Journal of Cognitive Science Research (JCSR)

Most studies on placebo mechanisms rely on Expectancy Theory, which suggests that conceptual expectations can bring about physiological change. However, the exact processes underlying this effect remain unclear. Perceptual Symbol Systems (PSS) Theory, grounded in Embodied Cognition Theory, offers a more specific explanation: mental representations grounded in sensory-motor systems may directly evoke bodily responses. This study tested whether embodied primes, based on PSS Theory, elicit stronger placebo responses than traditional expectancy-based suggestions. Using a within-subjects design, 71 university students underwent a cold pressure task under three conditions: (1) verbal suggestion of an analgesic cream, (2) visual priming with a photo of a person looking upward, and (3) combined visual-motor priming, where participants also looked upward themselves. The placebo response was measured by changes in pain intensity and heart rate. Results showed that both embodied conditions (visual and visual-motor priming) produced stronger placebo responses than the verbal suggestion condition, as indicated by lower pain intensity and reduced heart rate (F(2,140)=5.83; p<.01). However, the difference between the two embodied conditions was not statistically significant in terms of pain ratings. Notably, visual-motor priming led to a greater reduction in heart rate than visual priming alone (F(6,330)=1.99; p=.06), suggesting a subtle additive effect of motor engagement. These findings support the role of unconscious embodied processes—specifically, perceptual and motor representations—in modulating placebo responses. They offer a promising direction for understanding how non-verbal bodily cues may influence the complex perception of pain.

The current investigation examined whether it is possible to implicitly learn a set of rules, such as those found in an artificial grammar task, while mind wandering. Participants memorized 23 grammatical stimuli in 10 blocks of trials. Between blocks were mind wandering probes to determine their level of attention devoted to the task. Then, during the testing phase, participants were presented with 32 novel stimuli indicating whether they were grammatical or nongrammatical. Participants were significantly better than chance at identifying grammatical items. A Bayesian correlation analysis indicated no correlation between the amount of mind wandering and the proportion of items correctly identified in the testing phase (r = .04), with a 95% CI [-14, .22] and a Bayes Factor of B01= 12.78. The results suggest that participants implicitly learned the grammar structure and that the degree of mind wandering was not related to learning of artificial grammar, suggesting that implicit learning can occur although one is mind wandering.

Emotions are crucial in social interactions, influencing communication and relationships. Distinguishing the perceived emotion in conscious and unconscious emotional processing is a key research area with cognitive and physiological implications. This study investigates conscious and unconscious emotional processing through behavioral and pupillary responses. Participants completed emotion recognition tasks under varying states, revealing higher accuracy in conscious emotion identification. Emotions like anger, happiness, fear, surprise, and neutral elicited distinct response patterns. Pupillometry data showed pupil size suppression in the conscious state and enhancement in the unconscious state, with differences in peak pupil size across emotions. Task-related components, amplitude, and latency parameters differed between conscious and unconscious states, highlighting the role of awareness in emotional regulation. These findings emphasize the complex interplay of cognitive and physiological processes in emotional responses, providing insights into emotional recognition mechanisms. This study contributes to understanding emotional processing dynamics and has implications for psychology and neuroscience research.

Backgrounds: Children with learning disabilities are children who are weak in one or more basic psychological processes. Executive function is one of the important cognitive processes that play an important role in academic performance. Objectives: In this regard, the present study aimed to prepare a self-regulatory education program based on SRSD and investigate its effectiveness on executive function, Cognitive-Learning content areas and academic achievement of children with learning disabilities. Methods: The present study is a semi-experimental study with pre-test and post-test .sample of 30 children with learning disabilities in Gorgan, including 15 in the control group, and 15 in the experimental group was selected. The instruments used in this study included LEAF scale (2016) and WISC-IV (2003), which was implemented and scored in two stages, before and after the self-regulation training program based on SRSD. Data analysis was performed using multivariate variance analysis using SPSS software version 26. The P<0.05 were considered for data analysis and as significant levels respectively. Results: The results of multivariate variance analysis showed self-regulatory education has been able to reduce weaknesses in Cognitive-Learning content areas (Comprehension and Conceptual Learning) (p<0.001), executive function components (Factual Memory, Attention, Visual-Spatial Organization, Sustained Sequential Processing, Working Memory, Novel Problem Solving) ) (p<0.001), academic achievement (Mathematics Skills, Basic Reading Skills, Written Expression Skills) (p<0.001) and promote the components in these children. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that educational program can be effective in improving cognitive learning content, executive function components, and academic achievement in children with learning disabilities.

Externalizing behavior problems refer to a set of symptoms that can lead to significant psychological problems over time. These disorders affect a person's behavior as well as their physical, cognitive, and social abilities, disrupting their functioning in social, occupational, and academic areas. The present study investigated the relationship between executive functions and social skills in children's play with externalizing behavior problems. This research was conducted in a descriptive manner, and its statistical population included all children in Tehran in the academic year 2024-2025. In this study, using a multi-stage random sampling method, several schools were selected from district 6 of Tehran, and 130 children whose parents or teachers were willing to participate in the research and were identified as children with externalizing behavior problems according to the results of the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist questionnaire (CBCL) were selected as the sample. Data were collected using the BRIEF Executive Function Questionnaire and a researcher-made Social Skills Questionnaire, and data analysis was performed using single-variable regression. The results showed a positive and significant relationship between the components of executive functions (including set shifting, working memory, inhibitory control, and inhibition) and the social skills of children with externalizing behavior problems (P=0/001). Therefore, it is emphasized that by using strategies to promote executive functions and social skills in the play process, it is possible to prevent the formation and continuation of externalizing behavior problems in preschool children  

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) represents a transitional phase between normal aging and dementia, primarily affecting memory. It affects nearly one-fifth of adults over 50 worldwide, highlighting its growing clinical importance. Pharmacological treatments have shown limited efficacy, prompting interest in non-invasive interventions such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which modulates cortical excitability through weak electrical currents. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of tDCS on memory performance in older adults with MCI and to identify protocol-specific predictors of improvement. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science (up to April 2025) following PRISMA guidelines. Eligible studies included randomized and non-randomized trials examining tDCS alone or combined with cognitive training in adults aged 60 years and older with MCI. Ten studies (N = 428) met inclusion criteria. Due to heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively. Overall, tDCS significantly improved verbal and recognition memory, as well as spatial and episodic memory performance. Neurophysiological findings indicated enhanced neural activity and connectivity. Stimulation targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex produced the most consistent benefits, especially when applied for ten or more sessions at an intensity of 2 mA. Mild side effects, such as redness and tingling, occurred in approximately 20–30% of participants, with no serious adverse events reported. Preliminary evidence supports the effectiveness and safety of tDCS in improving memory among individuals with MCI. However, variability in protocols and small sample sizes underscore the need for standardized, biomarker-guided, and longitudinal research.