Elizabeth Loftus: The fiction of memory

Memory-manipulation expert Elizabeth Loftus explains how our memories might not be what they seem -- and how implanted memories can have real-life repercussions

The optimism bias

The optimism bias is a tendency for people to believe that they are less likely to experience a negative event compared to others. For example, we acknowledge the danger of driving a car but believe that others are more likely to get in accidents (“people who get in car accidents are bad drivers, I’m a good driver!”). Similarly, studies consistently find that smokers believe the health risks of smoking are lower for themselves than for other smokers. Compared with nonsmokers, both adolescent and adult smokers significantly demote health risks [1].  

Researchers use magnetic pulses to brain to reduce overly optimistic tendencies

Scientists have known for many years that human beings, as a general rule, are an overly optimistic bunch. We close our eyes to statistics suggesting our eating habits may be killing us, ignore warnings about texting while driving and almost always believe things will come out all right in the end if we'll just hang in there, despite sometimes obvious indications to the contrary. Research has suggested that two specific symmetrically opposite parts of the brain influence our optimism or pessimism, but until now haven't been able to offer direct proof. Now however, new research by a group of neuroscientists has found, as they describe in their paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, that turning off one of these areas via magnetic pulses dramatically reduces overly optimistic tendencies.

(A) In each trial participants were presented with a short description of one of 40 adverse life events and asked to estimate how likely this event was to occur to them. They were then presented with the average probability of that event occurring to a person living in the same sociocultural environment. The second session was the same as the first session, except that the average probability of the event to occur was not presented again. (B and C) Examples of trials for which the participant’s estimate was (B) higher or (C) lower than the average probability. Here, for illustration purposes only, the blue and red frames denote the participant’s response (either an overestimation or underestimation, respectively) and the blue and red filled boxes denote information that calls for an adjustment in a (B) favorable (good news) or (C) unfavorable (bad news) direction.

Source: Medical Express

WHY SMART PEOPLE ARE STUPID?!

TED on choice, expectations, consciousness, monkeys and leadership

Some great TED talks:


1-Barry Schwartz on the paradox of choice

Social pressure triggers false memories الضغوط الاجتماعية ودورها في خلق ذكريات مزيفة

“Social influence can efficiently manipulate existing memory traces, often creating long-lasting false memories,” said study lead author Micah Edelson. The brain appears to do this by activating regions that control emotions, social interactions and memory processing, he added.
...
Edelson said it could play a role in legal cases where eyewitnesses to an event talk to each other about what happened. And it’s possible but not proven, he added, that the effects of group-think on the memories of children — who “are very prone to social influence” — may be greater than on adults.

More details: Health.com  

Full Study: Science Magazine (requires login)

Summary of the study: Science Magazine 

Interview with the author: Audio (MP3) , Transcript (PDF)