It's a general notion that some children are born brilliant and excel at studies, while others 'with less intelligence' lag behind in academic performance. A large new study seeks to bust this myth, having found that motivation, self-regulation, grit and perseverance help children become better at studies.

These non-cognitive skills that are part of emotional intelligence and also include academic interest and value attributed to learning, are as important as intelligence- a largely genetic attribute- in determining academic success, found the study.

Watch: AI is spying on students 
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The researchers followed the development of 10,000 children in the UK, including siblings, to reach the conclusions.

Fostering non-cognitive skills alongside cognitive abilities could significantly improve educational outcomes, said the authors of the study published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/autistic-11-year-old-girl-beats-albert-einstein-stephen-hawkings-iq-scores-590778">Also Read: Autistic 11-year-old girl beats IQ scores of Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking</a> 
&nbsp;

"Our research challenges the long-held assumption that intelligence is the primary driver of academic achievement," said Dr Margherita Malanchini at Queen Mary University of London, who did the study along with Dr Andrea Allegrini at University College London.

<h2>Non-cognitive skills vs genetic factors</h2>

The findings challenge the traditional view of educational achievement as determined largely by intelligence, which is largely a genetic attribute.&nbsp;

Instead, it suggests that a child's "emotional and behavioural makeup, influenced by both genes and environment, plays a crucial role in their educational journey," said the release.&nbsp;

<h2>How the study was done</h2>

The study followed 10,000 children from age seven to 16 in England and Wales, using "a combination of twin studies and DNA-based analyses to examine the interplay between genes, environment, and academic performance," said the release.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/inheritance-of-attraction-study-claims-children-of-attractive-parents-earn-more-687432">Also Read: Inheritance of attraction? 'Hot parents' study claims children of attractive people earn more</a> 
&nbsp;

By analysing DNA of study participants, researchers constructed a "polygenic score" for non-cognitive skills, essentially a genetic snapshot of a child's predisposition towards these skills, it said.&nbsp;

"We discovered that genetic effects associated with non-cognitive skills become increasingly predictive of academic achievement over the school years, in fact their effect nearly doubles between the ages of 7 and 16," Dr Allegrini said.

"By the end of compulsory education, genetic dispositions towards non-cognitive skills were equally as important as those related to cognitive abilities in predicting academic success."&nbsp;

<h2>Children in same families differ in approach to studies</h2>

Children within the family may shape their own learning experiences based on their personality, dispositions and abilities.

"We found that while family-wide processes play a significant role, the increasing influence of non-cognitive genetics on academic achievement remained evident even within families," said Allegrini.&nbsp;

"Our education system has traditionally focused on cognitive development," said Dr Malanchini.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

It's a general notion that some children are born brilliant and excel at studies, while others 'with less intelligence' lag behind in academic performance. A large new study seeks to bust this myth, having found that motivation, self-regulation, grit and perseverance help children become better at studies.

It's a general notion that some children are born brilliant and excel at studies, while others 'with less intelligence' lag behind in academic performance. A large new study seeks to bust this myth, having found that motivation, self-regulation, grit and perseverance help children become better at studies. These non-cognitive skills that are part of emotional intelligence and also include academic interest and value attributed to learning, are as important as intelligence- a largely genetic attribute- in determining academic success, found the study. Watch: AI is spying on students × The researchers followed the development of 10,000 children in the UK, including siblings, to reach the conclusions. Fostering non-cognitive skills alongside cognitive abilities could significantly improve educational outcomes, said the authors of the study published in the journal Nature Human Behaviour. Also Read: Autistic 11-year-old girl beats IQ scores of Albert Einstein, Stephen Hawking "Our research challenges the long-held assumption that intelligence is the primary driver of academic achievement," said Dr Margherita Malanchini at Queen Mary University of London, who did the study along with Dr Andrea Allegrini at University College London. Non-cognitive skills vs genetic factors The findings challenge the traditional view of educational achievement as determined largely by intelligence, which is largely a genetic attribute. Instead, it suggests that a child's "emotional and behavioural makeup, influenced by both genes and environment, plays a crucial role in their educational journey," said the release. How the study was done The study followed 10,000 children from age seven to 16 in England and Wales, using "a combination of twin studies and DNA-based analyses to examine the interplay between genes, environment, and academic performance," said the release. Also Read: Inheritance of attraction? 'Hot parents' study claims children of attractive people earn more By analysing DNA of study participants, researchers constructed a "polygenic score" for non-cognitive skills, essentially a genetic snapshot of a child's predisposition towards these skills, it said. "We discovered that genetic effects associated with non-cognitive skills become increasingly predictive of academic achievement over the school years, in fact their effect nearly doubles between the ages of 7 and 16," Dr Allegrini said. "By the end of compulsory education, genetic dispositions towards non-cognitive skills were equally as important as those related to cognitive abilities in predicting academic success." Children in same families differ in approach to studies Children within the family may shape their own learning experiences based on their personality, dispositions and abilities. "We found that while family-wide processes play a significant role, the increasing influence of non-cognitive genetics on academic achievement remained evident even within families," said Allegrini. "Our education system has traditionally focused on cognitive development," said Dr Malanchini. (With inputs from agencies)

Intelligence alone doesn't make children excel at studies; it takes grit and perseverance too: Study

A student in India's Uttar Pradesh preparing for her Class 10 (high school) board exams had to undergo major brain surgery because of a clot caused by an overdose of 'anti-sleep' medication. As per media reports, the&nbsp;Lucknow-based student had been taking these pills for an extended period, leading to nerve swelling and her subsequent hospitalisation.

<h2>Anti-sleeping pills&nbsp;</h2>

As per an ANI report, during the ongoing CBSE board exams, many students are turning to anti-sleep drugs to stay up late and study, disrupting their sleep cycles. These students are also increasing their caffeine intake through tea or coffee. This unhealthy lifestyle is negatively impacting their health, raising questions about the legality of these drugs.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/rare-triple-dip-la-nina-event-behind-unusual-air-quality-in-india-in-2022-23-says-study-691492">Rare ‘triple-dip’ La Nina event behind unusually good air quality in India in 2022-23, says study</a>

In the recent case, the girl, identified as Prajakta, collapsed one evening after studying all night. While studying, her mother was providing her with coffee to stay awake. Following her collapse, she was hospitalised and diagnosed with a brain clot. It was then that her parents discovered a bottle of anti-sleep pills in her drawer, which she had been taking.

<h2>The danger of these pills</h2>

In a conversation with the news agency, Dr Sharad Srivastava, a neurosurgeon, highlighted the dangerous trend of students using these pills to stay awake during exams. These drugs, sold over the counter under names like 'chuniya' and 'meethi,' are being smuggled from "countries like Bangkok", he said.&nbsp;

"Shocking though it may sound, an increasing number of students today, are taking these anti-sleep pills that help them stay awake during examinations."

"These drugs can have dangerous side effects, especially if taken with an overdose of caffeine — too many cups of coffee — as it happened in Prajakta's case," said Dr Srivastava.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-selfie-point-becomes-a-major-hit-among-tourists-in-kashmirs-uri-691514">‘INDIA’ selfie point becomes highly popular among tourists in Kashmir’s Uri near LoC</a>

These pills are variants of Modafinil, sold as Provigil, known to improve memory, mood, alertness, and cognitive abilities, said another medical practitioner speaking under the condition of anonymity. It is primarily used to treat disorders like narcolepsy and shift work sleep disorder.&nbsp;

These allow users to stay awake for "40 hours or more at a stretch", with a smoother effect than amphetamines. However, once the drug wears off, users must catch up on sleep to mitigate its adverse effects.

A psychiatrist, Dr R K Saxena, told the news agency that the pressure on students to achieve high percentages is leading them to use these pills.&nbsp;

"The children are berated if they get even half a per cent less than their friends. The pressure to score 98 and 99 per cent in board examinations is slowly killing them. Parents should accept the fact that such high percentages can be unrealistic and not every child can score these marks," said Dr Saxena.

Prajakta's parents have reportedly acknowledged that they did not realise the extent of pressure their daughter was under.

(With inputs from agencies)

A student in India's Uttar Pradesh preparing for her Class 10 (high school) board exams had to undergo major brain surgery because of a clot caused by an overdose of 'anti-sleep' medication.

A student in India's Uttar Pradesh preparing for her Class 10 (high school) board exams had to undergo major brain surgery because of a clot caused by an overdose of 'anti-sleep' medication. As per media reports, the Lucknow-based student had been taking these pills for an extended period, leading to nerve swelling and her subsequent hospitalisation. Anti-sleeping pills As per an ANI report, during the ongoing CBSE board exams, many students are turning to anti-sleep drugs to stay up late and study, disrupting their sleep cycles. These students are also increasing their caffeine intake through tea or coffee. This unhealthy lifestyle is negatively impacting their health, raising questions about the legality of these drugs. Also read | Rare ‘triple-dip’ La Nina event behind unusually good air quality in India in 2022-23, says study In the recent case, the girl, identified as Prajakta, collapsed one evening after studying all night. While studying, her mother was providing her with coffee to stay awake. Following her collapse, she was hospitalised and diagnosed with a brain clot. It was then that her parents discovered a bottle of anti-sleep pills in her drawer, which she had been taking. The danger of these pills In a conversation with the news agency, Dr Sharad Srivastava, a neurosurgeon, highlighted the dangerous trend of students using these pills to stay awake during exams. These drugs, sold over the counter under names like 'chuniya' and 'meethi,' are being smuggled from "countries like Bangkok", he said. "Shocking though it may sound, an increasing number of students today, are taking these anti-sleep pills that help them stay awake during examinations." "These drugs can have dangerous side effects, especially if taken with an overdose of caffeine — too many cups of coffee — as it happened in Prajakta's case," said Dr Srivastava. Also read | ‘INDIA’ selfie point becomes highly popular among tourists in Kashmir’s Uri near LoC These pills are variants of Modafinil, sold as Provigil, known to improve memory, mood, alertness, and cognitive abilities, said another medical practitioner speaking under the condition of anonymity. It is primarily used to treat disorders like narcolepsy and shift work sleep disorder. These allow users to stay awake for "40 hours or more at a stretch", with a smoother effect than amphetamines. However, once the drug wears off, users must catch up on sleep to mitigate its adverse effects. A psychiatrist, Dr R K Saxena, told the news agency that the pressure on students to achieve high percentages is leading them to use these pills. "The children are berated if they get even half a per cent less than their friends. The pressure to score 98 and 99 per cent in board examinations is slowly killing them. Parents should accept the fact that such high percentages can be unrealistic and not every child can score these marks," said Dr Saxena. Prajakta's parents have reportedly acknowledged that they did not realise the extent of pressure their daughter was under. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian student undergoes brain surgery after taking ‘anti-sleep’ pills during exams

Young people’s screen time is dangerously increasing and it is having a significant negative impact on their cognitive abilities, a new study has found.

As a result of disordered screen use, young people are developing health problems as well as shortened attention spans, hindering their mental well-being in the long run.

Amplifying this problem is the increasing trend to adapt technology into studies, often aimed at boosting the students’ engagement. However, teachers have noted that these devices are actually distracting in a learning environment. &nbsp;

<h2>How was the research conducted?</h2>

According to the study published in Science Alert, scientists conducted a meta-analysis of 34 previous studies and analysed various forms of screen use (including gaming, internet browsing, smartphone use and social media use) and compared the cognitive performance of individuals with disordered screen use to those without it.

The results were found to be concerning.

<h2>Results</h2>

It was revealed that those with problematic screen use consistently showed notably lower cognitive performance than their counterparts.

The primary cognitive area impacted was attention, specifically sustained attention—the capacity to concentrate on a constant stimulus for an extended duration.

Watch:&nbsp;Nuclear Fusion: A carbon-free source of energy

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The second most significant distinction was found in "executive functioning," particularly in impulse control, reflecting the ability to manage automatic responses or ‘reflexes.’

Notably, the nature of screen activity didn't influence the outcomes. Moreover, this trend wasn't limited to children but was observed across diverse age groups.

<h2>Why is it concerning?</h2>

Social media algorithms are designed in a way to capture your attention and divert your focus outward; these can severely impact your ability to concentrate.

The algorithms are also addictive in nature, making it harder for individuals to disengage themselves from their screens. Thus, they don’t even realise when screen use has become a problem.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/moderate-consumption-of-tea-coffee-linked-to-decreased-risks-of-cognitive-disorders-study-655274">Also read:&nbsp;Moderate consumption of tea, coffee linked to decreased risks of cognitive disorders: Study</a>

Attention is the bedrock of everyday tasks. People with weakened attention may struggle to keep up in less stimulating environments, such as a static workplace or classroom. They may find themselves turning to a screen as a result.

(With inputs from agencies)

Young people’s screen time is dangerously increasing and it is having a significant negative impact on their cognitive abilities, a new study has found. As a result of disordered screen use, young people are developing health problems as well as shortened attention spans, hindering their mental well-being in the long run.

Young people’s screen time is dangerously increasing and it is having a significant negative impact on their cognitive abilities, a new study has found. As a result of disordered screen use, young people are developing health problems as well as shortened attention spans, hindering their mental well-being in the long run. Amplifying this problem is the increasing trend to adapt technology into studies, often aimed at boosting the students’ engagement. However, teachers have noted that these devices are actually distracting in a learning environment. How was the research conducted? According to the study published in Science Alert, scientists conducted a meta-analysis of 34 previous studies and analysed various forms of screen use (including gaming, internet browsing, smartphone use and social media use) and compared the cognitive performance of individuals with disordered screen use to those without it. The results were found to be concerning. Results It was revealed that those with problematic screen use consistently showed notably lower cognitive performance than their counterparts. The primary cognitive area impacted was attention, specifically sustained attention—the capacity to concentrate on a constant stimulus for an extended duration. Watch: Nuclear Fusion: A carbon-free source of energy × The second most significant distinction was found in "executive functioning," particularly in impulse control, reflecting the ability to manage automatic responses or ‘reflexes.’ Notably, the nature of screen activity didn't influence the outcomes. Moreover, this trend wasn't limited to children but was observed across diverse age groups. Why is it concerning? Social media algorithms are designed in a way to capture your attention and divert your focus outward; these can severely impact your ability to concentrate. The algorithms are also addictive in nature, making it harder for individuals to disengage themselves from their screens. Thus, they don’t even realise when screen use has become a problem. Also read: Moderate consumption of tea, coffee linked to decreased risks of cognitive disorders: Study Attention is the bedrock of everyday tasks. People with weakened attention may struggle to keep up in less stimulating environments, such as a static workplace or classroom. They may find themselves turning to a screen as a result. (With inputs from agencies)

Increasing screen time is killing your cognitive abilities, study reveals

As people grow older, they tend to experience gradual cognitive decline, even if there are no traces of dementia. But now, a study has shown that cognitive decline is slower in those individuals who own dogs and cats.

As per the study published in Scientific Reports, individuals who walk their pets are able to maintain good cognitive capabilities even as they age.

This comes as scientists across the world find ways and strategies to delay imminent cognitive decline amongst the elderly population, including treating sleep apnea, improving diet, increasing exercise and many others.

<h2>Data from 637 participants assessed</h2>

The study assessed data from 637 participants, spanning individuals aged 51 to 101 years, with a mean age of 75 years.

The research methodology involved systematic data collection at regular intervals, with a frequency of every four years for participants below 80 and an annual schedule for those aged 80 or older.&nbsp;

During these data collection intervals, a battery of cognitive tests was administered to gauge participants' cognitive functions.

<h2>Results</h2>

The study made one thing very clear: Cognitive capabilities continued to decline among individuals as they age. But they noticed an anomaly. The decline was much slower in those who owned pets, in contrast to their non-pet-owning counterparts.&nbsp;

Moreover, when observing the outcomes, a clearer trend regarding slower cognitive decline was visible amongst cat and dog owners.

Watch:&nbsp;Pets did not improve emotional well-being during pandemic

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Those&nbsp;who regularly walked their dogs experienced a further mitigation of cognitive decline compared to their counterparts who did not take their dogs out for a walk.&nbsp;

Remarkably, these trends still persisted after consideration of variables such as age and prevalent medical conditions, reinforcing the credibility of the findings.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/pet-ownership-doesnt-impact-your-well-being-new-study-debunks-perception-657724">Also read:&nbsp;Pet ownership doesn’t impact your well-being, new study debunks perception</a>

“The current study provides important longitudinal evidence for the contribution of pet ownership to the maintenance of cognitive function in generally health community-residing older adults as they age,” the study authors concluded.&nbsp;

“Older adult pet owners experienced less decline in cognitive function as they aged, after considering both their pre-existing health and age. Memory, executive function, language function, psychomotor speed, and processing speed deteriorated less over ten years among pet owners than among non-owners and among dog owners than non-owners. Cat owners experienced less deterioration in memory and language function. Dog walking also was associated with slower deterioration in cognitive function,” they concluded.

(With inputs from agencies)

As people grow older, they tend to experience gradual cognitive decline, even if there are no traces of dementia. But now, a study has shown that cognitive decline is slower in those individuals who own dogs and cats.

As people grow older, they tend to experience gradual cognitive decline, even if there are no traces of dementia. But now, a study has shown that cognitive decline is slower in those individuals who own dogs and cats. As per the study published in Scientific Reports, individuals who walk their pets are able to maintain good cognitive capabilities even as they age. This comes as scientists across the world find ways and strategies to delay imminent cognitive decline amongst the elderly population, including treating sleep apnea, improving diet, increasing exercise and many others. Data from 637 participants assessed The study assessed data from 637 participants, spanning individuals aged 51 to 101 years, with a mean age of 75 years. The research methodology involved systematic data collection at regular intervals, with a frequency of every four years for participants below 80 and an annual schedule for those aged 80 or older. During these data collection intervals, a battery of cognitive tests was administered to gauge participants' cognitive functions. Results The study made one thing very clear: Cognitive capabilities continued to decline among individuals as they age. But they noticed an anomaly. The decline was much slower in those who owned pets, in contrast to their non-pet-owning counterparts. Moreover, when observing the outcomes, a clearer trend regarding slower cognitive decline was visible amongst cat and dog owners. Watch: Pets did not improve emotional well-being during pandemic × Those who regularly walked their dogs experienced a further mitigation of cognitive decline compared to their counterparts who did not take their dogs out for a walk. Remarkably, these trends still persisted after consideration of variables such as age and prevalent medical conditions, reinforcing the credibility of the findings. Also read: Pet ownership doesn’t impact your well-being, new study debunks perception “The current study provides important longitudinal evidence for the contribution of pet ownership to the maintenance of cognitive function in generally health community-residing older adults as they age,” the study authors concluded. “Older adult pet owners experienced less decline in cognitive function as they aged, after considering both their pre-existing health and age. Memory, executive function, language function, psychomotor speed, and processing speed deteriorated less over ten years among pet owners than among non-owners and among dog owners than non-owners. Cat owners experienced less deterioration in memory and language function. Dog walking also was associated with slower deterioration in cognitive function,” they concluded. (With inputs from agencies)

Pet owners experience slower cognitive decline as they age: Study

A recent study has revealed that moderate consumption of tea and coffee can lead to a decrease in risks associated with cognitive disorders such as dementia.

The study, published in Nutrition Reviews indicated that those who consume coffee and tea were 27 per cent and 32 per cent less likely, respectively, to develop cognitive disorders compared to those who don’t.

The researchers at China Medical University led by Ying Zhu and Chun-Xiang arrived at the conclusion after conducting a meta-analysis, which is in essence a large investigation analysing many studies at once.&nbsp;

In total, data from 389,505 participants was analysed, 18,459 of which included cases of cognitive disorders.

<h2>What is moderate consumption?</h2>

The study found that the best results in the case of coffee came at approximately 2.5 cups per day. No better results were observed in those who consumed higher quantities.&nbsp;

Also, it revealed that coffee had no influence on risks associated with cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND).

Watch:&nbsp;Drastic weather change affects the quality and production of coffee

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In the case of tea, the risk of death from cognitive disorders decreased by 11 per cent for those who consumed 1 cup per day.

In another interesting revelation, it was found that while coffee consumption led to a decreased risk of cognitive disorders in white individuals, tea consumption offered more protection to Asian individuals.

Protection was stronger for men than that for women in both coffee and tea consumption.

<h2>Caffeine boosts brain function</h2>

In simpler terms, caffeine offers a temporary boost to brain function while also safeguarding the brain from long-term cognitive issues.&nbsp;

Caffeine achieves this by blocking specific receptors, particularly the adenosine receptors, which tend to become overly active. This blockade enhances signalling and communication in select brain regions, thereby enhancing memory and learning.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/drinking-more-coffee-may-actually-help-you-says-study-646806">Also read:&nbsp;Drinking more coffee may actually help you, says study</a>

It's essential to acknowledge certain limitations. Despite the researchers' efforts to control potential variables that could influence the results, there remains a chance that unmeasured factors like tobacco and alcohol consumption, or income and educational levels, might have had an impact.&nbsp;

All in all, some questions still remain unsolved, that experts might try to address in further investigations.

(With inputs from agencies)

A recent study has revealed that moderate consumption of tea and coffee can lead to a decrease in risks associated with cognitive disorders such as dementia. The study, published in Nutrition Reviews indicated that those who consume coffee and tea were 27 per cent and 32 per cent less likely, respectively, to develop cognitive disorders compared to those who don’t.

A recent study has revealed that moderate consumption of tea and coffee can lead to a decrease in risks associated with cognitive disorders such as dementia. The study, published in Nutrition Reviews indicated that those who consume coffee and tea were 27 per cent and 32 per cent less likely, respectively, to develop cognitive disorders compared to those who don’t. The researchers at China Medical University led by Ying Zhu and Chun-Xiang arrived at the conclusion after conducting a meta-analysis, which is in essence a large investigation analysing many studies at once. In total, data from 389,505 participants was analysed, 18,459 of which included cases of cognitive disorders. What is moderate consumption? The study found that the best results in the case of coffee came at approximately 2.5 cups per day. No better results were observed in those who consumed higher quantities. Also, it revealed that coffee had no influence on risks associated with cognitive impairment without dementia (CIND). Watch: Drastic weather change affects the quality and production of coffee × In the case of tea, the risk of death from cognitive disorders decreased by 11 per cent for those who consumed 1 cup per day. In another interesting revelation, it was found that while coffee consumption led to a decreased risk of cognitive disorders in white individuals, tea consumption offered more protection to Asian individuals. Protection was stronger for men than that for women in both coffee and tea consumption. Caffeine boosts brain function In simpler terms, caffeine offers a temporary boost to brain function while also safeguarding the brain from long-term cognitive issues. Caffeine achieves this by blocking specific receptors, particularly the adenosine receptors, which tend to become overly active. This blockade enhances signalling and communication in select brain regions, thereby enhancing memory and learning. Also read: Drinking more coffee may actually help you, says study It's essential to acknowledge certain limitations. Despite the researchers' efforts to control potential variables that could influence the results, there remains a chance that unmeasured factors like tobacco and alcohol consumption, or income and educational levels, might have had an impact. All in all, some questions still remain unsolved, that experts might try to address in further investigations. (With inputs from agencies)

Moderate consumption of tea, coffee linked to decreased risks of cognitive disorders: Study

In the realm of human senses, scent is often pushed to the peripheries, receiving far less attention than sight and sound.

However, research from the University of California, Irvine suggests that harnessing the power of fragrances could be a simple yet stellar strategy to maintain cognitive function in old age.

By enhancing the air with various scents, a direct connection between memory and decision-making regions of the brain can be fortified, potentially offering a defence against cognitive decline and disorders like dementia, according to Science Alert.&nbsp;

Recent experiments conducted by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have unveiled compelling evidence pointing to the role of fragrances in boosting cognitive performance.

This approach stems from the understanding that nurturing the ageing brain's activity is crucial for sustaining cognitive well-being.

This involves more than just engaging in routine mental exercises; it entails immersing our surroundings with a plethora of sensory experiences that the brain can engage with.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ocean-waves-are-getting-bigger-as-earth-gets-warm-study-says-622044">Ocean waves are getting bigger as Earth gets warm, study says</a>

<h2>The olfactory-brain nexus</h2>

Aromas possess the remarkable ability to evoke potent memories, even from distant pasts. While visual and auditory impairments are addressed through interventions like glasses and hearing aids, there has been a notable absence of interventions for olfactory loss.

To explore the potential of sensory stimulation in preserving cognitive function, Yassa and his team conducted a study involving 20 participants.

These volunteers were exposed to natural oils infused with fragrances such as rose, orange, eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, and lavender.

Another group received a 'sham' odorant with minimal scent traces.

Over six months, participants used a diffuser to disperse these scents in their homes for two hours every night. Neuropsychological assessments were employed to evaluate memory, verbal learning, planning, and attention-switching abilities before and after the trial period.

Also watch |&nbsp;Gravitas: Study links inadequate sleep to chronic diseases

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<h2>Exploring neuroplasticity through scents</h2>

The concept of enriching environments to stimulate cognitive plasticity isn't new, especially in the animal kingdom.

Various studies have demonstrated that introducing odours into an animal's environment can enhance neuroplasticity, particularly in creatures exhibiting symptoms akin to human neurological disorders.

This observation opens the door to the idea that humans, too, could benefit from a complex "scent-scape."

Interestingly, there's a close correlation between the deterioration of olfactory ability and cognitive decline, hinting at a profound interconnection between the sense of smell and neurological functioning.

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In the realm of human senses, scent is often pushed to the peripheries, receiving far less attention than sight and sound. However, research from the University of California, Irvine suggests that harnessing the power of fragrances could be a simple yet stellar strategy to maintain cognitive function in old age.

In the realm of human senses, scent is often pushed to the peripheries, receiving far less attention than sight and sound. However, research from the University of California, Irvine suggests that harnessing the power of fragrances could be a simple yet stellar strategy to maintain cognitive function in old age. By enhancing the air with various scents, a direct connection between memory and decision-making regions of the brain can be fortified, potentially offering a defence against cognitive decline and disorders like dementia, according to Science Alert. Recent experiments conducted by researchers at the University of California, Irvine, have unveiled compelling evidence pointing to the role of fragrances in boosting cognitive performance. This approach stems from the understanding that nurturing the ageing brain's activity is crucial for sustaining cognitive well-being. This involves more than just engaging in routine mental exercises; it entails immersing our surroundings with a plethora of sensory experiences that the brain can engage with. Also read | Ocean waves are getting bigger as Earth gets warm, study says The olfactory-brain nexus Aromas possess the remarkable ability to evoke potent memories, even from distant pasts. While visual and auditory impairments are addressed through interventions like glasses and hearing aids, there has been a notable absence of interventions for olfactory loss. To explore the potential of sensory stimulation in preserving cognitive function, Yassa and his team conducted a study involving 20 participants. These volunteers were exposed to natural oils infused with fragrances such as rose, orange, eucalyptus, lemon, peppermint, rosemary, and lavender. Another group received a 'sham' odorant with minimal scent traces. Over six months, participants used a diffuser to disperse these scents in their homes for two hours every night. Neuropsychological assessments were employed to evaluate memory, verbal learning, planning, and attention-switching abilities before and after the trial period. Also watch | Gravitas: Study links inadequate sleep to chronic diseases Exploring neuroplasticity through scents The concept of enriching environments to stimulate cognitive plasticity isn't new, especially in the animal kingdom. Various studies have demonstrated that introducing odours into an animal's environment can enhance neuroplasticity, particularly in creatures exhibiting symptoms akin to human neurological disorders. This observation opens the door to the idea that humans, too, could benefit from a complex "scent-scape." Interestingly, there's a close correlation between the deterioration of olfactory ability and cognitive decline, hinting at a profound interconnection between the sense of smell and neurological functioning. WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

The nose knows: Exposure to certain fragrances during sleep can help your brain work better, says study

Exercising religiously, eating on time but not taking enough sleep? You might be losing out on benefits when it comes to protecting yourself against the decline in key skills such as memory and thinking, a new study has shown.&nbsp;

Scientists at the&nbsp;University College London (UCL) highlighted the need for sleep to protect against cognitive decline,&nbsp;in a study&nbsp;published&nbsp;in the journal The Lancet Healthy Longevity.&nbsp;

<h2>The methodology&nbsp;</h2>

The team found that those in their 50s and 60s who were regularly exercising but slept less than six hours a night had a faster decline in motor skills. To arrive at the conclusion, the team peered through data from the&nbsp;English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (Elsa) from nearly 9,000 people aged 50 and over.

After selecting the pool, their cognitive function was assessed over a 10-year-long period.&nbsp;Questionnaires were presented to better understand how long they slept and whether it was less or more than six hours.&nbsp;

Interestingly, during the initial phase of the experiment, those who were physically more active had better cognitive skills, regardless of sleep duration. However, this changed over the 10-year period when short sleepers in their late 50s and early 60s experienced a rapid cognitive decline.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/us-fda-approves-new-breakthrough-medicine-for-alzheimers-heres-what-it-does-550175">Also read |&nbsp;US FDA approves new ‘breakthrough’ medicine for Alzheimer’s. Here’s what it does</a>

“Our study suggests that getting sufficient sleep may be required for us to get the full cognitive benefits of physical activity.&nbsp;It shows how important it is to consider sleep and physical activity together when thinking about cognitive health," said&nbsp;Dr Mikaela Bloomberg, the lead author of the study.

“Previous studies examining how sleep and physical activity might combine to affect cognitive function have primarily been cross-sectional – only focusing on a snapshot in time – and we were surprised that regular physical activity may not always be sufficient to counter the long-term effects of lack of sleep on cognitive health," he added.

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<h2>Those in 70s maintained motor function&nbsp;</h2>

While those in their 50s and 60s needed to sleep more to achieve cognitive nirvana, the study showed that people aged 70 and over had cognitive&nbsp;functions maintained, despite short sleep cycles.&nbsp;

“The World Health Organisation already identifies physical activity as a way to maintain cognitive function, but interventions should also consider sleep habits to maximise long-term benefits for cognitive health,” said Prof Andrew Steptoe, the co-author of the study.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

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Exercising religiously, eating on time but not taking enough sleep? You might be losing out on benefits when it comes to protecting yourself against the decline in key skills such as memory and thinking, a new study has shown.

Exercising religiously, eating on time but not taking enough sleep? You might be losing out on benefits when it comes to protecting yourself against the decline in key skills such as memory and thinking, a new study has shown. Scientists at the University College London (UCL) highlighted the need for sleep to protect against cognitive decline, in a study published in the journal The Lancet Healthy Longevity. The methodology The team found that those in their 50s and 60s who were regularly exercising but slept less than six hours a night had a faster decline in motor skills. To arrive at the conclusion, the team peered through data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (Elsa) from nearly 9,000 people aged 50 and over. After selecting the pool, their cognitive function was assessed over a 10-year-long period. Questionnaires were presented to better understand how long they slept and whether it was less or more than six hours. Interestingly, during the initial phase of the experiment, those who were physically more active had better cognitive skills, regardless of sleep duration. However, this changed over the 10-year period when short sleepers in their late 50s and early 60s experienced a rapid cognitive decline. Also read | US FDA approves new ‘breakthrough’ medicine for Alzheimer’s. Here’s what it does “Our study suggests that getting sufficient sleep may be required for us to get the full cognitive benefits of physical activity. It shows how important it is to consider sleep and physical activity together when thinking about cognitive health," said Dr Mikaela Bloomberg, the lead author of the study. “Previous studies examining how sleep and physical activity might combine to affect cognitive function have primarily been cross-sectional – only focusing on a snapshot in time – and we were surprised that regular physical activity may not always be sufficient to counter the long-term effects of lack of sleep on cognitive health," he added. WATCH | Gravitas: Breakthrough in Alzheimer's treatment Those in 70s maintained motor function While those in their 50s and 60s needed to sleep more to achieve cognitive nirvana, the study showed that people aged 70 and over had cognitive functions maintained, despite short sleep cycles. “The World Health Organisation already identifies physical activity as a way to maintain cognitive function, but interventions should also consider sleep habits to maximise long-term benefits for cognitive health,” said Prof Andrew Steptoe, the co-author of the study. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE:

Skip sleep, increase risk of cognitive decline, research warns middle-aged people

Manganese (Mn) is a common metal found in soil and it can be leached into the groundwater. A research was recently conducted to find out about the levels of this chemical element in California’s Central Valley, a region recognised as one of the most productive and economically important agricultural regions in the United States and currently home to one-third of domestic well users in the state.&nbsp;

According to this research by UC Riverside, the Central Valley's private, untreated well water systems had the highest manganese amounts. The researchers found it in public water systems, but at amounts that were greater than those that have been linked to harmful health impacts in previous studies.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chatgpt-can-propel-four-day-work-week-heres-what-nobel-prize-winning-economist-says-579621">ChatGPT can propel four-day work-week? Here's what Nobel Prize-winning economist says</a>

As per the study, over 1.3 million Californians may be drinking tap water with high levels of this chemical element.&nbsp;In the Central Valley of California, the water is sufficiently high in manganese to impair children's cognitive function and motor coordination and to give adults Parkinson-like symptoms, as per reports citing the study.&nbsp;

Previous studies show that school-aged children consuming drinking water with naturally elevated concentrations of manganese have demonstrated lower academic achievement scores as well as poor memory attention, and increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).&nbsp;

Despite these studies, the research paper says that US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains a secondary contaminant status for manganese on the basis of adult cohort studies that did not observe neurotoxic endpoints.&nbsp;

In several Southeast Asian nations, manganese is controlled as a primary contaminant. Nevertheless, it is only treated as a secondary contaminant in terms of regulation in the US. It means there is no set maximum limit for it.

Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/north-korea-says-us-south-korea-drills-driving-tensions-in-korean-peninsula-to-brink-of-nuclear-war-579606">North Korea says US-South Korea drills driving tensions in Korean Peninsula to 'brink of nuclear war'</a>

It said that some recent studies show that a disproportionate amount of domestic well-dependent communities in California are underprivileged populations that probably experience financial difficulties in groundwater testing and treatment. A growing body of evidence suggests that manganese concentrations previously considered safe may pose significant health threats to vulnerable populations such as children, the research noted.&nbsp;

"It is a relatively small number of people, compared to the total population of the state, who are getting the tainted water. But for them, the health risks are high," said Samantha Ying, UCR soil scientist and principal study investigator. "These people are particularly concentrated in disadvantaged communities, so if they wanted to monitor and treat the water, they would have a hard time doing so," Ying said.

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Even though there are options for point-of-use treatment, include water softeners, chlorination, reverse osmosis systems, etc. Yet, the expense of water quality monitoring equipment and the cost of treating manganese infused water are both up to $400 per year.

"It is possible to purchase filters for manganese, but a lot of people cannot afford them. We are hoping people in these communities can be subsidised to buy treatment options," Ying said.

It stated that community water system users may have access to municipal monitoring and treatment, but out-of-pocket costs for domestic well communities may be a considerable financial burden, particularly for those below the poverty line.

"Using existing groundwater model predictions of manganese concentrations at deeper depths did not change the number of wells likely to be contaminated," Ying said.

The study suggests that legislative changes to primary contaminant regulation may have co-benefits upon secondary contaminant remediation. As per the study, it has been reported that a decrease in arsenic concentrations was correlated with the implementation of stricter regulation of As.&nbsp;

Arsenic has long been regulated as a primary contaminant in the US and "wells are labeled unsafe if they contain arsenic, but not if they contain manganese," Ying said. "Thus, the number of wells considered safe may be greatly overestimated."

(With inputs from agencies) 
 
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Manganese (Mn) is a common metal found in soil and it can be leached into the groundwater. A research was recently conducted to find out about the levels of this chemical element in California’s Central Valley, a region recognised as one of the most productive and economically important agricultural regions in the United States and currently home to one-third of domestic well users in the state.

Manganese (Mn) is a common metal found in soil and it can be leached into the groundwater. A research was recently conducted to find out about the levels of this chemical element in California’s Central Valley, a region recognised as one of the most productive and economically important agricultural regions in the United States and currently home to one-third of domestic well users in the state. According to this research by UC Riverside, the Central Valley's private, untreated well water systems had the highest manganese amounts. The researchers found it in public water systems, but at amounts that were greater than those that have been linked to harmful health impacts in previous studies. Also Read | ChatGPT can propel four-day work-week? Here's what Nobel Prize-winning economist says As per the study, over 1.3 million Californians may be drinking tap water with high levels of this chemical element. In the Central Valley of California, the water is sufficiently high in manganese to impair children's cognitive function and motor coordination and to give adults Parkinson-like symptoms, as per reports citing the study. Previous studies show that school-aged children consuming drinking water with naturally elevated concentrations of manganese have demonstrated lower academic achievement scores as well as poor memory attention, and increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Despite these studies, the research paper says that US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) maintains a secondary contaminant status for manganese on the basis of adult cohort studies that did not observe neurotoxic endpoints. In several Southeast Asian nations, manganese is controlled as a primary contaminant. Nevertheless, it is only treated as a secondary contaminant in terms of regulation in the US. It means there is no set maximum limit for it. Also Read | North Korea says US-South Korea drills driving tensions in Korean Peninsula to 'brink of nuclear war' It said that some recent studies show that a disproportionate amount of domestic well-dependent communities in California are underprivileged populations that probably experience financial difficulties in groundwater testing and treatment. A growing body of evidence suggests that manganese concentrations previously considered safe may pose significant health threats to vulnerable populations such as children, the research noted. "It is a relatively small number of people, compared to the total population of the state, who are getting the tainted water. But for them, the health risks are high," said Samantha Ying, UCR soil scientist and principal study investigator. "These people are particularly concentrated in disadvantaged communities, so if they wanted to monitor and treat the water, they would have a hard time doing so," Ying said. Watch | Gravitas: Is India emerging as a space leader? × Even though there are options for point-of-use treatment, include water softeners, chlorination, reverse osmosis systems, etc. Yet, the expense of water quality monitoring equipment and the cost of treating manganese infused water are both up to $400 per year. "It is possible to purchase filters for manganese, but a lot of people cannot afford them. We are hoping people in these communities can be subsidised to buy treatment options," Ying said. It stated that community water system users may have access to municipal monitoring and treatment, but out-of-pocket costs for domestic well communities may be a considerable financial burden, particularly for those below the poverty line. "Using existing groundwater model predictions of manganese concentrations at deeper depths did not change the number of wells likely to be contaminated," Ying said. The study suggests that legislative changes to primary contaminant regulation may have co-benefits upon secondary contaminant remediation. As per the study, it has been reported that a decrease in arsenic concentrations was correlated with the implementation of stricter regulation of As. Arsenic has long been regulated as a primary contaminant in the US and "wells are labeled unsafe if they contain arsenic, but not if they contain manganese," Ying said. "Thus, the number of wells considered safe may be greatly overestimated." (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Over 1.3mn Californians may be drinking water that can trigger cognitive issues, Parkinson-like symptoms

As per a new study led by the researchers of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), elementary school-aged children who get less than nine hours of sleep per night can have significant differences in brain regions responsible for memory, intelligence compared to those who get proper sleep of nine to twelve hours. The study was published in the Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal. The variations were associated with severe mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and impulsive behaviour amongst those who get little sleep, ANI reported.

Lack of sleep has also been related to problems such as decision making, problem-solving, and memory. However, till now, no research has examined the long-term effects of inadequate sleep on pre-teens’ neurocognitive development.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/ai-tools-help-scientists-to-find-hominins-used-fire-800k-years-ago-501881">AI tools help scientists to find hominins used fire 800k years ago</a>

For this story, the researchers analysed information gathered from more than 8,300 kids between the ages of 9 and 10 who participated in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. This study, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the largest long-term study for the investigation of child health and brain development in the US.

According to Ze Wang, PhD, Professor at UMSOM, "We found that children who had insufficient sleep, less than nine hours per night, at the beginning of the study, had less grey matter or smaller volume in certain areas of the brain responsible for attention, memory, and inhibition control compared to those with healthy sleep habits." He further added, "These differences persisted after two years, a concerning finding that suggests long-term harm for those who do not get enough sleep."

This is one of the first studies to show possible long-term effects of sleep deprivation on young children’s neurocognitive development.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/millions-develop-long-lasting-problems-with-sense-of-smell-or-taste-after-covid-19-study-501475">Millions develop long-lasting problems with sense of smell or taste after COVID-19: Study</a>

Following the publication of the study, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that children aged 6 to 12 take the recommended sleep.

The American Academy of Paediatrics advised parents to instill healthy habits in their kids. They advised the parents to prioritise getting adequate sleep to maintain a regular sleep schedule, encourage good physical activity throughout the day, and restrict their screen time an hour before bed.

(With inputs from agencies)

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As per a new study led by the researchers of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), elementary school-aged children who get less than nine hours of sleep per night can have significant differences in brain regions responsible for memory, intelligence compared to those who get proper sleep of nine to twelve hours.

As per a new study led by the researchers of the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM), elementary school-aged children who get less than nine hours of sleep per night can have significant differences in brain regions responsible for memory, intelligence compared to those who get proper sleep of nine to twelve hours. The study was published in the Lancet Child and Adolescent Health journal. The variations were associated with severe mental health issues, such as depression, anxiety, and impulsive behaviour amongst those who get little sleep, ANI reported. Lack of sleep has also been related to problems such as decision making, problem-solving, and memory. However, till now, no research has examined the long-term effects of inadequate sleep on pre-teens’ neurocognitive development. Also read | AI tools help scientists to find hominins used fire 800k years ago For this story, the researchers analysed information gathered from more than 8,300 kids between the ages of 9 and 10 who participated in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) study. This study, supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), is the largest long-term study for the investigation of child health and brain development in the US. According to Ze Wang, PhD, Professor at UMSOM, "We found that children who had insufficient sleep, less than nine hours per night, at the beginning of the study, had less grey matter or smaller volume in certain areas of the brain responsible for attention, memory, and inhibition control compared to those with healthy sleep habits." He further added, "These differences persisted after two years, a concerning finding that suggests long-term harm for those who do not get enough sleep." This is one of the first studies to show possible long-term effects of sleep deprivation on young children’s neurocognitive development. Also read | Millions develop long-lasting problems with sense of smell or taste after COVID-19: Study Following the publication of the study, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that children aged 6 to 12 take the recommended sleep. The American Academy of Paediatrics advised parents to instill healthy habits in their kids. They advised the parents to prioritise getting adequate sleep to maintain a regular sleep schedule, encourage good physical activity throughout the day, and restrict their screen time an hour before bed. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Sleeping less than nine hours can cause serious mental problems in young children: Study

According to new research, children who learn to play well with others at a young age have better mental health as they grow older.

The findings of the research were published in the journal `Child Psychiatry and Human Development`.

The findings provide the first clear evidence that `peer play ability`, the capacity to play successfully with other children, has a protective effect on mental health.

Researchers at the University of Cambridge analysed data from almost 1,700 children, collected when they were aged three and seven. Those with better peer play ability at age three consistently showed fewer signs of poor mental health four years later. They tended to have lower hyperactivity, parents and teachers reported fewer conduct and emotional problems, and they were less likely to get into fights or disagreements with other children.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/taller-people-likely-at-risk-for-skin-infection-and-nerve-disorders-study-484782">Tall people face more health risks than short people, claims study</a>

Importantly, this connection generally held true even when the researchers focused on subgroups of children who were particularly at risk of mental health problems. It also applied when they considered other risk factors for mental health - such as poverty levels, or cases in which the mother had experienced serious psychological distress during or immediately after pregnancy.

The findings suggest that giving young children who might be vulnerable to mental health issues access to well-supported opportunities to play with peers - for example, at playgroups run by early years specialists - could be a way to significantly benefit their long-term mental health.

Dr Jenny Gibson, from the Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDAL) Centre at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, said: "We think this connection exists because through playing with others, children acquire the skills to build strong friendships as they get older and start school. Even if they are at risk of poor mental health, those friendship networks will often get them through."

Watch |&nbsp;A dinosaur that lived 125 million years ago: Europe's largest dinosaur unearthed

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Vicky Yiran Zhao, a PhD Student in PEDAL and the first author of the study added: "What matters is the quality, rather than the quantity, of peer play. Games with peers that encourage children to collaborate, for example, or activities that promote sharing, will have positive knock-on benefits."

The researchers used data from 1,676 children in the Growing up in Australia study, which is tracking the development of children born in Australia between March 2003 and February 2004. It includes a record, provided by parents and carers, of how well the children played in different situations at age three. These covered different types of peer play, including simple games; imaginative pretend play; goal-directed activities (such as building a tower from blocks); and collaborative games like hide-and-seek.

These four peer play indicators were used to create a measure of `peer play ability` - the underlying ability of a child to engage with peers in a playful way. The researchers calculated the strength of the relationship between that measure and reported symptoms of possible mental health problems - hyperactivity, conduct, emotional and peer problems - at age seven.

The study then analysed two subgroups of children within the overall cohort. These were children with high `reactivity` (children who were very easily upset and difficult to soothe in infancy), and those with low `persistence` (children who struggled to persevere when encountering a challenging task). Both these traits are linked to poor mental health outcomes.

Across the entire dataset, children with a higher peer play ability score at age three consistently showed fewer signs of mental health difficulties at age seven. For every unit increase in peer play ability at age three, children`s measured score for hyperactivity problems at age seven fell by 8.4 per cent, conduct problems by 8 per cent, emotional problems by 9.8 per cent&nbsp;and peer problems by 14 per cent. This applied regardless of potential confounding factors such as poverty levels and maternal distress, and whether or not they had plentiful opportunities to play with siblings and parents.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/diabetes-drug-helps-people-with-obesity-to-lose-weight-significantly-says-study-485412">Diabetes drug helps people with obesity to lose weight significantly, says study</a>

The effect was evident even among the at-risk groups. In particular, among the 270 children in the `low persistence` category, those who were better at playing with peers at age three consistently had lower hyperactivity, and fewer emotional and peer problems, at age seven. This may be because peer play often forces children to problem-solve and confront unexpected challenges, and therefore directly addresses low persistence.

The benefits of peer play were weaker for the high reactivity sub-group, possibly because such children are often anxious and withdrawn, and less inclined to play with others. Even among this group, however, better peer play at age three was linked to lower hyperactivity at age seven.

The consistent link between peer play and mental health probably exists because playing with others supports the development of emotional self-control and socio-cognitive skills, such as the ability to understand and respond to other people`s feelings. These are fundamental to building stable, reciprocal friendships. There is already good evidence that the better a person`s social connections, the better their mental health tends to be. For children, more social connections also create a virtuous cycle, as they usually lead to more opportunities for peer play.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/believe-it-or-not-even-an-eye-test-may-be-able-to-predict-risk-of-heart-attack-says-study-487635">Even an eye test may be able to predict risk of heart attack, says study</a>

The researchers suggest that assessing children`s access to peer play at an early age could be used to screen for those potentially at risk of future mental health problems. They also argue that giving the families of at-risk children access to environments which promote high-quality peer play, such as playgroups or small-group care with professional childminders, could be an easily deliverable and low-cost way to reduce the chances of mental health problems later.

"The standard offer at the moment is to put the parents on a parenting course," Gibson said. "We could be focusing much more on giving children better opportunities to meet and play with their peers. There are already fantastic initiatives up and down the country, run by professionals who provide exactly that service to a very high standard. Our findings show how crucial their work is, especially given that the other risk factors jeopardising children`s mental health could often be down to circumstances beyond their parents` control."

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According to new research, children who learn to play well with others at a young age have better mental health as they grow older. The findings of the research were published in the journal `Child Psychiatry and Human Development`.

According to new research, children who learn to play well with others at a young age have better mental health as they grow older. The findings of the research were published in the journal `Child Psychiatry and Human Development`. The findings provide the first clear evidence that `peer play ability`, the capacity to play successfully with other children, has a protective effect on mental health. Researchers at the University of Cambridge analysed data from almost 1,700 children, collected when they were aged three and seven. Those with better peer play ability at age three consistently showed fewer signs of poor mental health four years later. They tended to have lower hyperactivity, parents and teachers reported fewer conduct and emotional problems, and they were less likely to get into fights or disagreements with other children. Also read | Tall people face more health risks than short people, claims study Importantly, this connection generally held true even when the researchers focused on subgroups of children who were particularly at risk of mental health problems. It also applied when they considered other risk factors for mental health - such as poverty levels, or cases in which the mother had experienced serious psychological distress during or immediately after pregnancy. The findings suggest that giving young children who might be vulnerable to mental health issues access to well-supported opportunities to play with peers - for example, at playgroups run by early years specialists - could be a way to significantly benefit their long-term mental health. Dr Jenny Gibson, from the Play in Education, Development and Learning (PEDAL) Centre at the Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge, said: "We think this connection exists because through playing with others, children acquire the skills to build strong friendships as they get older and start school. Even if they are at risk of poor mental health, those friendship networks will often get them through." Watch | A dinosaur that lived 125 million years ago: Europe's largest dinosaur unearthed Vicky Yiran Zhao, a PhD Student in PEDAL and the first author of the study added: "What matters is the quality, rather than the quantity, of peer play. Games with peers that encourage children to collaborate, for example, or activities that promote sharing, will have positive knock-on benefits." The researchers used data from 1,676 children in the Growing up in Australia study, which is tracking the development of children born in Australia between March 2003 and February 2004. It includes a record, provided by parents and carers, of how well the children played in different situations at age three. These covered different types of peer play, including simple games; imaginative pretend play; goal-directed activities (such as building a tower from blocks); and collaborative games like hide-and-seek. These four peer play indicators were used to create a measure of `peer play ability` - the underlying ability of a child to engage with peers in a playful way. The researchers calculated the strength of the relationship between that measure and reported symptoms of possible mental health problems - hyperactivity, conduct, emotional and peer problems - at age seven. The study then analysed two subgroups of children within the overall cohort. These were children with high `reactivity` (children who were very easily upset and difficult to soothe in infancy), and those with low `persistence` (children who struggled to persevere when encountering a challenging task). Both these traits are linked to poor mental health outcomes. Across the entire dataset, children with a higher peer play ability score at age three consistently showed fewer signs of mental health difficulties at age seven. For every unit increase in peer play ability at age three, children`s measured score for hyperactivity problems at age seven fell by 8.4 per cent, conduct problems by 8 per cent, emotional problems by 9.8 per cent and peer problems by 14 per cent. This applied regardless of potential confounding factors such as poverty levels and maternal distress, and whether or not they had plentiful opportunities to play with siblings and parents. Also read | Diabetes drug helps people with obesity to lose weight significantly, says study The effect was evident even among the at-risk groups. In particular, among the 270 children in the `low persistence` category, those who were better at playing with peers at age three consistently had lower hyperactivity, and fewer emotional and peer problems, at age seven. This may be because peer play often forces children to problem-solve and confront unexpected challenges, and therefore directly addresses low persistence. The benefits of peer play were weaker for the high reactivity sub-group, possibly because such children are often anxious and withdrawn, and less inclined to play with others. Even among this group, however, better peer play at age three was linked to lower hyperactivity at age seven. The consistent link between peer play and mental health probably exists because playing with others supports the development of emotional self-control and socio-cognitive skills, such as the ability to understand and respond to other people`s feelings. These are fundamental to building stable, reciprocal friendships. There is already good evidence that the better a person`s social connections, the better their mental health tends to be. For children, more social connections also create a virtuous cycle, as they usually lead to more opportunities for peer play. Also read | Even an eye test may be able to predict risk of heart attack, says study The researchers suggest that assessing children`s access to peer play at an early age could be used to screen for those potentially at risk of future mental health problems. They also argue that giving the families of at-risk children access to environments which promote high-quality peer play, such as playgroups or small-group care with professional childminders, could be an easily deliverable and low-cost way to reduce the chances of mental health problems later. "The standard offer at the moment is to put the parents on a parenting course," Gibson said. "We could be focusing much more on giving children better opportunities to meet and play with their peers. There are already fantastic initiatives up and down the country, run by professionals who provide exactly that service to a very high standard. Our findings show how crucial their work is, especially given that the other risk factors jeopardising children`s mental health could often be down to circumstances beyond their parents` control." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Research reveals playing with pre-school friends reduces risk of developing mental health problems

Donald Trump’s former White House physician, Ronny Jackson, has urged for a cognitive test for US president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/joe-biden">Joe Biden</a> to determine his mental health.<o:p></o:p>

"The far left and the mainstream media were demanding that be the new standard for anybody who's going to lead our country and be our Commander-in-Chief and our head of state," Jackson said in an interview at Fox News. "I'm just saying I agree with them at this point—we need to get it done."<o:p></o:p>

Jackson had appeared on the channel to discuss the President’s cognitive abilities after former US President Donald Trump has made repetitive claims that Biden was unfit to lead the country.<o:p></o:p>

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/donald-trump">ex-Trump aide</a> believes there is something ‘concerning’ happening with Biden which needs to be addressed on priority for the well-being of the President and the nation.

<o:p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/ex-white-house-physician-urges-cognitive-test-for-biden-395925">WATCH |</a></o:p>

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"I think he's demonstrating every single day that there is something going on," Jackson said. "You don't need to be a physician to look at this behaviour and see there's something concerning happening."<o:p></o:p>

"You can go back – there's 40 years of tape of this man – he's always made gaffes and stuff but these are different, he's confused, he's disoriented," Jackson added. "He's just not ageing gracefully at this point."<o:p></o:p>

The cognitive test being talked about is Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). It is a 30-point test that helps evaluate memory impairment.

<o:p>Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/biden-mixes-up-syria-and-libya-at-g7-news-conference-391509">Biden mixes up Syria and Libya at G7 news conference</a></o:p>

Trump had taken the test in 2018 after critics had questioned his ability to run the country. Interestingly, Trump had managed to score a perfect score of 30 out of 30. <o:p></o:p>

Jackson appreciated Trump for taking the test in 2018 and said the former reality TV star has set a precedent which all future presidents should follow.<o:p></o:p>

Biden’s team has announced that the leader will be taking his presidential physical later this year, but whether MoCA will be a part of that evaluation is still unclear.<o:p></o:p>

"I'm just asking them when you do the physical exam include the cognitive assessment," Jackson said. "As far as I'm concerned the standard precedent has been set and they need to follow and do the same."<o:p></o:p>

Trump has not left this opportunity to belittle his opponent. He recently boasted about his perfect score and challenged Biden to achieve the same.<o:p></o:p>

"He will get the first two. There are 35 questions and the first two or three are pretty easy. They are the animals. This is a lion, a giraffe. When he gets to around 20, he's gonna have a little hard time. I think he's gonna have a hard time with the first few, actually," Trump was quoted saying.<o:p></o:p>

Donald Trump’s former White House physician, Ronny Jackson, has urged for a cognitive test for US president Joe Biden to determine his mental health. "The far left and the mainstream media were demanding that be the new standard for anybody who's going to lead our country and be our Commander-in-Chief and our head of state," Jackson said in an interview at Fox News.

Donald Trump’s former White House physician, Ronny Jackson, has urged for a cognitive test for US president Joe Biden to determine his mental health. "The far left and the mainstream media were demanding that be the new standard for anybody who's going to lead our country and be our Commander-in-Chief and our head of state," Jackson said in an interview at Fox News. "I'm just saying I agree with them at this point—we need to get it done." Jackson had appeared on the channel to discuss the President’s cognitive abilities after former US President Donald Trump has made repetitive claims that Biden was unfit to lead the country. The ex-Trump aide believes there is something ‘concerning’ happening with Biden which needs to be addressed on priority for the well-being of the President and the nation. WATCH | "I think he's demonstrating every single day that there is something going on," Jackson said. "You don't need to be a physician to look at this behaviour and see there's something concerning happening." "You can go back – there's 40 years of tape of this man – he's always made gaffes and stuff but these are different, he's confused, he's disoriented," Jackson added. "He's just not ageing gracefully at this point." The cognitive test being talked about is Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). It is a 30-point test that helps evaluate memory impairment. Also read | Biden mixes up Syria and Libya at G7 news conference Trump had taken the test in 2018 after critics had questioned his ability to run the country. Interestingly, Trump had managed to score a perfect score of 30 out of 30. Jackson appreciated Trump for taking the test in 2018 and said the former reality TV star has set a precedent which all future presidents should follow. Biden’s team has announced that the leader will be taking his presidential physical later this year, but whether MoCA will be a part of that evaluation is still unclear. "I'm just asking them when you do the physical exam include the cognitive assessment," Jackson said. "As far as I'm concerned the standard precedent has been set and they need to follow and do the same." Trump has not left this opportunity to belittle his opponent. He recently boasted about his perfect score and challenged Biden to achieve the same. "He will get the first two. There are 35 questions and the first two or three are pretty easy. They are the animals. This is a lion, a giraffe. When he gets to around 20, he's gonna have a little hard time. I think he's gonna have a hard time with the first few, actually," Trump was quoted saying.

'Something concerning': Ex-Trump doctor urges Biden to take cognitive test

Some people report feeling no stress at all, but there may be downsides to this feeling of feeling always super-charged, say researchers.&nbsp;

The study showed that people, who reported experiencing no stress, were more likely to experience better daily well-being and fewer chronic health conditions. However, they were also more likely to have lower cognitive function, as well.&nbsp;

According to researcher David M Almeida from Penn State, the study suggests that small, daily stressors could potentially benefit the brain, despite being an inconvenience.&nbsp;

"It's possible that experiencing stressors creates opportunities for you to solve a problem, for example, maybe fixing your computer that has suddenly broken down before an important Zoom meeting," Almeida said.&nbsp;

"So, experiencing these stressors may not be pleasant but they may force you to solve a problem, and this might actually be good for cognitive functioning, especially as we grow older," Almeida added.&nbsp;

According to the researchers, a large number of previous studies have linked stress with a greater risk for many negative outcomes, like chronic illness or worse emotional wellbeing.&nbsp;

But Almeida said that while it may make sense to believe that the less stress someone experiences the more healthy they will be, he said, little research has explored that assumption.&nbsp;

For the study, published in the journal Emotion, the researchers used data from 2,711 participants for the study.&nbsp;

Prior to the start of the study, the participants completed a short cognition test.&nbsp;

Then, the participants were interviewed each night for eight consecutive nights, and answered questions about their mood, chronic conditions they may have, their physical symptoms, such as headaches, coughs or sore throats and what they did during that day.&nbsp;

After analysing the data, the researchers found that there did appear to be benefits for those who reported no stressors throughout the study, about 10 per cent of the participants.&nbsp;

These participants were less likely to have chronic health conditions and experience better moods throughout the day.&nbsp;

However, those who reported no stressors also performed lower on the cognition test, with the difference equalling more than eight years of aging.&nbsp;

Additionally, they were also less likely to report giving or receiving emotional support, as well as less likely to experience positive things happening throughout the day.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Some people report feeling no stress at all, but there may be downsides to this feeling of feeling always super-charged, say researchers. The study showed that people, who reported experiencing no stress, were more likely to experience better daily well-being and fewer chronic health conditions.

Some people report feeling no stress at all, but there may be downsides to this feeling of feeling always super-charged, say researchers. The study showed that people, who reported experiencing no stress, were more likely to experience better daily well-being and fewer chronic health conditions. However, they were also more likely to have lower cognitive function, as well. According to researcher David M Almeida from Penn State, the study suggests that small, daily stressors could potentially benefit the brain, despite being an inconvenience. "It's possible that experiencing stressors creates opportunities for you to solve a problem, for example, maybe fixing your computer that has suddenly broken down before an important Zoom meeting," Almeida said. "So, experiencing these stressors may not be pleasant but they may force you to solve a problem, and this might actually be good for cognitive functioning, especially as we grow older," Almeida added. According to the researchers, a large number of previous studies have linked stress with a greater risk for many negative outcomes, like chronic illness or worse emotional wellbeing. But Almeida said that while it may make sense to believe that the less stress someone experiences the more healthy they will be, he said, little research has explored that assumption. For the study, published in the journal Emotion, the researchers used data from 2,711 participants for the study. Prior to the start of the study, the participants completed a short cognition test. Then, the participants were interviewed each night for eight consecutive nights, and answered questions about their mood, chronic conditions they may have, their physical symptoms, such as headaches, coughs or sore throats and what they did during that day. After analysing the data, the researchers found that there did appear to be benefits for those who reported no stressors throughout the study, about 10 per cent of the participants. These participants were less likely to have chronic health conditions and experience better moods throughout the day. However, those who reported no stressors also performed lower on the cognition test, with the difference equalling more than eight years of aging. Additionally, they were also less likely to report giving or receiving emotional support, as well as less likely to experience positive things happening throughout the day. (With inputs from agencies)

Little stress a day good for brain, says study 

Including more wine and cheese, in diet, may help reduce cognitive decline, suggest the findings of a new study.&nbsp;Daily consumption of alcohol, particularly red wine, is related to improvements in cognitive function. Weekly consumption of lamb improves long-term cognitive prowess. 
 
&nbsp;Excessive consumption of salt is bad, but only individuals already at risk for Alzheimer`s Disease may need to watch their intake to avoid cognitive problems over time.These are some of the most significant findings of a study by Iowa State University, highlighted in an article published in the Journal of Alzheimer`s Disease. 
 
The study, spearheaded by principal investigator Auriel Willette, an Assistant Professor in Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, and Brandon Klinedinst, a neuroscience PhD candidate, is a first-of-its-kind large scale analysis that connects specific foods to later-in-life cognitive acuity. 
 
Willette, Klinedinst and their team analysed data collected from 1,787 ageing adults (46 to 77 years of age) in the United Kingdom through the UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing in-depth genetic and health information from half-a-million participants. The database is globally accessible to approved researchers undertaking vital research into the world`s most common and life-threatening diseases. 
 
Participants completed a Fluid Intelligence Test (FIT) through touchscreen questionnaire at baseline (compiled between 2006 and 2010) and then in two follow-up assessments (conducted from 2012 through 2013 and again between 2015 and 2016). The FIT analysis provides an in-time snapshot of an individual`s ability to "think on the fly."Participants also answered questions about their food and alcohol consumption at baseline and through two follow-up assessments. 
 
The Food Frequency Questionnaire asked the participants about their intake of fresh fruit, dried fruit, raw vegetables and salad, cooked vegetables, oily fish, lean fish, processed meat, poultry, beef, lamb, pork, cheese, bread, cereal, tea and coffee, beer, cider, red wine, white wine, champagne and other forms of liquor."I was pleasantly surprised that our results suggest that responsibly eating cheese and drinking red wine daily are not just good for helping us cope with our current COVID-19 pandemic, but perhaps also dealing with an increasingly complex world that never seems to slow down," Willette said. "While we took into account whether this was just due to what well-off people eat and drink, randomised clinical trials are needed to determine if making easy changes in our diet could help our brains in significant ways. 
 
"Klinedinst added depending on their genetic factors, some individuals seem to be more protected from the effects of Alzheimer`s, while others seem to be at greater risk. "That said, I believe the right food choices can prevent the disease and cognitive decline altogether. Perhaps the silver bullet we`re looking for is upgrading how we eat. Knowing what that entails contributes to a better understanding of Alzheimer`s and put this disease in a reverse trajectory."&nbsp;

Including more wine and cheese, in diet, may help reduce cognitive decline, suggest the findings of a new study. Daily consumption of alcohol, particularly red wine, is related to improvements in cognitive function.

Including more wine and cheese, in diet, may help reduce cognitive decline, suggest the findings of a new study. Daily consumption of alcohol, particularly red wine, is related to improvements in cognitive function. Weekly consumption of lamb improves long-term cognitive prowess. Excessive consumption of salt is bad, but only individuals already at risk for Alzheimer`s Disease may need to watch their intake to avoid cognitive problems over time.These are some of the most significant findings of a study by Iowa State University, highlighted in an article published in the Journal of Alzheimer`s Disease. The study, spearheaded by principal investigator Auriel Willette, an Assistant Professor in Food Science and Human Nutrition Department, and Brandon Klinedinst, a neuroscience PhD candidate, is a first-of-its-kind large scale analysis that connects specific foods to later-in-life cognitive acuity. Willette, Klinedinst and their team analysed data collected from 1,787 ageing adults (46 to 77 years of age) in the United Kingdom through the UK Biobank, a large-scale biomedical database and research resource containing in-depth genetic and health information from half-a-million participants. The database is globally accessible to approved researchers undertaking vital research into the world`s most common and life-threatening diseases. Participants completed a Fluid Intelligence Test (FIT) through touchscreen questionnaire at baseline (compiled between 2006 and 2010) and then in two follow-up assessments (conducted from 2012 through 2013 and again between 2015 and 2016). The FIT analysis provides an in-time snapshot of an individual`s ability to "think on the fly."Participants also answered questions about their food and alcohol consumption at baseline and through two follow-up assessments. The Food Frequency Questionnaire asked the participants about their intake of fresh fruit, dried fruit, raw vegetables and salad, cooked vegetables, oily fish, lean fish, processed meat, poultry, beef, lamb, pork, cheese, bread, cereal, tea and coffee, beer, cider, red wine, white wine, champagne and other forms of liquor."I was pleasantly surprised that our results suggest that responsibly eating cheese and drinking red wine daily are not just good for helping us cope with our current COVID-19 pandemic, but perhaps also dealing with an increasingly complex world that never seems to slow down," Willette said. "While we took into account whether this was just due to what well-off people eat and drink, randomised clinical trials are needed to determine if making easy changes in our diet could help our brains in significant ways. "Klinedinst added depending on their genetic factors, some individuals seem to be more protected from the effects of Alzheimer`s, while others seem to be at greater risk. "That said, I believe the right food choices can prevent the disease and cognitive decline altogether. Perhaps the silver bullet we`re looking for is upgrading how we eat. Knowing what that entails contributes to a better understanding of Alzheimer`s and put this disease in a reverse trajectory."

Including cheese in diet may help reduce cognitive decline: Study

People recovering from COVID-19 may suffer significant brain function impacts, with the worst cases of the infection linked to mental decline equivalent to the brain ageing by 10 years, researchers warned on Tuesday.

A non-peer-reviewed study of more than 84,000 people, led by Adam Hampshire, a doctor at Imperial College London, found that in some severe cases, coronavirus infection is linked to substantial cognitive deficits for months.

“Our analyses ... align with the view that there are chronic cognitive consequences of having COVID-19,” the researchers wrote in a report of their findings. “People who had recovered, including those no longer reporting symptoms, exhibited significant cognitive deficits.”

Cognitive tests measure how well the brain performs tasks –- such as remembering words or joining dots on a puzzle. Such tests are widely used to assess brain performance in diseases like Alzheimer’s, and can also help doctors assess temporary brain impairments.

Hampshire’s team analysed results from 84,285 people who completed a study called the Great British Intelligence Test. The findings, which have yet to be reviewed by other experts, were published online on the MedRxiv website.

The cognitive deficits were “of substantial effect size”, particularly among people who had been hospitalised with COVID-19, the researchers said, with the worst cases showing impacts “equivalent to the average 10-year decline in global performance between the ages of 20 to 70”.

Scientists not directly involved with the study, however, said its results should be viewed with some caution.

“The cognitive function of the participants was not known pre-COVID, and the results also do not reflect long-term recovery - so any effects on cognition may be short term,” said Joanna Wardlaw, a professor of applied neuroimaging at Edinburgh University.

Derek Hill, a professor of medical imaging science at University College London, also noted that the study’s findings could not be entirely reliable, since they did not compare before and after scores, and involved a large number of people who self-reported having had COVID-19, who had no positive test.

“Overall (this is) an intriguing but inconclusive piece of research into the effect of COVID on the brain,” Hill said.

“As researchers seek to better understand the long term impact of COVID, it will be important to further investigate the extent to which cognition is impacted in the weeks and months after the infection, and whether permanent damage to brain function results in some people.”

People recovering from COVID-19 may suffer significant brain function impacts, with the worst cases of the infection linked to mental decline equivalent to the brain ageing by 10 years, researchers warned on Tuesday.

People recovering from COVID-19 may suffer significant brain function impacts, with the worst cases of the infection linked to mental decline equivalent to the brain ageing by 10 years, researchers warned on Tuesday. A non-peer-reviewed study of more than 84,000 people, led by Adam Hampshire, a doctor at Imperial College London, found that in some severe cases, coronavirus infection is linked to substantial cognitive deficits for months. “Our analyses ... align with the view that there are chronic cognitive consequences of having COVID-19,” the researchers wrote in a report of their findings. “People who had recovered, including those no longer reporting symptoms, exhibited significant cognitive deficits.” Cognitive tests measure how well the brain performs tasks –- such as remembering words or joining dots on a puzzle. Such tests are widely used to assess brain performance in diseases like Alzheimer’s, and can also help doctors assess temporary brain impairments. Hampshire’s team analysed results from 84,285 people who completed a study called the Great British Intelligence Test. The findings, which have yet to be reviewed by other experts, were published online on the MedRxiv website. The cognitive deficits were “of substantial effect size”, particularly among people who had been hospitalised with COVID-19, the researchers said, with the worst cases showing impacts “equivalent to the average 10-year decline in global performance between the ages of 20 to 70”. Scientists not directly involved with the study, however, said its results should be viewed with some caution. “The cognitive function of the participants was not known pre-COVID, and the results also do not reflect long-term recovery - so any effects on cognition may be short term,” said Joanna Wardlaw, a professor of applied neuroimaging at Edinburgh University. Derek Hill, a professor of medical imaging science at University College London, also noted that the study’s findings could not be entirely reliable, since they did not compare before and after scores, and involved a large number of people who self-reported having had COVID-19, who had no positive test. “Overall (this is) an intriguing but inconclusive piece of research into the effect of COVID on the brain,” Hill said. “As researchers seek to better understand the long term impact of COVID, it will be important to further investigate the extent to which cognition is impacted in the weeks and months after the infection, and whether permanent damage to brain function results in some people.”

COVID's cognitive costs? Some patients' brains may age 10 years

Sheep are surprisingly smart. New research from the University of Cambridge shows the animals can learn to recognise people from photographs, even people they&rsquo;ve never seen in real life, such as celebrities.

The researchers tested the sheeps&rsquo; recognition abilities using images of famous people including Barack Obama, actors Emma Watson and Jake Gyllenhaal, and UK newsreader Fiona Bruce. While this is an amusing way to demonstrate what sheep can do, the research could actually have serious uses.

For one thing, increasing our understanding of sheep&rsquo;s perceptual abilities could be used to argue for improved animal welfare. But sheep are also being used as models for understanding brain disorders such as Huntingdon&rsquo;s disease and Parkinson&rsquo;s disease, along with psychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. So, learning more about their cognitive capacities could aid the work in this field.

In 2001, the Cambridge team showed that sheep could discriminate between photos of familiar sheep and humans and respond to the emotions portrayed in these photos. But they wanted to see whether sheep could actually recognise the people rather than just memorise familiar photos.

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They used a computer screen to show eight Welsh mountain sheep the celebrity pictures and then used food rewards to train the animals to select these familiar faces from a wider selection of pictures of other people and objects. The sheep could recognise the celebrities even though they had never met them personally and had only been introduced to a face-on photo. Incidentally, the sheep didn&rsquo;t appear to have a preference for Emma, Barack, Fiona or Jake.

To see if the sheep were actually recognising people, rather than just memorising certain images, the researchers showed them photos of the celebrities taken from different angles. The sheep were able to correctly identify the celebrity 80 per cent of the time, dropping to 66 per cent for photos taken at a different angle. This compares to rates of 90 per cent and 76 per cent in humans.

This is an enviable record for the sheep given that they are recognising the faces of another species. (How many humans could recognise different sheep from their photos?) This sound scientific set-up was also able to time the sheep&rsquo;s responses, showing they appeared as confident whether looking at the face in the same position as the original photo or from a different angle.

There was one final surprise for the sheep. After proving they could recognise faces of people they&rsquo;d never met from two-dimensional photos, the sheep were shown pictures of their regular human handler. Although they hadn&rsquo;t been trained to recognise these images, they selected them over the unfamiliar photos anyway.

Smart sheep

I was asked if, as an Ig Nobel laureate myself, I thought this recent Cambridge sheep study would be a contender for an Ig Nobel award, the prize for science that &ldquo;first makes you laugh, then makes you think&rdquo;. Celebrity-spotting sheep might sound funny but the science involved in this study actually isn&rsquo;t sniggerable.

First, it makes an interesting contribution to animal science, showing sheep have much greater cognitive abilities than many people realise. This includes farmers, who often manage hundreds of animals with little actual contact, in the presence of dogs and during unpleasant experiences such as worming or shearing. This means sheep are usually at their least composed around humans, without the inclination to show off their impressive cognitive capacities.

My own work and that of colleagues in Scotland has found that ewes can identify pain in their lambs who have undergone tail docking or castration. Another recent study demonstrated that it is possible that sheep have a sense of self and can recognise themselves in a mirror &ndash; something we only know is possible in very few species, including chimpanzees, dolphins, elephants and magpies.

Learning more about sheep&rsquo;s cognitive abilities could also feed into work on using their brains to study neurological conditions in humans. We know that the neural networks that sheep&rsquo;s brains use for face perception are similar to those used by human brains. That means that we might be able to use sheep to test treatments for human diseases where patients lose the ability to recognise faces or emotions, such as Huntington&rsquo;s disease.

If sheep were on the Ig Nobel judging panel, they would laugh at the idea that people are surprised at their abilities. (And we know that animals really can laugh. And they might also be interested to know that Ig Nobel prizes have been awarded for studies showing many human identical twins cannot tell themselves apart visually. Or that humans with an itch on the left side of their body, can relieve it by looking into a mirror and scratching their right side. This research suggests that actually, humans aren&rsquo;t as good at visual recognition as we perhaps think.

This article was originally published on <a href="http://theconversation.com" rel="nofollow" target="blank">The Conversation</a>. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/sheep-can-recognise-celebrities-from-photographs-says-amusing-study-with-serious-potential-87032" rel="nofollow" target="blank">original article</a>.

Image Credit:&nbsp;Shutterstock

It's no surprise sheep can recognise people ? their intelligence is often overlooked

Sheep are surprisingly smart. New research from the University of Cambridge shows the animals can learn to recognise people from photographs, even people they’ve never seen in real life, such as celebrities. The researchers tested the sheeps’ recognition abilities using images of famous people including Barack Obama, actors Emma Watson and Jake Gyllenhaal, and UK newsreader Fiona Bruce. While this is an amusing way to demonstrate what sheep can do, the research could actually have serious uses. For one thing, increasing our understanding of sheep’s perceptual abilities could be used to argue for improved animal welfare. But sheep are also being used as models for understanding brain disorders such as Huntingdon’s disease and Parkinson’s disease, along with psychiatric disorders such as autism and schizophrenia. So, learning more about their cognitive capacities could aid the work in this field. In 2001, the Cambridge team showed that sheep could discriminate between photos of familiar sheep and humans and respond to the emotions portrayed in these photos. But they wanted to see whether sheep could actually recognise the people rather than just memorise familiar photos. × They used a computer screen to show eight Welsh mountain sheep the celebrity pictures and then used food rewards to train the animals to select these familiar faces from a wider selection of pictures of other people and objects. The sheep could recognise the celebrities even though they had never met them personally and had only been introduced to a face-on photo. Incidentally, the sheep didn’t appear to have a preference for Emma, Barack, Fiona or Jake. To see if the sheep were actually recognising people, rather than just memorising certain images, the researchers showed them photos of the celebrities taken from different angles. The sheep were able to correctly identify the celebrity 80 per cent of the time, dropping to 66 per cent for photos taken at a different angle. This compares to rates of 90 per cent and 76 per cent in humans. This is an enviable record for the sheep given that they are recognising the faces of another species. (How many humans could recognise different sheep from their photos?) This sound scientific set-up was also able to time the sheep’s responses, showing they appeared as confident whether looking at the face in the same position as the original photo or from a different angle. There was one final surprise for the sheep. After proving they could recognise faces of people they’d never met from two-dimensional photos, the sheep were shown pictures of their regular human handler. Although they hadn’t been trained to recognise these images, they selected them over the unfamiliar photos anyway. Smart sheep I was asked if, as an Ig Nobel laureate myself, I thought this recent Cambridge sheep study would be a contender for an Ig Nobel award, the prize for science that “first makes you laugh, then makes you think”. Celebrity-spotting sheep might sound funny but the science involved in this study actually isn’t sniggerable. First, it makes an interesting contribution to animal science, showing sheep have much greater cognitive abilities than many people realise. This includes farmers, who often manage hundreds of animals with little actual contact, in the presence of dogs and during unpleasant experiences such as worming or shearing. This means sheep are usually at their least composed around humans, without the inclination to show off their impressive cognitive capacities. My own work and that of colleagues in Scotland has found that ewes can identify pain in their lambs who have undergone tail docking or castration. Another recent study demonstrated that it is possible that sheep have a sense of self and can recognise themselves in a mirror – something we only know is possible in very few species, including chimpanzees, dolphins, elephants and magpies. Learning more about sheep’s cognitive abilities could also feed into work on using their brains to study neurological conditions in humans. We know that the neural networks that sheep’s brains use for face perception are similar to those used by human brains. That means that we might be able to use sheep to test treatments for human diseases where patients lose the ability to recognise faces or emotions, such as Huntington’s disease. If sheep were on the Ig Nobel judging panel, they would laugh at the idea that people are surprised at their abilities. (And we know that animals really can laugh. And they might also be interested to know that Ig Nobel prizes have been awarded for studies showing many human identical twins cannot tell themselves apart visually. Or that humans with an itch on the left side of their body, can relieve it by looking into a mirror and scratching their right side. This research suggests that actually, humans aren’t as good at visual recognition as we perhaps think. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Image Credit: Shutterstock

Sheep can recognise celebrities from photographs

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