cognitive bias

·August 13, 2022·6 min read

Cognitive Biases and Brain Biology Help Explain Why Facts Don’t Change Minds

Our worldview forms during childhood as a result of our socialization within a particular cultural context. Our views get reinforced over time by the social groups we keep, the media we consume, and even the way in which our brains are wired. Challenging our worldviews with facts can feel like an attack on our personal identities and can often result in hardening our positions. Researchers assess how we can open our minds and explore facts that may go against our personal worldviews.

This shows a man looking at smiley emojis and a mad emoji

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·February 11, 2021·5 min read

Learning by Observation Reduces Cognitive Bias

When people observe others making decisions, they often end up making better decisions themselves.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·May 28, 2020·4 min read

Strong convictions can blind us to information that challenges them

People fail to process information that contradicts their convictions. A new study explains the neural processes that contribute to confirmation bias.

Featured Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles Psychology

·August 21, 2018·4 min read

Core Thinking Error Underlies Belief in Creationism and Conspiracy Theories

Researchers report teleological thinking, a single and powerful cognitive bias which entails the perception of final causes or an overriding purpose in natural events, is linked to two seemingly unconnected beliefs; conspiracy theories and creationism.

Featured Neuroscience

·August 14, 2018·3 min read

How the Brain Biases Beliefs

Researchers report the interaction between two regions of the prefrontal cortex may underlie our motivation to cling to a desirable notion about the future.