound cues during REM sleep, researchers prompted people to dream about unsolved brain teasers they had struggled with earlier. An astonishing 75% of participants dreamed about the cued puzzles, and those puzzles were solved far more often the next day. Sun, 15 Feb 2026 01:47:47 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260213223926.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260204114144.htm At just two months old, babies are already organizing the world in their minds. Brain scans revealed distinct patterns as infants looked at pictures of animals, toys, and everyday objects, showing early category recognition. Scientists used AI to help decode these patterns, offering a rare glimpse into infant thinking. The results suggest babies begin learning and understanding far sooner than expected. Thu, 05 Feb 2026 00:14:20 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/02/260204114144.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260122074033.htm New research suggests that auditory hallucinations in schizophrenia may come from a brain glitch that confuses inner thoughts for external voices. Normally, the brain predicts the sound of its own inner speech and tones down its response. But in people hearing voices, brain activity ramps up instead, as if the voice belongs to someone else. The discovery could help scientists develop early warning signs for psychosis. Fri, 23 Jan 2026 08:46:23 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260122074033.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260120000308.htm Scientists have discovered that the human brain understands spoken language in a way that closely resembles how advanced AI language models work. By tracking brain activity as people listened to a long podcast, researchers found that meaning unfolds step by step—much like the layered processing inside systems such as GPT-style models. Wed, 21 Jan 2026 01:49:52 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/01/260120000308.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225031244.htm Everyday sights and sounds quietly shape the choices people make, often without them realizing it. New research suggests that some individuals become especially influenced by these environmental cues, relying on them heavily when deciding what to do. The problem arises when those cues start leading to worse outcomes. For certain people, the brain struggles to update these learned signals, causing them to repeat risky or harmful decisions over time. Fri, 26 Dec 2025 09:00:39 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251225031244.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251209234139.htm BISC is an ultra-thin neural implant that creates a high-bandwidth wireless link between the brain and computers. Its tiny single-chip design packs tens of thousands of electrodes and supports advanced AI models for decoding movement, perception, and intent. Initial clinical work shows it can be inserted through a small opening in the skull and remain stable while capturing detailed neural activity. The technology could reshape treatments for epilepsy, paralysis, and blindness. Tue, 09 Dec 2025 23:54:39 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/12/251209234139.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251029100147.htm People with gum disease may have higher levels of brain white matter damage, a new study finds. Researchers observed that participants with gum disease had significantly more white matter hyperintensities, even after accounting for other risk factors. The findings hint that chronic oral inflammation could subtly impact the brain, especially in older adults. More research is needed, but keeping gums healthy might protect the mind too. Wed, 29 Oct 2025 22:54:34 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251029100147.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251029002910.htm New research reveals that intelligence plays a key role in how well people process speech in noisy environments. The study compared neurotypical and neurodivergent individuals and found that cognitive ability predicted performance across all groups. This challenges the idea that listening struggles are solely due to hearing loss, emphasizing the brain’s role in decoding complex soundscapes. Wed, 29 Oct 2025 09:14:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251029002910.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251015230952.htm Long before humans built cities or wrote words, our ancestors may have faced a hidden threat that shaped who we became. Scientists studying ancient teeth found that early humans, great apes, and even Neanderthals were exposed to lead millions of years ago. This toxic metal can damage the brain, yet modern humans developed a tiny genetic change that protected our minds and allowed language and intelligence to flourish. Thu, 16 Oct 2025 10:31:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251015230952.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251002073956.htm Scientists confirmed that pianists can alter timbre through touch, using advanced sensors to capture micro-movements that shape sound perception. The discovery bridges art and science, promising applications in music education, neuroscience, and beyond. Thu, 02 Oct 2025 08:54:04 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/10/251002073956.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250811104229.htm Researchers have discovered that parts of the human brain age more slowly than previously thought—particularly in the region that processes touch. By using ultra-high-resolution brain scans, they found that while some layers of the cerebral cortex thin with age, others remain stable or even grow thicker, suggesting remarkable adaptability. This layered resilience could explain why certain skills endure into old age, while others fade, and even reveals built-in compensatory mechanisms that help preserve function. Tue, 12 Aug 2025 05:01:30 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/08/250811104229.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250625075016.htm Our brains may work best when teetering on the edge of chaos. A new theory suggests that criticality a sweet spot between order and randomness is the secret to learning, memory, and adaptability. When brains drift from this state, diseases like Alzheimer s can take hold. Detecting and restoring criticality could transform diagnosis and treatment. Wed, 25 Jun 2025 09:41:09 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250625075016.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250612081317.htm A team at UC Davis has made a major leap in neurotechnology, enabling a man with ALS to speak again through a brain-computer interface that converts thoughts into speech in real time. Unlike prior systems that translated neural signals into text, this one synthesizes actual voice with tone, pacing, and even melody, creating a near-conversational experience. The device interprets neural signals via implants and advanced AI, making it possible for users to speak new words, ask questions, and express emotions vocally. Though still early-stage, this breakthrough offers real hope for those silenced by neurological conditions. Thu, 12 Jun 2025 08:13:17 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250612081317.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602155001.htm Listening to sound doesn t just trigger brain activity it reshapes your brain s internal networks in real time. Scientists have unveiled a powerful new imaging method, FREQ-NESS, that traces how different sound frequencies ripple through brain regions like shifting waves. This discovery could revolutionize how we understand perception, attention, and even consciousness. Mon, 02 Jun 2025 15:50:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/06/250602155001.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250530124123.htm Singing to your infant can significantly boost the baby's mood, according to a recent study. Around the world and across cultures, singing to babies seems to come instinctively to caregivers. Now, new findings support that singing is an easy, safe, and free way to help improve the mental well-being of infants. Because improved mood in infancy is associated with a greater quality of life for both parents and babies, this in turn has benefits for the health of the entire family, the researchers say. The study also helps explain why musical behaviors may have evolved in parents. Fri, 30 May 2025 12:41:23 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250530124123.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529140137.htm Humans and mice share persistent brain-activity patterns in response to adverse sensory experience, scientists find, opening a window to our emotions and, perhaps, neuropsychiatric disorders. Thu, 29 May 2025 14:01:37 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250529140137.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521161109.htm The smallest grooves on the brain's surface, unique to humans, have largely been ignored by anatomists, but recent studies show that they're related to cognitive performance, including face recognition and reasoning ability. A new study shows that the depths of these tertiary sulci are also linked to increased interconnectedness between areas of the brain associated with reasoning and high-level cognitive functions. The sulci may decrease the length of neural connections, improving communication efficiency. Wed, 21 May 2025 16:11:09 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250521161109.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514151712.htm A new study outlines how artificial intelligence-powered handwriting analysis may serve as an early detection tool for dyslexia and dysgraphia among young children. Wed, 14 May 2025 15:17:12 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250514151712.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250509154213.htm Wild chimpanzees alter the meaning of single calls when embedding them into diverse call combinations, mirroring linguistic operations in human language. Human language, however, allows an infinite generation of meaning by combining phonemes into words and words into sentences. This contrasts with the very few meaningful combinations reported in animals, leaving the mystery of human language evolution unresolved. Fri, 09 May 2025 15:42:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250509154213.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507125852.htm Our brain is a complex organ. Billions of nerve cells are wired in an intricate network, constantly processing signals, enabling us to recall memories or to move our bodies. Making sense of this complicated network requires a precise look into how these nerve cells are arranged and connected. A new method makes use of off-the-shelf light microscopes, hydrogel and deep learning. Wed, 07 May 2025 12:58:52 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507125852.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507125707.htm Brain researchers have identified a bridge between the thalamus and the cortex as the key area that is modified during motor learning functions. They found that such learning does much more than adjust activity levels, it sculpts the circuit's wiring, refining the conversation between brain regions. Wed, 07 May 2025 12:57:07 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250507125707.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250505121757.htm The fact that left-handedness resp. mixed-handedness are strikingly common in patients with certain neurological disorders such as autism spectrum disorders is a frequently reported observation in medical practice. The reason why handedness is associated with these disorders is probably because both are affected by processes in early brain development. Various studies have explored this link for individual disorders and have sometimes been able to show it, and sometimes not. A meta-analysis carried out by an international research team shows that left and mixed-handedness is particularly common in people who suffer from a disorder that manifests itself early in life and is associated with linguistic symptoms. These include dyslexia, schizophrenia and autism. Mon, 05 May 2025 12:17:57 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/05/250505121757.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430141618.htm Researchers have identified biomarkers for tinnitus severity in subtle facial movements and pupil dilation that can be captured on video recordings. Until now, there has been no objective way to measure tinnitus severity and clinicians rely on patient survey questionnaires. The researchers plan to use these biomarkers to develop and test new therapies that can reduce or eliminate the phantom sounds (i.e. ringing in the ears) caused by tinnitus. Wed, 30 Apr 2025 14:16:18 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250430141618.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428221228.htm Large language models (LLMs) are at the forefront of artificial intelligence (AI) and have been widely used for conversational interactions. However, assessing the personality of a given LLM remains a significant challenge. A research team has now developed an AI-driven assessment system, the Language Model Linguistic Personality Assessment (LMLPA), with capabilities to quantitatively measure the personality traits of LLMs through linguistic analysis. Mon, 28 Apr 2025 22:12:28 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428221228.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428220638.htm BU researchers develop a brain-inspired algorithm that can help people with hearing loss pick out conversations in noisy, crowded spaces. Mon, 28 Apr 2025 22:06:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250428220638.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423164051.htm A new study by developmental scientists offers the first evidence that infants as young as 15 months can identify an object they have learned about from listening to language -- even if the object remains hidden. Wed, 23 Apr 2025 16:40:51 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250423164051.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250421221121.htm Neuroscientists have developed a new treatment approach for a language disorder that combines traditional speech therapy with noninvasive electrical stimulation of the brain. Brain stimulation helped induce neuroplasticity, the brain's capacity to continue to reorganize and learn. Mon, 21 Apr 2025 22:11:21 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250421221121.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250415143348.htm Ambisonic rendering is a way to simulate the precise locations of sounds in 3D, and an ambisonics algorithm has allowed researchers to create rich virtual 'soundscapes.'Researchers decided to test the limits of ambisonic sound reproduction through their 'AudioDome' loudspeaker array. Humans' spatial acuity is high in front of our faces but decreases around the sides of our head, and the researchers' experiments obtained very similar results from listeners in the AudioDome, proving that the loudspeaker array can reproduce sound locations at a spatial scale beyond the human limits of perception. Tue, 15 Apr 2025 14:33:48 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250415143348.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250409114838.htm From a tiny sample of tissue no larger than a grain of sand, scientists have come within reach of a goal once thought unattainable: building a complete functional wiring diagram of a portion of the brain. Wed, 09 Apr 2025 11:48:38 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250409114838.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250404122627.htm A research group has discovered that using a device that stimulates the inner ear with a specific wavelength of sound reduces motion sickness. Even a single minute of stimulation with a unique sound, called 'sound spice ,' reduced the staggering and discomfort felt by people that were asked to read a document in a moving vehicle. Their findings suggest a simple and effective way to alleviate this common disorder. Fri, 04 Apr 2025 12:26:27 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250404122627.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250403122822.htm Fluency in a foreign language is often thought to be about speaking quickly and using advanced vocabulary. However, researchers reveal that speakers who use common, everyday expressions sound more fluent than those who rely on rare, complex words. The study highlights the importance of mastering familiar phrases to improve fluency perception, suggesting that learners should naturally incorporate common formulaic expressions in spontaneous speech. Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:28:22 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/04/250403122822.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250326123340.htm A research team has uncovered a fundamental principle of how the brain prioritizes vision and hearing differently depending on whether we are still or in motion. The study provides new insights into how movement alters the brain's sensory decision-making process. Wed, 26 Mar 2025 12:33:40 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250326123340.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250325115113.htm What goes through your mind when someone asks 'Did you see that?' A study shows that children and adults process ambiguous information like 'that' differently. While children focus more on the literal meaning, adults use multiple cues to grasp the speaker's intent. Researchers hope their findings could aid dialogue robot development and improve support systems for individuals with communication difficulties. Tue, 25 Mar 2025 11:51:13 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250325115113.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250318141129.htm New research finds the brain's language-processing network also responds to artificial languages such as Esperanto and languages made for TV, such as Klingon on 'Star Trek' and High Valyrian and Dothraki on 'Game of Thrones.' Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:11:29 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250318141129.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250318140901.htm Humans' unique language capacity was present at least 135,000 years ago, according to a survey of genomic evidence. As such, language might have entered social use 100,000 years ago. Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:09:01 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250318140901.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250317164050.htm By studying never-before-seen details of brain connectivity in human infants, researchers have identified how a balance of innate structure and flexible learning produces our remarkably organized visual brains. Mon, 17 Mar 2025 16:40:50 EDT https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250317164050.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250303141708.htm First study to reveal the brain encodes pitch accents separately from the sounds that make up words. Heschl's gyrus region of the brain, an earlier stage of auditory processing, plays a much larger role than previously thought. Findings could transform speech therapy, AI-driven voice recognition and our understanding of what makes human communication unique. Mon, 03 Mar 2025 14:17:08 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/03/250303141708.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250228113955.htm Africa is a multilingual continent and many adults speak several languages fluently. An empirical study by a psycholinguist now shows that the roots of this multilingualism can be found in infancy: In Ghana, most babies grow up multilingually, with most of them coming into contact with two to six languages and just as many regular speakers of each language. The researchers also showed that the babies heard some languages primarily indirectly -- i.e. via radio, television or background conversations -- while other languages were used by their caregivers to directly communicate with them. Fri, 28 Feb 2025 11:39:55 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250228113955.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250225121817.htm A new definition of dyslexia is needed to more accurately describe the learning disorder and give those struggling with dyslexia the specific support they require, says new research. Tue, 25 Feb 2025 12:18:17 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250225121817.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250219121241.htm Researchers find large language models process diverse types of data, like different languages, audio inputs, images, etc., similarly to how humans reason about complex problems. Like humans, LLMs integrate data inputs across modalities in a central hub that processes data in an input-type-agnostic fashion. Wed, 19 Feb 2025 12:12:41 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250219121241.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250218113813.htm How much does the evolution of human speech owe to one amino acid? Tue, 18 Feb 2025 11:38:13 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250218113813.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250213144128.htm Imagine seeing a furry, four-legged animal that meows. Mentally, you know what it is, but the word 'cat' is stuck on the tip of your tongue. This phenomenon, known as Broca's aphasia or expressive aphasia, is a language disorder that affects a person's ability to speak or write. While the current go-to treatment is speech therapy, scientists are working toward a different, possibly more effective treatment: using a brain computer interface (BCI) to convert brain signals into spoken words. Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:41:28 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250213144128.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250213143925.htm How do you tell if someone has a particular accent? It might seem obvious: You hear someone pronounce words in a way that is different from 'normal' and connect it to other people from a specific place. But a new study suggests that might not be the case. Thu, 13 Feb 2025 14:39:25 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250213143925.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250212134435.htm It's been a long-held belief that absolute pitch -- the ability to identify musical notes without reference -- is a rare gift reserved for a select few with special genetic gifts or those who began musical training in early childhood. However, research challenges this, demonstrating that adults can acquire this skill through rigorous training. Wed, 12 Feb 2025 13:44:35 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250212134435.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250210132141.htm A study sheds light on how networks in the brain detect new information, offering insight into disorders like schizophrenia. Mon, 10 Feb 2025 13:21:41 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250210132141.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250206183702.htm Electroencephalography (EEG) may offer a more accessible alternative to functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) for guiding transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) when treating aphasia. Researchers found an 80% agreement between EEG and fMRI in identifying brain regions activated during language tasks. Furthermore, EEG-guided tDCS improved picture-naming speed in participants, indicating its potential for innovative therapies in language disorders. Thu, 06 Feb 2025 18:37:02 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250206183702.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250206142400.htm Researchers have unveiled the precise brain mechanisms that enable animals to overcome instinctive fears. The study in mice could have implications for developing therapeutics for fear-related disorders such as phobias, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Thu, 06 Feb 2025 14:24:00 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/02/250206142400.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250131132443.htm Sound plays a significant and often poignant part of skateboarders' relationship with their sport, a new study shows. Fri, 31 Jan 2025 13:24:43 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250131132443.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250130135821.htm Scientists have discovered a feedback loop in the brain's odor center that seems to put smells and sounds into context. The feedback loop may help animals adjust their behaviors in response to new sensations. Thu, 30 Jan 2025 13:58:21 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250130135821.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250129162136.htm New psychology research indicates that multilingual children may have enhanced executive function and perspective taking skills. Wed, 29 Jan 2025 16:21:36 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250129162136.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250128124300.htm Can a computer learn a language the way a child does? A recent study sheds new light on this question. The researchers advocate for a fundamental revision of how artificial intelligence acquires and processes language. Tue, 28 Jan 2025 12:43:00 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250128124300.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250127161925.htm Physicists have discovered a sophisticated, previously unknown set of 'modes' within the human ear that put important constraints on how the ear amplifies faint sounds, tolerates noisy blasts, and discerns a stunning range of sound frequencies in between. By applying existing mathematical models to a generic mock-up of a cochlea -- a spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear -- the researchers revealed a new layer of cochlear complexity. The findings offer fresh insight into the remarkable capacity and accuracy of human hearing. Mon, 27 Jan 2025 16:19:25 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250127161925.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250127124442.htm A large proportion of babies born very early need intensive care, which can be painful. But the healthcare system fails to provide pain relief to the full extent. This is shown by the largest survey to date of pain in neonatal care. Mon, 27 Jan 2025 12:44:42 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250127124442.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250122125755.htm Using computational models, the researchers studied how the brain's reward-learning system functions in those with depression, especially among individuals experiencing anhedonia, the inability to feel pleasure. By analyzing dopamine-linked responses, they identified unique brain activity patterns that could help predict who is likely to recover. Wed, 22 Jan 2025 12:57:55 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250122125755.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250121162108.htm Do speakers of different languages build sentence structure in the same way? In a neuroimaging study, scientists recorded the brain activity of participants listening to Dutch stories. In contrast to English, sentence processing in Dutch was based on a strategy for predicting what comes next rather than a 'wait-and-see' approach, showing that strategies may differ across languages. Tue, 21 Jan 2025 16:21:08 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250121162108.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250114124753.htm Are humans or machines better at recognizing speech? A new study shows that in noisy conditions, current automatic speech recognition (ASR) systems achieve remarkable accuracy and sometimes even surpass human performance. However, the systems need to be trained on an incredible amount of data, while humans acquire comparable skills in less time. Tue, 14 Jan 2025 12:47:53 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250114124753.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250103150946.htm A new study adds to the growing body of evidence on the cognitive benefits of speaking multiple languages, finding that multilingualism not only enhances general cognitive abilities but also may help reduce certain symptoms and bolster control of daily thoughts and actions in children with and without autism. Fri, 03 Jan 2025 15:09:46 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/01/250103150946.htm https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241218174842.htm Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty in which genes often play a role. How do genes associated with dyslexia relate to brain structure in the general population? In a large-scale study, a team of scientists found that genetic variants that increase the chance of dyslexia were associated with differences in brain areas involved in motor coordination, vision, and language. Wed, 18 Dec 2024 17:48:42 EST https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2024/12/241218174842.htm