the study of the mind and its processes, such as thought and learning.
Questions tagged [cognitive-science]
35 questions
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Does the "survivorship bias" airplane diagram come from World War II research on returning war planes?
This is a famous diagram. It is used extensively to demonstrate the concept of "Survivorship Bias".
Here is a typical example claim associated with this diagram:
In World War 2 the allies famously statistically plotted on returning aeroplanes…
Oddthinking
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Does a -9 dB room cause hallucinations?
Does being in an anechoic chamber cause hallucinations? According to several blogs (that likely copy each other), it does. The Orfield Laboratory in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States is reported to be the quietest room in the world…
gerrit
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Was the Stroop Effect used to catch spies?
In the field of Cognitive Science, when studying about the Stroop effect, the claim is often made that it had been used during the Cold War by the American counter-intelligence units in order to identify Russian spies.
For example, this blog article…
Vitaly Mijiritsky
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Does Lumosity increase your intelligence?
Lumosity is a popular website that claims to help you become a more intellectually capable individual.
Harness your brain's neuroplasticity and train your way to a brighter life"
Is it truly possible to improve your IQ?
Is IQ a good measure of…
The Rouge
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Do higher mathematical abilities inversely correlate with good communication skills?
There is a persistent stereotype that geeks (let's formally define that as people a couple of standard deviations better than average in math, computers or other related abilities) as a whole have relatively poor language/communication skills,…
user5341
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Can speakers of Kuuk Thaayorre navigate much better than Western speakers inside unfamiliar buildings?
Lera Boroditsky writes in the Edge article How does our language shape the way we think?:
Simply put, speakers of languages like Kuuk Thaayorre are much better than English speakers at staying oriented and keeping track of where they are, even in…
Christian
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Is it true that "People Over 40 Should Only Work 3 Days A Week"?
EatLiveGlow claims that
Recent research by the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research found that, whilst working up to 30 hours a week is good for cognitive function in the over 40s, any more than that causes performance to…
Sklivvz
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Do elephants see humans the same way humans see puppies?
This tweet and others like it have been making the rounds lately:
Julia @JuliaHass
I just learned that elephants think humans are cute the way humans think puppies are cute (the same part of the brain lights up when they see us) so pack it in,…
fluffy
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Is spelling (orthography) correlated with adult intelligence?
I been told that spelling ability (good orthography) is correlated with intelligence (which is a nice way to say: if you are bad with orthography, you are stupid). So far I have been unable to find a conclusive evidence based answer
I found this…
Luxspes
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Do spoilers increase enjoyment of a story?
There are studies such as this where people report that spoilers increase enjoyment for narrative works.
According to research by UC San Diego psychology professor Nicholas Christenfeld, spoilers don’t ruin a story: They make you enjoy it even…
Jack Pan
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Did a Duke University study find these 8 factors as contributors to "peace of mind"?
Many sources on the internet (example) repeat this list of findings purportedly from a Duke University study on what characteristics contribute to one's "peace of mind":
The absence of suspicion and resentment. Nursing a grudge was a major factor…
Mr. Bultitude
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Does reading what you listen parallely improve your ability to speak English?
I can write English well, and can also understand it well (provided someone speaks i a known accent.)
For improving my spoken English I have got audio books. I can understand what I am being told by the book.
There are many claims on the internet…
Aquarius_Girl
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Does listening to classical music "Improve Cognitive Function"?
https://www.dumblittleman.com/kickstart-your-brain-with-the-mozart/
The article says:
Several studies have shown cognitive improvements in those who listened to classical music prior to performing certain tasks or taking tests. Functions that…
ColonD
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Do mirrors decrease perceived waiting time
There is a famous anecdote about a multistoried office building in New York in which occupants complained that the elevator was very slow. After installing mirrors in the lobby, the complaints disappeared.
Did this anecdote happen and does…
Pål GD
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Do those hearing for the first time via cochlear implants understand speech immediately?
This touching video shows a woman's reaction to her cochlear implants. It seems to me amazing that someone hearing for the first time would be able to understand the signal (speech) so well and even apparently know that the sound is too…
Larry OBrien
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