Instant Genius How to hack your brain to make better decisions
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Apr 17, 2025 Emily Falk, a neuroscientist and professor at the University of Pennsylvania, dives into how our brains guide decision-making. She explores how different brain regions influence our choices and the balance between short-term versus long-term rewards. Falk discusses the power of self-perception and social influences on our decisions, revealing the role of peer pressure and cultural norms. The conversation includes strategies like temptation bundling to enhance decision-making and align actions with personal values.
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Brain's Value System Explains Decisions
- Our brains have a value system that assigns subjective worth to choices and predicts their rewards.
- This system helps us make decisions by weighing options and learning from outcomes.
Monkey Juice Preferences Illustrate Value
- Studies in monkeys show brain activation corresponds to how much they want a juice choice that day.
- Monkey Gizmo preferred grape juice over more water drops when especially thirsty for grape juice.
Brain Compares Incomparable Rewards
- Our brains integrate many attributes to compare very different rewards, like snacks versus social experiences.
- This common value system enables choices even between incomparable options, like snuggling a puppy or money.