Research on how people make decisions. Covers workplace food choices, medication risk trade-offs, and treatment selection in mental health.
Researchers used fMRI to study effort-based decision-making and found two distinct regions of the ventral striatum associated with different phases of physical effort. The findings provide new insights into motivation, depression, schizophrenia, and PTSD.
Researchers found that individuals with gambling disorder focus on irrelevant information from previous gambles, rather than considering optimal probabilities and prize sizes. This impaired decision-making can lead to continued gambling despite mounting losses.
Research at Flinders University found that defensiveness increases when people feel stigmatised or rejected, but decreases when they feel valued and included. The study suggests that emphasizing respect and value for the person, even if you disagree with their views or actions, can reduce defensiveness.
Researchers found that people who move their mouse towards a safe option may be more risk-averse than they appear, while those who veer towards a risky option may be more open to risk. The study used mouse tracking to analyze participants' decision-making and found accurate predictions of future behavior.
A neural network has been developed to estimate uncertainty, allowing for safer outcomes in AI-assisted decision-making. The 'deep evidential regression' approach accelerates uncertainty estimation, enabling faster and more accurate confidence levels, reducing the risk of errors.
Researchers from Bar-Ilan University demonstrate the application of physical concepts in physics to solve key challenges in artificial intelligence. By adopting power-law scaling, they show that learning each example once is equivalent to learning examples repeatedly, enabling rapid decision-making and ultrafast learning.
A new Hastings Center project aims to develop an ethics framework for scientists to anticipate and prevent biases in health data models. The framework will consider data use, bias toward white populations, and equitable interventions to address health disparities.
Experts argue that the US gray wolf population has not fully recovered and that delisting is premature. The authors propose a framework for conservation of adaptive potential to enhance the effectiveness of species recovery.
Researchers found that spoiler reviews can increase box office revenue by providing potential customers with more information. The study used topic modeling to measure the effect of spoiler reviews on box office revenue, and found an inverted-U relationship between ratings and spoiler intensity.
Researchers found that higher health literacy is associated with higher rates of PSA screening, despite guidelines recommending against it. The study also identified a dynamic interplay between health literacy and shared decision-making.
Researchers recommend that healthcare providers discuss cannabis use with patients who have chronic pain and are using opioids. This conversation should be routine and judgment-free. The goal is to understand the patient's priorities and develop a plan based on evidence-based information.
Research found machine learning and statistical techniques have similar performance at the population level but vary substantially in individual-level risk predictions. Machine learning models often ignore censoring, leading to biased predictions.
Researchers discovered a specific brain region monitors food preferences as they change across thirsty and quenched states. By artificially manipulating neurons in the ventral pallidum, researchers were able to shift food choice preferences from a desired treat to a plain staple.
The proportion of caesarean section deliveries carried out under general anaesthesia approximately halved from 7.7% to 3.7% during the first wave of COVID-19, even among women with COVID-19. Regional anaesthesia rates remained high and lower conversion rates were found.
A global study of over 5,000 participants found that age and probability of survival are the top characteristics considered when deciding who should receive scarce COVID-19 treatment. The study showed that people worldwide gave these two characteristics the most weight in their decisions, explaining about 50% of their choices.
As people age, their motivation to learn declines. Researchers identified a brain circuit critical for maintaining this motivation and found that it can be boosted in older mice by reactivating the circuit, which was previously shown to suppress motivation.
Researchers studying COVID-19's impact on US college students aim to understand how the pandemic has disrupted their personal, educational, and economic plans. The study will examine decision-making styles, values orientation, and substance use/mental health patterns.
Thomas McAndrew's novel framework combines computational models with human understanding of social determinants of health to better forecast COVID-19 outbreaks. His research aims to inform public health decision-making and reduce morbidity and mortality, providing actionable predictions for policymakers and the general public.
A recent paper proposes three screening questions to help policymakers choose the best model for their problem, reducing confusion and increasing trust. This approach aims to bring clarity to the decision-making process, especially during times of crisis like Covid-19.
New research reveals that our brains favor experiences that end well, weighing the final moments more heavily than the rest of the experience. This 'happy ending effect' can lead to bad decisions when choosing whether to repeat an experience.
Research finds that focusing on the ending of an experience can lead to undervaluing positive experiences that end poorly. The brain's neural representation of a pleasant ending can overpower information from the amygdala, resulting in poor decision-making.
Assistant professor of civil engineering Mohsen Shahandashti is leading a study to identify challenges in workforce decision-making processes for transportation construction industries during the pandemic. The goal is to learn how managers make decisions balancing public health and worker safety.
LGBTQ+ campus centers are essential resources for LGBTQ+ students, providing counseling, support and student sense of belonging. Research shows that these centers correlate with lower levels of discrimination, less distress and increased self-acceptance among LGBTQ+ students.
A study found that young adults tend to consider both risks and benefits in their sexual behavior, making consistent and thoughtful decisions. The research suggests that even those prone to heuristic decision-making become rational when faced with similar choices framed as sexual decisions.
Researchers recorded real-time changes in dopamine and serotonin levels in patients' brains during tasks, revealing that serotonin levels increased with uncertainty and decreased with confidence. The study provides insight into how dopamine and serotonin regulate perception, decision-making, and cognition, potentially leading to improv...
Researchers identified nerve cells in the brain whose activity indicates decision-making confidence. The frequency of electrical pulses in these neurons increased with increasing decision confidence.
The Global Pandemic App Watch tracks the uptake of COVID-19 contact-tracing and exposure-notification apps worldwide. The website offers maps and country pages detailing app adoption, voluntariness, and privacy concerns, shedding light on the socio-ethical dimensions of these technologies.
Researchers found that officers can cut their chance of making misdiagnosis shooting errors by more than half when using a low ready position. The study, published in Police Quarterly, suggests that this simple adjustment could lead to fewer perception shootings and improved safety.
A global analysis found that men predominate in over 85% of expert groups and task forces, with women making up just 11.5%. This 'disturbingly accepted pattern' of health governance underpins ineffective responses and costs lives. To combat this, experts advocate for truly representative membership, open communication, and inclusive da...
Researchers found that street ETRs are more informative and effective in predicting future tax outcomes than GAAP-based ETRs. Street ETRs, which adjust for unusual or infrequent items, improved the decision-making process for investors.
A study by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers found that methamphetamine use increases the risk of casual sex without a condom, particularly among those with higher sexual desire. The study demonstrated that intense sexual arousal leads to rapid shift in preference for using a condom.
A team of researchers developed a cooperative adaptive cruise control model that uses streaming data to predict the driving states of preceding vehicles, reducing congestion and traffic accidents. The model can be tested using actual connected, autonomous vehicles and could create a safer future for everyone sharing the road.
A recent study shows that most older women with breast cancer can safely undergo surgery, reducing the gap in survival rates between older and younger women. The research found that surgery is generally well-tolerated and offers slightly lower survival rates for those who don't have it.
A team of Penn State researchers suggests that simpler models may be a better choice for determining some climate risk due to their ability to better sample uncertainties. This approach can help decision-makers quantify risks more effectively, even if it means sacrificing some detail in the model.
A recent study from the University of South Australia found that Australian boards struggle with gender diversity, resulting in unbalanced decision-making. The research highlights the importance of promoting women's participation on boards to effectively address corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
Researchers found that humans are more willing to employ deceptive negotiating techniques when using virtual agents, particularly those with prior experience or negative negotiation experiences. The study suggests that people may feel more comfortable relying on virtual agents to act deceptively, as they perceive it as less personal.
University of Queensland research reveals that conservation planning is often inadequate, neglecting critical ecosystem services that benefit humans, such as freshwater and pollination services. The study proposes a formal process for governments and policymakers to develop more effective plans.
Scientists at OIST have identified a new area of the brain involved in cost-benefit decision-making, revealing complex connections between regions. The ventromedial thalamus sends signals to neurons in the prefrontal cortex, influencing decision-making processes.
Researchers found that disfluency increases people's attitudes toward a message after a time delay, leading to more favorable post-purchase decisions. Consumers misattribute the time spent in decision-making, believing they made an informed choice rather than spending time understanding information.
Researchers found that standard CDS systems are ineffective in reducing antibiotic prescriptions in EDs. The study suggests tailoring CDS systems to the ED environment and provider needs can help reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.
New research reveals Indigenous knowledge is regularly misunderstood when making important environmental decisions. The study highlights a power imbalance between Indigenous knowledge holders and scientists, with Indigenous knowledge often perceived as less valuable.
Researchers analyzed the impact of a plain afforestation project in Beijing, finding that some forest patches showed worse growth due to interrupted afforestation. They also found that this project occupied fertile farmland, decreasing connectivity and compactness.
Research found that military training attenuates the sense of agency and outcome processing in individuals, especially those in lower ranks. In contrast, senior personnel showed no such effect. The study suggests that hierarchical environments can negatively impact an individual's feeling of responsibility for their actions.
A study of 900 US residents found that conservatives tend to view industry-majority boards as making unbiased decisions, while liberals see them as promoting business interests. The authors suggest this politicization could impact scientific advice given to the government.
A new study from CU Anschutz researchers has identified the cerebellum as a critical region for making fast `go-no go' decisions. The study used mice to investigate the molecular layer interneurons in the cerebellum, which were found to play a role in learning valence and determining whether something is good or not.
A new tool, DeepTrust, generated automatic indicators of data and prediction trustworthiness in neural networks, addressing the need for trust in AI. The researchers used subjective logic to assess neural network architectures, providing insights into testing reliability and maximizing accuracy.
A team of researchers from New York University and Peking University found that human cognitive limitations lead to distorted probabilities and errors in decision-making. The model predicted human performance better than previous models, suggesting that people do as well as they can under their limitations.
Research by UC Riverside found that information markets are more accurate than ad hoc groups in making decisions, despite initial skepticism. As people become accustomed to using markets, they gain trust in their reliability and accuracy.
A new study published in JNeurosci found that people learn and decide better when avoiding harm to others. The study used an fMRI scanner to investigate how participants learned to choose between two symbols to minimize pain, revealing increased activation in the ventromedial prefrontal cortex (VMPFC) when choosing for another person.
The American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) has published a set of general guidelines for safely returning to work during the COVID-19 pandemic. The guidelines address various aspects, including clinical manifestations of COVID-19, developing a successful return-to-work policy, and industry-specific guidance.
Primary care providers face increasing workload with limited time due to insurance, EMR systems, and COVID-19. Many have reduced clinical schedules or switched to hospital medicine to manage workload.
The study found that sports mega-events can drive urban regeneration, but most sustainable practices are imitative and lack long-term impact. Russian post-Soviet cities face unique challenges in adapting to changes.
The study found that democratic countries tend to copy each other's decisions, while the timing of implementation is crucial in containing the spread. The researchers conclude that political decisions during the pandemic were influenced by internal pressure and a desire for decisiveness.
Researchers found that instilling trust among stakeholders and understanding the science behind flooding were crucial for a successful collaborative decision-making process. This approach led to the implementation of a sustainable flood mitigation strategy that balanced individual needs with environmental protection.
Research by Queensland University of Technology reveals that elite-level cricket umpires make more errors when making leg-before-wicket (LBW) decisions in T20 cricket, with a hit rate of 86.15% and false alarm rate of 2.04%. The study found that the format of the game affects decision-making behavior.
Researchers discovered that unfair negative reviews can evoke consumer empathy, leading to increased purchase and patronage intentions. Firms can capitalize on these reviews by responding in a more personable manner and highlighting employee involvement.
Researchers analyzed the daily deal market to identify trade-offs made by both parties during transactions. Larger platforms can exert bargaining power, while smaller platforms offer higher profit shares to merchants, providing an alternative outlet for price negotiation.
New research found that a company's past investments in advertising and R&D can help suppliers and partners make informed decisions about whether to bet on the bankrupt customer or partner. Advertising increases survival odds when suppliers have high influence, while R&D decreases them when suppliers have low influence.
Researchers Xifeng Yan and Yu-Xiang Wang developed a deep learning tool to forecast COVID-19 trends by community. The model, called Transformer, uses attention mechanisms and U.S. Census data to provide hyper-local forecasts with high accuracy.
The research team synthesized findings into a series of ten technical briefs highlighting best practices and lessons learned in bike share equity policies, data collection, metrics, marketing, and more. The two-page briefs are intended as a resource for bike share professionals and community partners.