When I was coaching young TV reporters I used to tell them to make all the mistakes they could and to make them early on and get them all out of their system, but I would add - just don’t make the same ones twice. How did that work out? Well…

New York University researchers had a group subjects watch dots moving on a computer screen and told them to move their eyes in the direction they thought the dots were going. Then the researchers had the dots make movements that were harder to follow, causing mistakes.

After making errors participants slowed down the decision-making process, and slowed down even more when dealing with a difficult decision. However, the overall accuracy of their choices didn't change. Why?

Scientists say there seems to be a contradiction in changes in our brain activity. Part of the brain gathers info to head off making another mistake while another change takes place that reduces the quality of that evidence , which in turn lessens the chance of making a good choice.

In other words when we get deliberate to avoid repeating a mistake, we cancel out the very process that would help. Are we doomed to repeat? Perhaps? (Daily Mail)

ChinaFotoPress
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