Maximizing Learning Potential by Understanding Brain Pathways for Mistake Recognition and Future Decision-Making

Our brains create shortcuts, known as heuristics, which help us make decisions in the real world. But these shortcuts can also make us repeat our errors. Acknowledging our failures and becoming comfortable with making mistakes can help us reduce frequency bias, which will make us less likely to repeat our mistakes and reinforce the mistake pathways. We do have a mental ability that can override heuristic shortcuts, known as ‘cognitive control’. Researchers are exploring whether a better understanding of this could help with development of better treatments and support for Alzheimer’s, for example, as preserved cognitive control is crucial for wellbeing in later life.