Articles on cognitive processes

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Google Maps is ubiquitous. Changing place names — like the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of American — under political pressure and without user consent is dangerous. (Priscilla du Preez/Unsplash)

Is Google Maps brainwashing us? It might be if the theory of ‘extended cognition’ is correct

When compared to how common it is for the Google search engine to boost misinformation, changing the name of a body of water might not seem like a big deal. It is.
A class of inhibitory neurons can make long-distance connections across both hemispheres of the brain. akinbostanci/iStock via Getty Images Plus

Cognitive flexibility is essential to navigating a changing world – new research in mice shows how your brain learns new rules

Learning new rules requires the suppression of old ones. A better understanding of the brain circuits involved in behavioral adaptation could lead to new ways to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
People can have several thousand thoughts per day, many of which can be classified as spontaneous or involuntary. (Shutterstock)

Where our thoughts come from: How microemotions affect spontaneous thought

Emotions play a key role in many types of spontaneous thoughts. Even microemotions — which are often fleeting and unconscious — can affect thoughts and influence attention.

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