BOLD Blog in Brief
The relationship between neuroscience, psychology research and technology is complex and reciprocal. This month, BOLD authors explore how technology expands scientific research and how research informs the ways we develop and use technology.
In the Emotional Brain Study, Susanne
Schweizer and Sarah-Jayne Blakemore are employing citizen science to study the
development of emotion regulation over the lifespan of humans. The study engages
people from around the world through a free downloadable app that uses games to
measure memory, attention, and other cognitive functions necessary for emotion
regulation. In this way, technology benefits research, allowing a much larger and
more diverse sample than is possible in a lab setting. Read more here.
On the other hand, scientists are drawing
upon research in developmental psychology to inform the development of
artificial intelligence. What psychologists, such as Catherine Hartley, know
about children’s intrinsic motivations to learn are critical components for fostering
learning in artificial agents. Other features of human cognitive learning — reactivation
of experiences during sleep, flexible use of learning strategies, and the
ability to monitor and infer the intentions of others — may also improve machine
learning. Read more here.
Daphne Bavelier, this year’s recipient of the Klaus J. Jacobs Research Prize, runs the cognitive neuroscience lab at the University of Geneva. Her research into the effects of playing action video games has shown improvements in certain cognitive abilities among regular players. However, Bavelier advocates for a granular look at the effect of screen time on children and youth, and for more education on what a healthy tech diet looks like. Read the interview with Bavelier here.
Photo: Andy Kelly, Unsplash
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