Cognitive neuroscientists have long debated about whether people have visual-like “pictures in the brain” that we activate when we think of them, or whether representations are more semantically organized in sets of features. So, for example, if asked to think of a blond person, will someone conjure in their “mind’s eye,” a typical blond person […]
In Memoriam: Arthur P. Shimamura
Professor Arthur (Art) Shimamura passed on October 6, 2020. A founder of the Cognitive Neuroscience Society, Art was a talented scientist, an award-winning teacher, and a respected leader. Throughout his career he pursued the highest ideals of science and service, and his highly-cited work has had a profound impact on our understanding of memory, amnesia […]
Getting to Know You: New Insights in Facial Recognition
The COVID-19 global pandemic is opening new questions for exploring how we get to know and recognize people in our lives. From the rise of digital representations of people — whether through avatars or teleconferences — to the use of masks for protection, we are taking in lots of different types of information beyond mere […]
The Next Phase of Publishing in Cognitive Neuroscience
Since its inception 31 years ago, the Journal of Cognitive Neuroscience (JoCN) has followed the latest science and trends in the field, becoming one of the preeminent journals publishing in the brain sciences. First led by Michael Gazzaniga, a founder of CNS, and then by Mark D’Esposito, who was Editor in Chief (EiC) for 17 […]
Do Visual Aids Assist Musical Training?
As a professional flutist, Ioanna Zioga has often wondered how people learn music. She herself has experienced many different musical training techniques from various musicians. “Some would draw figures on a whiteboard to visually represent the music; others would sing melodies; others would play the music themselves on the flute in order for me to […]
Aging Amplifies the Retention of Irrelevant Info in Our Memory
In the 1990s, research led by Lynn Hasher, then at Duke University, identified some stark differences in how older and younger adults interpret narrative passages. They found that when reading passages, older adults form the same inferences that young adults do and when interpretations turn out to be wrong, both groups are able to correct […]
Beyond the Science: 4 Lessons Learned from the Kanwisher Award Talk
Guest Post by Paula P. Brooks Hearing from luminaries in a scientist’s field can have many benefits, as I learned during this year’s CNS conference. As this year’s recipient of the George A. Miller Prize in Cognitive Neuroscience, Nancy Kanwisher had the difficult job of delivering an effective award lecture over video conference. Despite the […]
CNS Statement: Black Lives Matter
The Cognitive Neuroscience Society (CNS) stands against racism, hate, and injustice. We affirm unequivocally that Black Lives Matter. CNS condemns all acts of discrimination and violence against Black people and other people of color. As an international organization, CNS is committed to the fight against racism, and to promoting inclusion and diversity in science and […]
Exploring Novel Paths for Brain Stimulation
CNS 2020 Guest Post by Anne Billot Being able to directly target specific areas of the brain is important both for cognitive neuroscientists seeking to establish direct causal links between neural signal and cognitive processes and for clinicians treating neurological disorders. The gold standard for approaching such tasks has been to directly manipulate the brain […]
TMS Provides a Window into Language Network Reorganization After a Stroke
CNS 2020 Guest Post by Natalie Gilmore In recent years, scientists have used neurostimulation techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to help understand how various aspects of the brain work. By sending electrical currents to one part of the brain, they can help isolate functionality. Such studies are especially valuable in understanding how the […]
