Many talk about improving the brain through the stimulation did not subside for a long time. But it seems that a group of scientists from Aalto University in Finland and University of Helsinki have managed to do it. This writes the journal Cerebral Cortex.
During a series of experiments scientists were able to affect metacognitive processes by neuronal excitation. It happened to implement the influence of the magnetic pulses. Such exposure has enabled people to better cope with a number of tasks on memorization.
It should be clear that meta-cognitive processes is the ability of people to monitor and control different types of memory, attention, emotions, and decision-making. In some cases, there is the so-called effect of Dunning — Kruger, when people with low cognitive abilities tend to overestimate their capabilities. They can become a victim of illusions, thinking that they do a good job with certain tasks, although in reality it is not.
But a simple reassessment opportunities are not limited. Metacognitive abilities are disturbed in several diseases, e.g. neurodegenerative processes, which, among other things, adversely affect tactile memory. Thus, patients with Alzheimer’s disease, schizophrenia and brain injuries distorted mood and changes the perception of pain, touching cold or hot objects.
But back to the experiment: it was attended by 14 volunteers with no abnormalities in the brain. They were scanned using MRI, allowing to determine the distribution of neural pathways and their connection with the prefrontal and primary somatosensory cortex, where processing of incoming sensory tactile signals. Failed to establish that magnetic stimulation of this region allows a person to better assess their effectiveness in carrying out missions in tactile memory and even improve the processes of remembering. It is thus possible not only to improve brain function of healthy people, but also to develop therapies for patients with cognitive impairment.
Found a way to improve brain function
Vladimir Kuznetsov