That Neuroscience Guy The Neuroscience of Making Fast or Slow Decisions
Dec 1, 2025
Explore the intriguing neuroscience behind fast and slow decision-making. Discover the four-stage decision model that connects choices to learning outcomes. Dive into the dual systems theory: system one drives quick gut reactions, while system two involves deep analytical thinking. Learn how different brain regions play crucial roles, from the midbrain to the prefrontal cortex. Plus, hear how these systems overlap during decision processes, challenging traditional views with a continuous monitoring approach. It's a captivating journey through the brain's decision-making landscape!
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Humble Podcast Beginnings
- Olaf Kregolson started the podcast during the first COVID lockdown after buying recording gear and doing many retakes.
- He expected only family and friends to listen but the show grew to over a million downloads, which surprised him.
Include Internal And External States
- When valuing options, account for both internal states (hunger, fatigue) and external states (environment).
- Use those states to shape your representation and valuation before selecting actions.
Four-Stage Decision Framework
- Decision-making has stages: representation, valuation, action selection, and outcome evaluation.
- Outcome evaluation feeds learning, which updates representations and values for future choices.
