Articles tagged with Decision Making
Researchers from Harvard Medical School and others have discovered that undifferentiated cells face multiple competing choices before committing to their ultimate destiny. By analyzing single-cell sequencing data, they found that genetic programs regulate various cellular functions and influence cell specialization.
Research by Sara Davis and Abby Dubisar found a stark contrast in information provided for women and men seeking elective sterilization, reinforcing gender roles and stereotypes. The study recommends improved communication strategies for doctors to better counsel patients on the procedure's benefits and risks.
A new framework devised by researchers at ESMT Berlin helps retailers position their products to consumers more effectively. The model shows that consumers often make poor choices when faced with too much product information, leading to superior products being overlooked.
Seven former FDA commissioners and a new paper suggest the FDA should become an independent agency to protect science-based drug safety decisions from political interference. The authors propose safeguards, including six-year terms for commissioners and budgetary independence, to ensure the agency's mission is upheld.
The FDA faces significant politicization, threatening its ability to make scientifically-informed decisions on public health. Experts argue that increased independence is needed to protect the nation's health, citing precedents from other agencies such as the FCC and SSA.
Researchers identified the retrosplenial cortex as the brain region responsible for value-based decision-making, which is crucial for neurological conditions such as schizophrenia and dementia. The study used data from tens of thousands of neurons to show that the RSC maintains subjective value information until the next experience.
A Boston College researcher found that when paired with a selfish partner, it is better to behave altruistically rather than selfishly. When paired with an altruistic partner, it is better to behave selfishly to achieve a desired outcome.
Bioethicists investigate body donation after medically-assisted death, highlighting ethical challenges for institutions and potential benefits for education and research.
Researchers developed an online multi-player game called SIGNAL to explore deterrence and decision-making in escalating conflicts. The game allows for large-N data analysis, collecting insights from thousands of games, which can inform policies, strategies, and tactics.
The study provides new insights into the functional role of the PPC in decision-making, showing that it plays an essential role in making judgments about unknown sensory stimuli. The researchers used a novel behavioral technique and precise manipulation of neuronal activity to demonstrate the causal role of the PPC during decision-making.
Women are often prevented from seeking early treatment for pelvic organ prolapse due to confusion about symptoms and feelings of shame. The condition causes pain, incontinence, and psychological distress, but conservative treatments can be effective if detected early.
Conservationists analyzed a controversial Australian goat removal program to develop a framework for evaluating intervention options. The study highlights the importance of considering community values, avoiding assumptions, and being logically sound in conservation decisions. It recommends key attributes such as clarity, transparency,...
A morning bout of moderate-intensity exercise improves cognitive performance like decision-making across the day compared to prolonged sitting without exercise. Brief light-intensity walking breaks can also boost short-term memory by disrupting uninterrupted sitting.
A majority of US states restrict decision-making for incapacitated pregnant women, with 25 laws invalidating advance directives during pregnancy. Thirty-eight states have laws that identify pregnancy as a condition affecting decisions for incapacitated women, but these laws vary widely in content.
Two studies investigate perceptual decision making in rats and humans, showing that the brain compares incoming sensory evidence to express a decision as soon as it reaches a fixed boundary. The findings support the 'bounded integration' model, which explains how the nervous system accumulates information over time.
A short video describing lung cancer screening benefits and risks, combined with an informational brochure, increased patients' knowledge and reduced conflicted feelings about the scan. Participants who watched the video as well as read the booklet were more certain of their decision to undergo the scan.
Researchers developed a web-based game, Maladaptation Game, to improve understanding of climate change methods and adaptation strategies among Nordic farmers. The game presents players with four agricultural challenges and requires strategic decisions, providing a summary of potential negative outcomes.
A recent study published in Nature Communications challenges prior research on moral decision-making by showing that people's moral behavior can shift depending on the context. The researchers identified four moral strategies: inequity aversion, guilt aversion, greed, and moral opportunism, which involves switching between these strate...
A 30-person study found that the brain implements mathematically optimal principles for perception in a 'middle ground' between opposing literature. The results suggest that human perception is based on imprecise sensory inputs, but still follows optimal strategies.
A team of researchers is developing AI-powered mobile robots to direct a documentary-style coverage of a 5K race. The robots will predict likely events, adjust plans in real-time, and gather information as they go, capturing the most pertinent moments for an engaging narrative.
Research by UBC's Men's Health Research Program reveals that many men struggle with understanding prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment options. The study highlights the importance of health literacy in making informed decisions and managing personal health.
A new study found substantial variation in vaccine coverage within countries, with some areas having less than 25% coverage. The study provides insights for nations' health ministers to identify where to improve vaccine delivery systems and tailor strategies to reach unvaccinated children.
Researchers developed an AI agent that can generate natural language explanations in real-time, making it more relatable and trustworthy for non-experts. Participants preferred human-generated rationales over AI-generated ones, but AI-generated responses were close seconds.
A new study from Oregon State University found that using visualization with a third-person perspective can backfire on consumers pursuing health goals. When health goals are peripheral to a person's self-concept, adopting a third-person perspective can discourage goal-consistent intentions and behavior.
A commentary published in the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine warns that removing explicit ethics and values from NICE's revised Social Value Judgements document undermines the organization's innovative approach. Experts argue that this revision leaves patients and clinicians struggling to understand NICE's decisions.
Artificial intelligence can amplify human capabilities, reducing systemic glitches and errors in medical decision-making. Machine learning models can analyze vast amounts of data to identify patterns predictive of outcomes and help diagnose diseases.
Federal prosecutors declined to pursue cases in about one quarter of all instances, with violent and drug cases being more likely to be dropped. The study found differences in decisions based on defendant characteristics, such as gender and race, as well as offense types.
Experts have developed a model to identify suitable locations for the reintroduction of Eurasian lynx in Scotland, suggesting that the Kintyre Peninsula is the most suitable site. The study found that Scotland possesses sufficient habitat for population establishment and spread, with the Central Belt acting as a barrier to colonization.
A study on chronically indebted individuals in Singapore found that debt relief reduces anxiety and improves financial decisions. Paying off total debt was more effective than reducing partial debts.
Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä identified four moral identity statuses in Finnish leaders: achieved, foreclosed, diffused, and moratorium. An achieved identity is characterized by a clear, self-chosen value framework, while foreclosed identities are based on adopted values without critical evaluation. The study highlights t...
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) has approved funding for two projects that aim to disseminate and implement research findings on obesity and diabetes prevention through shared decision making. The projects, totaling $3.8 million, will focus on patients with severe obesity and higher blood sugars who are diagnos...
A UK consortium of cyber security experts is supporting global businesses to address cyber threats and protect against cybercrime. The project aims to develop interventions to provide guidance and support, with a focus on board decision-making and risk assessment.
Researchers found that people who can accurately detect others' emotions are also better at discerning the effectiveness of group interaction. The study suggests that managers should take people's social sensitivity into account when making decisions about team leaders.
A study published in Psychological Science found that our brains automatically prioritize self-referential stimuli, such as our names or faces, over random information. This 'self-referential bias' can drive decisions and behaviors, potentially leading to selfish outcomes.
AI systems often employ 'Clever Hans' strategies that are not meaningful from a human perspective, but still achieve success. Researchers have developed explainable AI technology to identify these flawed strategies and identify more intelligent problem-solving approaches.
Researchers propose a new method to measure and track plant and animal populations, known as the 'hypercube,' which can generate health stats for the planet. The goal is to provide policymakers with accurate information to make sound conservation decisions, including assessing progress toward national and international policy goals.
Scientists have discovered that electrical activity is the first known step in planarian flatworm regeneration, starting before genetic machinery kicks in. This breakthrough enables cells to communicate and make decisions about their position and overall organ structure.
A new online intervention tool shows promise in decreasing sexual risk-taking and promoting HIV/STI prevention behaviors among young gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men. The My Desires & Expectations (myDEx) tool was pilot-tested in a randomized trial and found to improve HIV prevention behaviors and emotional decision-m...
Researchers from KU Leuven and SciSports analyzed nearly 7,000 matches to see how players perform under mental pressure. They found that players like Cristiano Ronaldo are immune to pressure, while others like Neymar crumble under it.
A new study examines individuals' willingness to adopt algorithms in decision-making contexts, revealing the importance of cognitive perceptions. Participants with low situational awareness were found to be more likely to delegate decisions to an AI algorithm.
The article explores the intersection of social media, emerging technologies, and medical ethics. Bioethicists discuss various issues such as bias in AI systems and patient relationships affected by social networking sites. The authors also provide recommendations for addressing ethical challenges in these areas.
A new study from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business found that amateur investors with high self-efficacy are prone to crowd bias and herding behaviors, leading to poorer investment decisions. The researchers suggest that online training courses could help mitigate these risks and improve the equity crowdfunding landscape.
A new computer model has been developed to map mental valuation processes in the brain, enabling accurate predictions of food choices. The model takes into account individual valuations and efficiency principles, allowing for the prediction of decision behavior.
Researchers studied tool-related decision-making in orangutans and found they carefully considered factors like tool functionality and food quality. The apes chose the tool when it worked with the apparatus, but prioritized immediate food rewards if the tool was non-functional.
Researchers found that programming autonomous vehicles in advance leads to more cooperative decisions, as people prioritize collective interests over short-term rewards. This effect generalizes beyond the domain of autonomous vehicles and has implications for shaping societal dilemmas.
Researchers found that cold temperatures cause consumers to rely more on emotions when making decisions, favoring products with sentimental value. This phenomenon may benefit luxury retailers who sell emotion-laden products.
Bats use rain noise as a salient informational cue to inform their decision making about emerging from roosts. This study shows that noise can be beneficial for animals, providing important information about their environment and when it's safe to hunt.
A new study reveals that people believe good spirits reside in mountains and evil spirits in caves, and that governments are rated as more moral than organizations after a transgression. Meanwhile, concerns about machines making life-or-death decisions may limit their role in the future.
A panel of experts recommends against surgery for subacromial pain syndrome due to its ineffectiveness in improving pain and quality of life. Decompression surgery has been found to provide no benefit over placebo or other treatment options.
Researchers found that patients with high functional status and lower frailty scores before valve replacement fared best after the procedure. After SAVR, three-quarters of patients experienced functional improvement, while among those who underwent TAVR, only 37% saw an improvement in functional status.
A computer-based decision aid did not alleviate symptoms of depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress for family caregivers making end-of-life decisions. The tool's recommendations were often disregarded in favor of more aggressive treatment options.
Researchers developed a machine learning algorithm to optimize lab test ordering in ICU patients, reducing testing by up to 44% and improving treatment timing. The approach aims to maximize patient rewards while minimizing costs and risks.
Researchers from the University of Zurich found that nudging's effectiveness depends on a person's underlying decision-making process. The study suggests that certain behavioral models can improve decisions through nudging, such as the limited attention model.
A new study published in Radiology suggests that personalized treatment plans can significantly extend the life expectancy of early-stage kidney cancer patients with risk factors for worsening kidney disease. The study used computer-based simulations to assess the impact of different treatment approaches and found that personalized str...
A new approach to collating and analyzing qualitative studies has led to the creation of tailored reporting guidance for meta-ethnography. This will give researchers and healthcare bosses greater confidence in findings, ultimately improving patient care and services.
Research from Michigan State University found a correlation between excessive social media use and impaired risky decision-making capabilities. Participants who struggled with poor decision-making on the Iowa Gambling Task also displayed more problematic social media use.
DJ Seo, a civil engineering professor at UTA, is working on a project to merge forecasts and metrics from multiple sources into a single, integrated forecast. This will provide emergency management officials with more accurate and understandable information to make informed decisions during major weather events.
A novel valuation method reveals that stock options granted to women and senior managers are worth more because they hold onto them longer. Options with less frequent vesting dates also cost companies significantly more.
A study by Ohio State University researchers found that people's gaze influences their choices when faced with two visible options. The researchers used eye-tracking technology to show that attention amplifies a person's desire for chosen items, particularly those already liked.
A new study published in BMJ found that primary care doctors need to work six more hours a day to provide recommended preventive care, including colonoscopy and lung cancer screening. The simulation model also reveals that this would lead to 17 out of every 100 doctors taking early retirement each year.