Research on how people make decisions. Covers workplace food choices, medication risk trade-offs, and treatment selection in mental health.
A new study suggests that people are more likely to allow something bad to happen rather than causing it, especially if they know someone will judge them. The researchers found that participants were more willing to let a timer run out, resulting in less money for themselves, when they knew someone was watching and would penalize them.
UCLA researchers found a correlation between nicotine addiction and decreased prefrontal cortex activity in adolescent smokers. The study suggests that smoking can affect brain function, particularly during adolescence when the prefrontal cortex is still developing.
A study published in Psychological Science found that people with full bladders make better decisions by holding out for larger rewards. This contradicts the concept of ego depletion, suggesting bladder control is an automatic process.
Researchers find that oral steroids improve symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis with polyposis, while surrogate treatment decisions have a significant negative emotional impact on healthcare providers. The Hepatitis B vaccine has reduced infections in children, but targeted efforts are needed for adults. The USPSTF is updating its scree...
A study of 360 patients found that those with chest pain and serious family health problems want to participate in treatment decisions. Women patients generally have higher expectations for listening and information from their female doctor than men, particularly when it comes to managing family health issues.
A study found that participants acted more morally than they predicted, with emotion playing a central role in moral behavior. The researchers suggest that people misjudge their emotional responses when considering moral dilemmas, leading to unexpected actions.
Leading scientists advocate for a modified approach to assessing policy options on biodiversity and ecosystem services. They argue that hypothetical scenarios do not represent real-world policy options, emphasizing the need for authoritative scientific advice on actual policy choices.
A new study in the Journal of Consumer Research found that rejecting alternatives can lead consumers to reverse their preferences. Consumers may focus on less-preferred options when trying to decide what they don't want, making them more likely to notice appealing features of alternative options.
A new study by Temple University psychologists Jason Chein and Laurence Steinberg found that the presence of peers heightens teens' sensitivity to rewards, leading them to take more risks. The researchers used fMRI to measure brain activity in adolescents, young adults, and adults while playing a simulated driving game.
A study published in Annals of Internal Medicine finds that current legal restrictions hinder the effectiveness of advance directives, which allow patients to specify their end-of-life care preferences. The researchers propose reforms to relax these restrictions and promote universal acceptance of oral advance directives.
A study conducted at four US intensive care units found that caregivers who hadn't discussed life support measures with critically ill patients took nearly two weeks longer to make decisions. Patients' loved ones were also more confident as surrogate decision-makers when they perceived high-quality communication with physicians.
A new study in Journal of Consumer Research found that people who feel depleted from exerting self-control tend to pass up the most desirable choices and opt for options with lower-level features. This is known as the 'easy path effect', where individuals prioritize short-term rewards over long-term benefits.
A new underwater warfare model has been developed by Korean researchers, using the DEVS formalism, to analyze the effectiveness of various tactics and weapon systems in combat scenarios. The model provides a flexible framework for testing different algorithms and parameters with minimal modification.
Researchers found a communication intervention effective in reducing ICU stays for chronic patients but less so for surgical and neurological cases. The study highlights the need for tailored approaches to support families making critical decisions for their loved ones.
A new study published in Psychological Science finds that the trustworthiness of our intuition is linked to what's happening physically in our bodies. Subtle changes in heart rate and sweat responses affect decision making, with some people relying on intuition to win at a card game.
ASU professors Patricia Gober and Craig Kirkwood assess the impact of climate change on water shortages in Phoenix. Their study provides options for solutions, including changing landscape type, limiting pools, and investing in leak fixes. By embracing uncertainty, residents can reduce risk and protect themselves from water scarcity.
Research from the University of Cincinnati and Massachusetts General Hospital found that warfarin, a common anticoagulant, may not be suitable for all atrial fibrillation patients due to declining stroke risk. The study suggests that treatment guidelines should consider individual patient risks and benefits.
Carnegie Mellon University has launched a new center for climate and energy decision making, developing strategies to protect fragile ecosystems and curb carbon emissions. The center will also educate graduate students on climate change and its impact on the environment.
A review of 134 studies on breast reconstruction found inconsistent reporting and a lack of standardization in outcome assessment. The authors highlight the need for non-clinical factors such as patient-reported outcomes to be incorporated into outcome assessment.
A new study published in Psychological Science found that negative gender stereotypes can influence women's financial decision-making, making them more wary of risk. The researchers discovered that when participants were exposed to these stereotypes, women became less likely to take calculated risks and more cautious in their decisions.
A new study of married couples in the US found that those who score well on a simple test of numeracy ability accumulate more wealth by middle age. Couples where both spouses answered three numeracy-related questions correctly averaged $1.7 million in household wealth, compared to $200,000 for those with poor numeracy skills.
Researchers found that participants trusted specialized technology more than general websites and recommendation agents, with cumulative interaction increasing trust. The study suggests mental shortcuts, such as heuristics, contribute to the perception of expertise and trustworthiness in labeled e-commerce tools.
A recent study found that more than half of surrogate decision makers prefer to have full authority over the choice of life-support for incapacitated patients. However, a significant portion want to share or cede power to physicians. The extent of control varies based on trust in the physician overseeing care.
A study of smokers and non-smokers found that smokers have a thinner cerebral cortex, specifically in the medial orbito-frontal region. This region is crucial for reward, impulse control, and decision-making. Further research is needed to determine if smoking causes or contributes to this brain structure change.
The University of California, Davis is part of a consortium co-hosting the new Southwest Climate Science Center. Researchers say signs of climate change are prevalent in the region, including rising temperatures, earlier snowmelt, and increasing precipitation intensity.
Researchers found humans can engage in higher levels of recursive reasoning, making decisions based on anticipated opponent moves. The study used a game called the "3-2-1-4 Game" and showed participants could easily move beyond first-level thinking to more complex strategies.
NASA has formed a single systems engineering organization for its James Webb Space Telescope, combining Northrop Grumman's expertise with NASA's mission-level decision-making. The new team aims to streamline communication and decision-making, reducing costs and meeting the launch goal with minimal risk.
A recent national study highlights the need to improve engineering education in the US to produce innovative scientists and engineers. The report identifies key opportunities for improvement, including enhancing communication and professional skills, integrating context into design processes, and making undergraduate programs more acce...
Researchers found that certain neurons represent accumulation of evidence to a threshold and others represent evidence itself, driving decision-making. The study offers potential insights into psychological disorders, such as ADHD, where impairments in decision-making occur.
A study in CMAJ highlights areas for improvement in end-of-life care in Canada, including emotional support, communication, and decision-making. Patients and families reported high satisfaction rates but identified key gaps in understanding end-stage care expectations and technological use at the end of life.
New research from UC Berkeley found that magnetic pulses disrupt neurons governing motor skills, increasing left hand use in right-handed volunteers. The study challenges previous assumptions about decision-making and may pave the way for clinical advances in brain injury rehabilitation.
A recent study published in PLOS ONE suggests that brain abnormalities may underlie the development of antisocial behavior and drug abuse in boys. The research found significant differences in brain activity between antisocial boys and their peers, including reduced activity in regions responsible for decision-making and reward process...
A study by Timothy Vyse and colleagues found that common CRP genetic variants are associated with acute-phase serum CRP concentrations in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. This association may influence therapeutic decision making and lead to improved clinical interpretation of inflammatory disease activity.
Researchers found that people tend to inherit tendencies such as choosing compromise options and avoiding extremes. Additionally, genetic factors seem to play a role in likings for specific products like chocolate, hybrid cars, and science fiction movies.
A study published in Science has found that the anterior prefrontal cortex and white matter structure are associated with introspective ability. Researchers used MRI scans to analyze participants' brains and identified a correlation between gray matter volume and self-awareness, which could lead to better treatments for mental illness.
Researchers used a particle model to explain how birds make decisions when landing on foraging flights. The collective switching from flying to landing state overrides individual intentions, heavily influenced by bird position within the flock and perturbations.
A JAMA article recommends integrating biomedical informatics into medical education to improve physicians' ability to manage information and make informed decisions. The field of biomedical informatics has four major areas of applications, including bioinformatics, imaging informatics, clinical informatics, and public health informatics.
Research shows that action video game players outperform non-gamers in making quick and accurate decisions based on evidence. The transfer of learning from action games to other tasks is notable for its broad improvements.
Researchers found that video game players develop a heightened sensitivity to their surroundings, improving skills like multitasking and driving. They were up to 25% faster at making quick decisions than non-gamers.
A CU-Boulder study found that neural inhibition plays a crucial role in decision-making, particularly for people with anxiety disorders. The research suggests that increasing neural inhibition could help improve treatment options for individuals struggling with decision paralysis.
Healthcare professionals need specialized training to deliver end-of-life discussions, while a network of colleagues provides ongoing support for communication and decision-making. This approach helps sustain terminally ill patients and their loved ones, rather than leaving them feeling abandoned or overwhelmed.
Researchers found that villagers with higher cognitive and decision-making abilities were more likely to take protective steps against HIV. Formal education was key to teaching people how to think critically and make informed decisions.
A new study published in Palliative Medicine reveals that German physicians do hasten death in some cases, against current ethical guidelines, and often without sufficient patient involvement. Physicians with extra qualifications in palliative care were less likely to report deliberate actions to hasten death.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that humans make decisions based on perceived structure in the world, leading to irrational behavior. The study shows how people can adapt to new information and change their decision-making strategies when presented with correct world models.
A study of over 8500 UK doctors found that those with strong faith are less likely to discuss end-of-life care decisions with patients. Non-religious doctors, on the other hand, are almost twice as willing to take actions expected to shorten a patient's life.
The study, led by D. Michael Lindsay, categorizes evangelical leaders into pragmatic, heroic, circumspect, and brazen types based on their personal faith engagement in workplace decision-making. The research highlights the diversity of evangelicals' approaches to business leadership and their motivations.
New research from the University of Toronto Scarborough shows that prejudice has a lasting negative impact on those who experience it. Studies have found that people perform poorly in situations where they feel stereotyped, with lingering effects on behavior such as aggression, over-eating, and poor decision-making.
A new brain-imaging study by Caltech researchers found that the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) is linked to how well subjects believe they performed on tasks, regardless of actual performance. This suggests that optimistic and pessimistic brains show different patterns of neural activity when planning movements.
A University of Louisville Public Health doctoral student is developing a model to simulate the travel of mercury from an emission source to humans, aiming to inform environmental policy decisions. The research will focus on Kentucky waterways, with the goal of reducing risk to subsistence fishers, anglers, and women of child-bearing age.
A University of Illinois study reveals that child custody evaluators' beliefs can be broadly categorized into two groups, with one prioritizing safety for women and children. Situational violence is the most common type, but intimate terrorism is also prevalent, involving control through threats and monitoring.
The MRC refused to fund IVF research that led to the birth of Louise Brown, citing concerns about embryo quality and patient safety. The researchers argue for more complex reasons, including strategic errors by Edwards and Steptoe in their funding application.
A new study reveals that physicians often fail to take into account individual patients' circumstances when providing care. The research used actors to simulate real patients in clinic visits, finding that only 22% of physicians provided error-free care during contextually complicated encounters. The study suggests that physician train...
A North Carolina State University study reveals that older adults fare equally well as young adults in making intuitive decisions, but face challenges with complex decision-making. Older adults with higher education performed better at remembering specific criteria and utilizing them when making decisions.
A recent brain study published in the Journal of Neuroscience has found that increased levels of dopamine in the brain make individuals more likely to choose instant gratification over longer-term rewards. This is linked to conditions such as ADHD, where high dopamine levels contribute to impulsive behavior.
An analysis article in CMAJ raises questions about Dr. Bernard Prigent's appointment to CIHR Governing Council due to his ties to the pharmaceutical industry, which may have influenced decision-making on topics related to Pfizer Canada.
Researchers from the University of Maryland have discovered that crayfish make surprisingly complex decisions by weighing risks against rewards. By studying the animals' neural activity, they hope to gain insights into human decision-making processes.
Researchers found that voters rely heavily on nonverbal cues, such as facial appearance, to make judgments about politicians' competence. Appearance-based competence judgments reliably predict both voting decisions and election outcomes, particularly among less knowledgeable voters who watch a lot of television.
A survey of patients and healthcare providers in the southeastern US found that most patients are satisfied with their care, but doctors often lack training on multicultural awareness. The study highlights the importance of effective communication between patients and doctors to address disparities in healthcare outcomes.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has faced criticism for refusing to release documentation on severe adverse reactions, despite a complaint from a father who lost his son to a drug. The EMA's handling of licensing decisions and transparency is being questioned, with some experts calling for more openness.
A recent study published in Journal of Palliative Medicine found that living wills often do not accurately reflect patients' actual treatment preferences at the end of life. The authors propose revising living wills to include more realistic scenarios and estimates of treatment effectiveness to guide advance care decisions.