Human Cognition Research Articles

Learning feature relationships in CNN model via relational embedding convolution layer

Establishing the relationships among hierarchical visual attributes of objects in the visual world is crucial for human cognition. The classic convolution neural network (CNN) can successfully extract hierarchical features but ignore the relationships among features, resulting in shortcomings compared to humans in areas like interpretability and domain generalization. Recently, algorithms have introduced feature relationships by external prior knowledge and special auxiliary modules, which have been proven to bring multiple improvements in many computer vision tasks. However, prior knowledge is often difficult to obtain, and auxiliary modules bring additional consumption of computing and storage resources, which limits the flexibility and practicality of the algorithm. In this paper, we aim to drive the CNN model to learn the relationships among hierarchical deep features without prior knowledge and consumption increasing, while enhancing the fundamental performance of some aspects. Firstly, the task of learning the relationships among hierarchical features in CNN is defined and three key problems related to this task are pointed out, including the quantitative metric of connection intensity, the threshold of useless connections, and the updating strategy of relation graph. Secondly, Relational Embedding Convolution (RE-Conv) layer is proposed for the representation of feature relationships in convolution layer, followed by a scheme called use & disuse strategy which aims to address the three problems of feature relation learning. Finally, the improvements brought by the proposed feature relation learning scheme have been demonstrated through numerous experiments, including interpretability, domain generalization, noise robustness, and inference efficiency. In particular, the proposed scheme outperforms many state-of-the-art methods in the domain generalization community and can be seamlessly integrated with existing methods for further improvement. Meanwhile, it maintains comparable precision to the original CNN model while reducing floating point operations (FLOPs) by approximately 50%.

New horizons for the role of selenium on cognitive function: advances and challenges.

Cognitive deficits associated with oxidative stress and the dysfunction of the central nervous system are present in some neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. Selenium (Se), an essential microelement, exhibits cognition-associated functions through selenoproteins mainly owing to its antioxidant property. Due to the disproportionate distribution of Se in the soil, the amount of Se varies greatly in various foods, resulting in a large proportion of people with Se deficiency worldwide. Numerous cell and animal experiments demonstrate Se deficiency-induced cognitive deficits and Se supplementation-improved cognitive performances. However, human studies yield inconsistent results and the mechanism of Se in cognition still remains elusive, which hinder the further exploration of Se in human cognition. To address the urgent issue, the review summarizes Se-contained foods (plant-based foods, animal-based foods, and Se supplements), brain selenoproteins, mechanisms of Se in cognition (improvement of synaptic plasticity, regulation of Zn2+ level, inhibition of ferroptosis, modulation of autophagy and de novo synthesis of L-serine), and effects of Se on cognitive deficits, as well as consequently sheds light on great potentials of Se in the prevention and treatment of cognitive deficits.

Frequency-specific directed connectivity between the hippocampus and parietal cortex during verbal and spatial episodic memory: an intracranial EEG replication.

Hippocampus-parietal cortex circuits are thought to play a crucial role in memory and attention, but their neural basis remains poorly understood. We employed intracranial intracranial electroencephalography (iEEG) to investigate the neurophysiological underpinning of these circuits across three memory tasks spanning verbal and spatial domains. We uncovered a consistent pattern of higher causal directed connectivity from the hippocampus to both lateral parietal cortex (supramarginal and angular gyrus) and medial parietal cortex (posterior cingulate cortex) in the delta-theta band during memory encoding and recall. This connectivity was independent of activation or suppression states in the hippocampus or parietal cortex. Crucially, directed connectivity from the supramarginal gyrus to the hippocampus was enhanced in participants with higher memory recall, highlighting its behavioral significance. Our findings align with the attention-to-memory model, which posits that attention directs cognitive resources toward pertinent information during memory formation. The robustness of these results was demonstrated through Bayesian replication analysis of the memory encoding and recall periods across the three tasks. Our study sheds light on the neural basis of casual signaling within hippocampus-parietal circuits, broadening our understanding of their critical roles in human cognition.

Psychological mechanism of language cognition to "awaken" artificial intelligence.

The study of artificial intelligence needs tracing back to the working mechanism of the human brain, and based on simulating brain cognition activity, information technology is the most widely influential technology. Language cognition is the core and foundation of human cognition. Biolinguistics' core problem about brain mechanisms (a psychological mechanism) is related to the development of human language cognition in that the cognitive process of humans is from the construction of mediation and language is the very cognitive mediation. The logical law of human language cognition algorithm is about the process of human cognitive psychology that is from the neurological stage, the psychological perception stage, and to the cognitive stage of symbols, which makes psychological certainty account for the connection from mental content to language meaning. Language cognition is where the "awakening" of artificial intelligence begins. First of all, humans produce mental images based on sensory perception and categories. The referential functions of mental images extend the human cognitive scope. Then, categorization is realized through the mediation of mental images. At the time the category is formed, the symbol is required. Language is involved in the thinking process in the cognitive stage of symbols to realize the construction of the mediation to represent the category abstracted from the concrete things. Above all, human language metacognition is realized from the subject-predicate structure that is the grammatical structure on the surface but is throughout the whole process of human rational knowledge and configures the content of rational knowledge, which is the developmental goal of "awakening" artificial intelligence. The demonstration of this proposition is conducive to providing a theoretical basis for the research of the working mechanism of the human brain stimulated by artificial intelligence. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Особенности управления профессиональными рисками при взаимодействии с подрядными организациями

The need to involve contractors for a client is caused by special knowledge, skills, methods, and means possessed by contractors and required by the client in order to achieve certain results. Contractors, however, do not always support the client’s policies and attitudes to the occupational safety values; whereas the safety culture of contractors is, to a certain extent, conditioned by a subjective judgment and personal definition of safety criteria by the contractors’ management. Therefore, the client is exposed to additional professional risks associated with the admission of contractors to work on the client’s territory. One of the main sources of professional risks is the human factor, i.e., hazardous and mistaken actions of the contractors’ personnel. The cost of such actions in the conditions of highly hazardous work on the territories of active productions is specifically high. International and Russian studies have indicated the dependence between employee competence and the number of mistakes causing injuries. The level of competencies of both workers and managers is crucial. The impact of the human factor of contractors on the professional risk level of clients has been considered; and the relevant risk management methods have been proposed. One of the methods is the evaluation of employees’ cognitive abilities before admission to highly hazardous work as human cognitive abilities such as the perception of information, memory, and attention affect their actions when performing the jobs. The next step is the improvement of the competencies of contractors’ employees based on the evaluation of knowledge and skills and further theoretical and practical training based on the results obtained. In addition, a model of contractor HR management structure with specifications of the manageability norm has been proposed.

Temporal interference electrical neurostimulation at 20 Hz beat frequency leads to increased fMRI BOLD activation in orbitofrontal cortex in humans

Temporal interference electrical neurostimulation (TI) is a relatively new method of non-invasive neurostimulation that may be able to stimulate deep brain regions without stimulating the overlying superficial regions. Although some recent studies have demonstrated the success of TI in modulating task-induced BOLD activity in humans, there is limited information on intended and off-target effects of TI during resting-state. We simultaneously performed TI stimulation with the set-up optimized for maximum focality in the left caudate and collected resting-state fMRI data to investigate the effects of TI on human BOLD signals. We found increased BOLD activation in a part of the mid-orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) and parahippocampal gyrus. Results indicate that TI can induce increased BOLD activation in the region that receives the highest magnitude of TI amplitude modulation in humans, with good safety and tolerability profiles. We also show the limits of spatial precision and explore the nature and causes of additional off-target effects. TI may be a promising approach for addressing questions about the causal role of deep brain structures in human cognition and may also afford new clinical treatments.

Seasonal Cycles in Human Cognition and Behavior [Conference Presentation Abstract

Seasonal Cycles in Human Cognition and Behavior [Conference Presentation Abstract

Neurobiological Definition of Intelligence: A Neuroscience Review

Abstract Intelligence is a complex cognitive trait that has long intrigued researchers across disciplines. Recent advances in neuroscience have provided insights into the neurobiological underpinnings of intelligence. This review examines the neurobiological definition of intelligence, focusing on the neural processes and brain regions associated with cognitive functions such as reasoning, problem-solving, memory, and learning. Key findings include: (I) prefrontal cortex plays a crucial role in higher cognitive functions such as decision-making, planning, and working memory, with larger prefrontal cortex volume correlating with better fluid intelligence performance; (II) parietal cortex is implicated in mathematical reasoning and spatial processing, essential for problem-solving and abstract thinking; (III) hippocampus, critical for memory formation and retrieval, is linked to intelligence through its role in cognitive task performance; and (IV) neuroimaging studies reveal that higher intelligence scores are associated with increased connectivity between brain regions, suggesting more efficient information processing. Understanding the neurobiological basis of intelligence can provide valuable insights into human cognition and inform interventions to enhance cognitive functioning. Further research is needed to unravel the complexities of intelligence and its neural substrates.

Teaching AI to the Next Generation: A Humanistic Approach

This article proposes a comprehensive AI curriculum tailored for young learners aged 11 to 14, emphasizing a humanistic approach. We review other AI curricula proposals for children and young people and underline that they focus primarily on AI's technological benefits and on learning coding and logic. Our curriculum explores human cognition that is often overlooked in existing AI curriculum. Our proposal combines learning through construction, reflective discussions and project-based learning in order to approach AI from variety of angles. Implemented by CreaTIC Academy during 2023/24 school year as an out-of-school activity in a secondary (middle) school in Barcelona, Spain, this curriculum integrates technological, philosophical, cognitive, and cultural dimensions. It draws from diverse fields, including Philosophy of Mind, Cognitive Psychology and Philosophy of Children, and includes practical coding with tools like Scratch and AppInventor, as well as Machine Learning for Kids. Designed to be adaptable across various socio-economic contexts, our approach aims to promote a broader liberal education for children and help teachers implement AI activities in their classrooms.

Strengthening human‐centered face recognition in law enforcement: Combining the Zurich face cognition test with the holistic cognitive interview

AbstractIn the area of security, human cognition remains essential for face recognition despite advancements in technology. Law enforcement agencies (LEAs) are interested in harnessing these abilities, as recognizing people is a fundamental aspect of their work. We conducted two studies to support integrating human face recognition skills into police work. In study 1, we developed the Zurich Face Cognition Test (ZFCT), a self‐assessment tool that reliably measures the face cognition abilities of police officers with authentic police material. Our approach is complementary to the identification of super‐recognizers. In study 2, we evaluated the Holistic Cognitive Interview (HCI), a method successfully applied in the UK to recognize facial composites better. Our results indicate that the HCI provides an effective strategy for police officers to memorize images of unfamiliar faces more effectively, for example, for better recognition of wanted or missing persons.

Bibliography analysis: The influence of affective design on human cognition using Kansei engineering

There is a lot of research using affective and cognitive aspects as an approach to creating a product design or evaluating a product and service with consumers as the center of the design. Overall, human factors, product design, and affective design are important factors in creating products that are useful and enjoyable to use, by considering all factors, designers can create products that have a chance of success in the market. This research was conducted to look at studies based on variables, objects, and methods based on previous journals. This aims to identify previous research and see opportunities if research is carried out in the future. The method used uses affective and cognitive aspects and uses measurements using eye-tracking and EEG. Many statistical measurements are carried out using ANOVA. Based on the analysis, and interpretation of previous research journals, after identifying each aspect and component, conclusions can be drawn regarding aspects of each journal and future research opportunities, then research can be obtained or carried out using the research object of a product that will be made either commercially or commercially. does not use variables eye tracking and EEG measurement tools to determine the user's response. Then, a stimulus can be given to measure a person's level of cognitive response, using product design images, music, physical products, interfaces, music, etc. which will evoke a response from the person. Apart from that, methods that can be used for further research can use affective and cognitive aspects as methods.

Pragmalinguistic Aspect of the Concepts “oath”, “swear”, “promise” in the Kazakh Folk Tales

The concepts such as “to be a man of one's word”, “to keep one's word”, “fulfill one's promise” are prevalent in Kazakh folk tales in the mentality of the Kazakh people are widely used in Kazakh folk tales, and they appear as an important language unit used in the regulation of human relations in the Kazakh society. Because the spiritual concepts “oath”, “swear” and “promise”, considered as “a universal event” are concepts used by societies to create feelings of trust and persuasion among individuals. The paper deals with the spiritual concepts of “oath”, “swear” and “promise” in tales from the view of a pragmatic perspective. The authors also describe the traditions and ceremonies related to “oath” in nomadic Turkish culture and analyze spiritual concepts of “oath”, and “swear”, “promise”, which have a sacred value for Turkish society. As a result of the study, the findings regarding the concepts of “oath”, “swear” and “promise” in Kazakh folk tales, which play an important role in transferring the traditions and customs and cultural heritage of our people from generation to generation, as well as the legal, magical, religious, "pure" ethical rituals used commonly in the nomadic lifestyle were presented. In the paper it is stated that the speech acts in the analysed tales have a special place in terms of pragmatic meaning and it is revealed that the role of the concepts of “oath”, “swear” and “promise” in regulating the relationships between people and society has changed over time, their the sсope of use and stylistic color have changed, and they have acquired different semantic dimensions. Furthermore, it is concluded that the semantic development of the word can reflect the development of human cognition.

Grey Multiple-Criteria Decision-Making

Decision Making (DM) is one of the most important components of human cognition. In particular, the Multiple-Criteria DM (MCDM), is a composite form of DM evaluating options with conflicting goals and choosing the best solution among the existing ones. Following the fuzzy DM criterion of Bellman and Zadeh in 1970, several other methods have been developed by other researchers for DM in fuzzy environments. Here we present a parametric, MCDM method utilizing grey numbers as tools. This method improves an earlier approach of Maji and colleagues in 2002, who used the tabular representation of a soft set as a tool for parametric MCDM in a fuzzy environment. The method is also extended to cover cases of weighted DM and suitable examples are presented illustrating our results.

LEADERSHIP IN THE DIGITAL AGE: NAVIGATING COMPLEXITY THROUGH CRITICAL THINKING, CREATIVITY, AND UNCONVENTIONAL APPROACHES

This paper explores various dimensions of leadership in contexts of a new age, emphasising critical thinking, mental flexibility, and innovative development methods. It addresses challenges posed by technological advancements and leaders' need to cultivate adaptability, creativity, and foresight. Using unconventional approaches, such as the sweat lodge method and exploration of altered states of consciousness, provides intriguing avenues for enhancing leadership qualities. Additionally, the role of substances like psilocybin in fostering creativity and well-being is examined. Ultimately, this paper underscores the irreplaceable role of human cognition and leadership amidst technological progress, advocating for continual development in leadership practices to navigate modern complexities.

Современные тенденции и проблемы развития института доказывания в гражданском судопроизводстве

The article examines the existing problems of the functioning of the institute of evidence in civil proceedings of the Russian Federation. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the institution of evidence in civil proceedings. Proving in judicial practice is an indirect human cognition, the authors argue that the subject of this cognition does not just observe or empirically collect information, he analyzes existing facts and makes new conclusions. The authors investigated the theoretical foundations of the functioning of this institute, analyzed statistical data in this area. In the course of the analysis of scientific literature, the authors have formed a wide range of evidentiary tools in Russian civil proceedings. Due to the consideration of real judicial practices, the main gaps in the legal regulation of the mechanism for the use of evidence in civil cases were identified. In conclusion, the options for changing the articles of the CPC of the Russian Federation are proposed, which will improve the mechanism of judicial proceedings.

Ukrainian biaspectuality: An instantiation of compositional aspect in a verbal-aspect language

Aspect, the perfective-imperfective contrast, is a universal phenomenon, part of man’s cognitive organization to reflect objective/subjective reality by conceptualizing referents of verbs and of nominals/NPs standing for participants in situations as temporal entities, residing in speaker-hearers’ heads and interacting between each other. Aspect is instantiated across languages through two archetypes: verbal aspect (VA) – grammatical, as in the Slavic languages, including Ukrainian; compositional aspect (CA) – complex semantico-syntactic, sporadically dependent on pragmatic discourse elements, as in English. The paper explores Ukrainian language data to, first, confirm that CA, realized mainly as a very complex interplay of sentence components, exists not only in CA languages but, albeit peripherally, also in VA languages, including Ukrainian. Second, to find out how the Ukrainian aspect is realized in sentences with biaspectual verbs and particular numbers of situation-participant NPs: three, two, one. The referents of verbs and of nominals/NPs standing for participants in situations in both VA and CA languages are part of the never-ending process of thinking and perpetual resorting to memory and are not some abstract self-contained system of symbols divorced from human cognition. Phrased otherwise, aspect, especially CA, cannot be understood within the domain of traditional grammar and mainstream linguistics with their naivist notions ignoring man’s cognitive capacity and maintaining, inter alia, that nominals/NPs are concrete/physical or abstract entities. The study of matter is ordained to physics. Linguistics must investigate not the material world but how language reflects this world and other possible (imaginable) worlds. A simple analogue is a woman in a mirror: it is not a material object but an image of a woman; likewise, a woman referred to through language is not a material object but a token of a woman. Hence, NP referents of material things are not physical entities but images of such entities, fully describable, and their kineticism is handled by verb referents, whereby the intricate CA mechanism, which is cognitive, can be observed, albeit peripherally, also in VA languages, including Ukrainian. Disclosure Statement The authors reported no potential conflicts of interest. * Corresponding author: Krasimir Kabakčiev, 0000-0002-5529-0872kkabakciev@atiner.gr

Optimizing Crowd Counting in Dense Environments Through Curriculum Learning Training Strategy

Counting individuals in highly crowded environments, characterized by thousands of people, has garnered significant attention in recent years, due to the high number of vertical markets wherein such algorithms can prove beneficial, ranging from smart city and transportation to retail sectors, among others. Within this context, in this paper we introduce a novel training methodology tailored for estimating the number of people, ensuring precise counting accuracy in both moderately and highly crowded scenarios. The proposed approach exploits a formulation of the problem based on point detection, where each point represents an individual’s head. Our innovative contributions center around the designing of a novel training strategy employing Curriculum Learning (CL), which aims to replicate the gradual learning process observed in human cognition, training on simpler tasks at the beginning and tackling more complex tasks as the training evolves. In order to evaluate the complexity of each sample image, we propose a novel indicator taking into account both the number of people and their distribution within the image. The experimentation phase encompassed 18 publicly available datasets; the obtained results validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach, surpassing the baseline state-of-the-art point detection by 71% and 70% in terms of Mean Absolute Error (MAE) and Mean Squared Error (MSE), respectively

Development of a human cognition inspired condition management system for equipment

Development of a human cognition inspired condition management system for equipment

Uncovering Interoceptive Human Insular Lobe Function through Intraoperative Cortical Stimulation-A Review.

The insular cortex, a critical hub in the brain's sensory, cognitive, and emotional networks, remains an intriguing subject of study. In this article, we discuss its intricate functional neuroanatomy, emphasizing its pivotal role in processing olfactory information. Through concise exploration, we delve into the insula's diverse connectivity and its involvement in sensory integration, particularly in olfaction. Stimulation studies in humans reveal compelling insights into the insula's contribution to the perception of smell, hinting at its broader implications for cognitive processing. Additionally, we explore an avenue of research in which studying olfactory processing via insular stimulation could unravel higher-level cognitive processes. This innovative approach could help give a fresh perspective on the interplay between sensory and cognitive domains, offering valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying cognition and emotion. In conclusion, future research efforts should emphasize a multidisciplinary approach, combining advanced imaging and surgical techniques to explore the intricate functions of the human insula. Moreover, awake craniotomies could offer a unique opportunity for real-time observation, shedding light on its neural circuitry and contributions to higher-order brain functions. Furthermore, olfaction's direct cortical projection enables precise exploration of insular function, promising insights into cognitive and emotional processes. This multifaceted approach will deepen our understanding of the insular cortex and its significance in human cognition and emotion.

Core knowledge and its role in explaining uniquely human cognition: Some questions.

Questions can be raised about the central status that evolutionarily ancient core knowledge systems are given in Spelke's otherwise very compelling theory. So, the existence of domain-general learning capacities has to be admitted, too, and no clear reason is provided to doubt the existence of uniquely human cognitive adaptations. All of these factors should be acknowledged when explaining human thought.