Research on how people make decisions. Covers workplace food choices, medication risk trade-offs, and treatment selection in mental health.
A new study by Ohio State University researchers found that people who rely on concrete evidence to form their beliefs are less likely to have misperceptions about high-profile scientific and political issues. On the other hand, those who trust their intuition over evidence are more likely to believe fake news.
The study aims to identify variables that predict why certain individuals are better at making tough decisions, as well as understand how people arrive at difficult choices. By training soldiers, first-responders, and civilians, the research hopes to produce better outcomes in life-threatening situations.
A new app developed by Carnegie Mellon University researchers allows users to control access to third-party libraries, which helps app developers make money by targeting people with ads or compiling marketing profiles. This approach promises to be an effective way of limiting the unwanted release of personal information.
A study by George Washington University researchers found that air pollution and coal-fired power plants were the subject of most cases, while renewable energy and energy efficiency saw pro-regulation plaintiffs win more than twice as frequently. Courts are expected to play a significant role in shaping climate policy in the US.
Conflict durations in monkey societies grow more quickly as others join, according to researchers studying dynamic conflict patterns. The first interaction sets the tone for the fight, with brief episodes likely to follow if initial interactions are brief.
Advance Care Planning (ACP) is a process where patients discuss their goals and preferences with relatives and health-care providers. The study recommends adapting ACP to the individual's readiness, updating conversations and documents regularly.
Research at Mount Sinai Hospital identified two distinct brain areas involved in decision-making: the orbital frontal cortex (OFC) and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex (VLPFC). Monkeys with OFC lesions lost ability to track reward probability, while those with VLPFC lesions showed preference for M&Ms.
A study in monkeys reveals that two distinct brain areas, the orbital frontal cortex and ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, are involved in decision-making. The researchers found that monkeys with lesions in one area had impaired ability to track probability, while those with lesions in the other area showed a preference for rewards.
Research suggests that people prioritize products with more reviews, regardless of their quality, due to a popularity bias. This can lead to poor purchasing decisions, as statistical models recommend choosing products with fewer reviews when ratings are low.
Researchers developed a machine-learning approach called ICU Intervene that takes large amounts of ICU data to determine treatments for different symptoms. The system uses deep learning to make real-time predictions, learning from past cases to suggest critical care interventions.
Research by UChicago psychologists found that using a foreign language decreases emotional aversion, leading people to be less averse to breaking taboos and more willing to make utilitarian choices. The study suggests that the decision-making process is affected by the emotional distance provided by speaking a non-native language.
A new study investigates the decision-making process in relationships, revealing common pros and cons of staying versus leaving. Participants weighed reasons such as emotional intimacy, investment, and personality traits, with married individuals citing more constraint-based reasons for staying.
A new study found that women with early-stage breast cancer are more likely to consider double mastectomy due to their decision-making habits and values. Researchers surveyed 2,362 women and discovered that those who were worried about making a bad decision and wanted to make their own choices were more likely to consider the aggressiv...
A new AI system developed by MIT researchers reduces online video rebuffering and improves quality, adapting to different network conditions. The system achieves higher-quality streaming with less rebuffering than existing approaches.
A recent study published in Academic Emergency Medicine found that physician implicit racial bias does not directly affect treatment decisions, but may contribute to healthcare disparities. The study suggests that biases may indirectly influence patient outcomes and warrants further research.
A study of over 2,500 people found that higher light intensity leads to worse decisions and increased inconsistency in monetary gambles. Luminance also influences risk attitudes, with individuals more likely to avoid known risks on high-light days.
In the wake of Charlie Gard's high-profile court case, Professor Dominic Wilkinson emphasizes the need for fair, accurate, and balanced discussion in cases involving life-prolonging treatment. One potential solution is to allow medical professionals to make public the medical evidence on which they are basing their decisions.
A recent study found that people who tend to maximize their decisions, like ants preparing for winter, are more likely to have better financial habits and a forward-thinking approach. This challenges previous research that linked maximizing tendencies to negative outcomes such as stress and regret.
Combining moderate alcohol consumption with moderate sleep restriction leads to increased deficits in attention and drowsiness compared to either factor alone. Performance impairment remains apparent even with frequent breaks, emphasizing the need for adequate rest before driving after consuming alcohol.
A new study offers a decision-analytic model to help women with BRCA mutations determine the optimal age for preventive surgeries that can significantly reduce lifetime breast and ovarian cancer risk. The model recommends specific ages for bilateral mastectomy (BM) and salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) procedures.
Researchers have used computer modeling to demonstrate the varying manipulability of decision-making procedures and identify those least susceptible to manipulation. Two majority relation-based procedures, Uncovered set II and Fishburn's rule, are found to be less manipulable than others.
A recent study at the University of Pennsylvania found that commercial brain training with Lumosity had no effect on decision-making or cognitive function. The researchers recruited two groups, one following Lumosity and the other playing online video games, but neither group showed improvements in brain activity or decision-making.
Researchers Joe Kable and Caryn Lerman found that a 10-week Lumosity training session had no effect on cognitive function or brain activity among young adults. Meanwhile, playing non-adaptive video games showed similar improvements in standard cognitive assessments as the control group.
Researchers studied decision-making in real-time using mouse trajectories, finding that individuals with low self-control veer closer to unhealthy foods. The study suggests a more dynamical process where both healthy and unhealthy choices compete from the beginning, contradicting dual systems theory.
A study by Harvard University researchers found that psychopaths' brains prioritize short-term gains, leading to poor decision-making and violent behavior. The research used brain scans of nearly 50 prison inmates, revealing a specific connection between the ventral striatum and prefrontal cortex.
A computerized decision-making model has been developed to promote shared decision-making with cystic fibrosis patients, taking into account their preferences for measures of lung function and health. The tool helps prioritize home treatments by integrating patients' personal goals, values, and treatment preferences.
A new study found that nearly three-quarters of women relied on a support network to discuss their treatment options and attend appointments. Larger support networks were associated with more deliberation about treatment, suggesting patients are thinking through pros and cons.
A study by Sam Houston State University found that prison officials use disciplinary segregation as a punishment reserved for inmates with a history of misconduct. Inmates who were young, male, previously incarcerated, and serving longer sentences were more likely to receive disciplinary segregation.
Adults with autism spectrum conditions show reduced sensitivity to contextual information but may actually lead to more consistent choices. Participants with ASC made fewer switches and consistently chose the same option, suggesting less susceptibility to cognitive biases.
Researchers at KU Leuven found that slow motion videos make fouls appear more serious, leading to harsher judgments from referees. This has implications for the use of video technology in football.
Researchers developed a novel technique that combines a micro-camera with a subjective re-situ interview to better understand physician decision-making in emergency medicine. The study found that this approach provided a more authentic understanding of clinical decision-making compared to traditional external perspectives.
Researchers at Northern Illinois University found a significant correlation between bullying and whining in teams, negatively affecting group dynamics. The 'poor-pitiful-me' routine can disrupt decision-making groups, while both behaviors should be considered aggressive tactics that can derail meetings and lead to suboptimal decisions.
Researchers propose that forgetting is crucial for efficient memory, allowing us to adapt to new situations and generalize past events. By controlling what information we retain and forget, our brains optimize decision-making and prioritize core knowledge.
A new study led by Penn State Smeal College of Business researchers assesses the capacity of humanitarian response systems following disasters. The research proposes new metrics based on optimization models to guide individual decisions toward system improvement and aid in real-time assessment of stockpile capacity.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati developed a genetic fuzzy logic AI that predicted treatment outcomes for bipolar patients with 100% accuracy, surpassing conventional models. The AI, called LITHIA, can analyze vast amounts of data to identify the best treatment options, offering new hope for those affected by bipolar disorder.
A new study from the University of Pennsylvania's Damon Centola refutes the classic theory that groupthink destroys the wisdom of crowds. In egalitarian networks, where everyone has equal influence, individuals help each other get smarter, leading to a striking improvement in the intelligence of the group.
Researchers discovered 'event cells' in the hippocampus that represent sequences of events, facilitating episodic memory. The study found that the brain's theta cycle phase precession plays a crucial role in organizing these event sequences.
A study by UAlberta researchers found that 70% of home blood pressure monitor readings are unacceptably inaccurate, which could lead to serious implications for people relying on them. The team advises comparing measurements with clinical readings and taking multiple readings.
A study by Morel et al. found that physical effort in movements is not solely determined by force resistance but also by the duration of the movement. Additionally, the researchers identified common optimization principles in decision-making and motor control, suggesting a shared mechanism for both.
Researchers found that framing choices as a sequence of events increases imagination and its role in decision-making, leading to increased patience. This approach may be particularly useful when circumstances are less than ideal, such as when multitasking or stressed.
Researchers found that neurons initially rely on many neurons for good prediction of a macaque monkey's decision, but eventually each neuron is maximally predictive as the decision point approaches.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that duration, biomechanics, and force influence the subjective effort associated with arm movements, while movement amplitudes have no effect. The researchers also discovered a link between brain functions involved in decision-making and movement execution.
A study found that black men are more concerned about the impact of treatment on their daily lives, recovery time, and cost, while white men prioritize quality of life and cancer cure. These differences in perceptions may contribute to racial disparities in prostate cancer treatment.
A study found that coroners are unable to agree on cause of death or whether an inquest is needed, even with same information. This inconsistency can lead to delayed prevention of future deaths.
A team of researchers discovered that C. elegans makes decisions by calculating mathematical integration of environmental information via calcium ion concentration changes in nerve cells. This process is similar to the human brain's integration of information for decision-making, suggesting a possible genetic link between the two.
A new Penn study found that ICU doctors are better at predicting patients' survival rates than their cognitive function, with confidence levels improving accuracy. Nurses' predictions were less accurate but still informative for guiding family decisions.
Researchers found that the brain separates predictable and unpredictable components of action timing, with distinct regions processing each. The medial prefrontal cortex tracks ideal waiting time based on experience, while the secondary motor cortex adds variability to render decisions unpredictable.
Researchers at Hokkaido University discovered that individual ants with different preferences can lead to a collective rational decision when making binary choices. The team found that the middle group of ants, which preferred a higher sucrose concentration, was the key to the colony's decision-making process.
Researchers found that Canadian primary care practices scored an average of 5.36 out of 10 on the Patient Medical Home (PMH) model, with Ontario being the only province to score higher than the national average. Despite efforts to implement the PMH model, provinces showed little variation in achieving key objectives.
A new study of commuter marriages reveals a surprising emphasis on interdependence among married couples living apart due to their careers. The study found that many respondents described themselves as highly interconnected despite the distance, with communication technologies playing a key role in task sharing.
A study conducted by Ohio State University researchers found that over half of breast cancer patients undergoing mastectomy lack necessary medical knowledge to make informed decisions about reconstructive surgery. Only 43% of patients demonstrated adequate understanding of reconstruction facts and made choices aligned with their prefer...
A new study published in Nature finds that the thalamus strengthens connections within the prefrontal cortex, enabling it to focus attention and make decisions. This discovery has implications for understanding cognitive deficits in diseases such as schizophrenia and improving cognition by adjusting thalamic function.
A third party is needed to represent various interests in corporate decision-making, according to Iowa State University professor David King. This oversight can prevent companies from acting solely in their own self-interests, reducing the risk of problems like Wells Fargo's fraudulent account creation.
Caltech researchers discovered that the amygdala has distinct neurons that judge the intensity and ambiguity of facial expressions, providing insights into autism and anxiety. The study found two groups of neurons: one for detecting emotion intensity and another for coding emotional ambiguity.
Research finds that low-income individuals who trust their communities make better long-term financial decisions by relying on friends and neighbors for support. Building strong communities is crucial for addressing poverty cycles, and targeted policies can help increase community trust.
A new study found that language barriers, information overload, and cultural differences disadvantage some Latina breast cancer patients. However, no significant inequities were recorded in how doctors provide information. The research highlights the need for providers to be more culturally sensitive and patient-centered.
A new study from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia finds that nearly 90% of teens with ASD obtain their intermediate driver's license within two years of becoming eligible. Most teens with ASD receive their license in their 17th year, suggesting families make the decision to drive before their teen gets behind the wheel.
The study evaluates forecast accuracy for extreme events, revealing the problem of limited data subsets and biased inferential procedures. By adopting probability distributions, forecasts can be evaluated using standardized tools to address this critical issue.
A small study reveals a significant variation in coroner decision-making processes, which can affect the prevention of future deaths. The findings highlight the need for a national coroner consensus to achieve a shared inference from available evidence.
Researchers at Florida State University discovered that adopting a 'code of the street' culture can increase arrest and conviction rates. They found that individuals who adhere to this code are disproportionately more likely to be arrested and convicted, even after controlling for factors like poverty and unemployment.