Decisions and the Brain

Self-Help

Getting Beyond Regret: How to Finish the Projects You Start

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on December 28, 2025

You have unfinished projects haunting you. Here's why you don't finish them—and how to finally get them done.

You have unfinished projects haunting you. Here's why you don't finish them—and how to finally get them done.

Self-Help

Three Tricks to Control Your Shopping and Spending

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on December 26, 2025

Your credit card has anesthetized your spending decisions. Here's how to feel the pain again and regain control.

Your credit card has anesthetized your spending decisions. Here's how to feel the pain again and regain control.

Decision-Making

When Fast Decisions Go Wrong

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on December 24, 2025

Your brain evolved to react quickly. But sometimes that lightning-fast intuition can lead you straight off a ladder, or worse.

Your brain evolved to react quickly. But sometimes that lightning-fast intuition can lead you straight off a ladder, or worse.

Decision-Making

Why You Shouldn't Judge Decisions by Results Alone

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on September 27, 2025

That successful manager who “trusted his gut” might just be lucky. Judging decisions by results alone can be a costly mistake.

That successful manager who “trusted his gut” might just be lucky. Judging decisions by results alone can be a costly mistake.

Productivity

Single-Tasking With Purpose

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on September 23, 2025

Single-tasking boosts focus and enables deep work. But when you switch tasks, part of your attention might get left behind in the previous one.

Single-tasking boosts focus and enables deep work. But when you switch tasks, part of your attention might get left behind in the previous one.

Psychopharmacology

Money for Pain: How Much Does It Hurt?

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on September 22, 2025

Pain measurement drives painkiller development, yet "rate your pain 1-to-10" methods are notoriously unreliable. Our research shows money works better.

Pain measurement drives painkiller development, yet "rate your pain 1-to-10" methods are notoriously unreliable. Our research shows money works better.

Time Management

Why "Just Five Minutes" Always Takes More Like 20

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on June 28, 2025

5 ways to start planning more realistically.

5 ways to start planning more realistically.

Intuition

The Intuition Trap

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on June 25, 2025

Your gut instincts can save time on small decisions but cost you dearly on big ones. Learn when to trust your intuition and when to override it.

Your gut instincts can save time on small decisions but cost you dearly on big ones. Learn when to trust your intuition and when to override it.

Decision-Making

The Sunk Cost Trap: Why We Throw Good Money After Bad

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on June 20, 2025

You've probably fallen for this costly psychological trap without realizing it. Learn why we can't quit failing ventures—and how to escape.

You've probably fallen for this costly psychological trap without realizing it. Learn why we can't quit failing ventures—and how to escape.

Health

Cats, Brain Parasites, and Unemployment

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on March 30, 2025

A parasitic infection transmitted to humans by cats affects billions of people and can alter their behavior. New research shows that infected people also suffer financially.

A parasitic infection transmitted to humans by cats affects billions of people and can alter their behavior. New research shows that infected people also suffer financially.

Politics

Better Ways to Vote

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on March 28, 2025

Voting systems often elect the loudest politician, even when compromise candidates are available. But there are better ways to vote.

Voting systems often elect the loudest politician, even when compromise candidates are available. But there are better ways to vote.

Productivity

The Power of Single-Tasking

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on March 21, 2025

Time-boxing, time-blocking, and “deep work."

Time-boxing, time-blocking, and “deep work."

Career

Reclaim Your Time With the Pareto Principle

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on December 30, 2024

The Pareto Principle says that most of the results you want come from a small part of your effort. You can use this idea to reclaim your time.

The Pareto Principle says that most of the results you want come from a small part of your effort. You can use this idea to reclaim your time.

Time Management

3 Simple Tricks to Reclaim Your Time

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on December 28, 2024

Do you feel that you never have enough time? Here are some simple tricks to manage your time better.

Do you feel that you never have enough time? Here are some simple tricks to manage your time better.

Motivation

Winners Do Quit: Dare to Give Up

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on December 21, 2024

Society pressures people to keep trying if they fail. But sometimes, it might be better to give up on some goals and pursue others.

Society pressures people to keep trying if they fail. But sometimes, it might be better to give up on some goals and pursue others.

Intuition

How Not to Invest Your Money

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on September 28, 2024

Trusting your intuition can be costly.

Trusting your intuition can be costly.

Decision-Making

Stuck in the Beta Zone? When to Revise Your Decisions

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on September 22, 2024

When you have to make a decision often, you may repeat your choices to save time. For important decisions, this might keep you stuck with bad choices: the beta zone.

When you have to make a decision often, you may repeat your choices to save time. For important decisions, this might keep you stuck with bad choices: the beta zone.

Decision-Making

Don’t Sweat the Small Decisions

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on September 13, 2024

You make decisions every day, and it is important to make good ones. But you should not agonize over every decision. Learn to recognize which ones are worthy of your time.

You make decisions every day, and it is important to make good ones. But you should not agonize over every decision. Learn to recognize which ones are worthy of your time.

Decision-Making

Who Is Rational—and How Irrational Are We?

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on June 29, 2024

We are not perfectly rational. Recent research shows how much.

We are not perfectly rational. Recent research shows how much.

Teamwork

We Are Not Born to Cooperate

Carlos Alós-Ferrer Ph.D. on June 14, 2024

Cooperation is essential for society. Research has looked at whether it is also an intuitive behavior in humans. The answer is “it depends.”

Cooperation is essential for society. Research has looked at whether it is also an intuitive behavior in humans. The answer is “it depends.”