Mind Reading - Why we do what we do

This week's New Scientist magazine has a special report on mind reading. One interesting article 'Why we do what we do' looks at how we make decisions.

In one test they presented the same choices in two different ways, one stressing the benefits, the other the costs or disbenefits, and the favoured option changed according to the way it was presented.

One experiment showed that noradenraline (which has a role in coping with stress) plays a role in processing the costs associated with an option, while serotonin is important for assessing the benefits of an option.

The lowered serotonin levels in the brain that depressed people have leads to 'distorted decision making in social situations, which may trigger feelings of alienation.'

New Scientist articles are usually available on-line from http://www.newscientist.com/ one week after publication.