A BASE jumper who pitches herself off a cliff might not be crazy. She might just lack self-control, according to a new study. 聽聽
Findings published this month suggest that , it鈥檚 not because our brain’s desire system is too active. It鈥檚 probably because we simply can鈥檛 stop ourselves.
A team of researchers used brain scans to study the correlation between brain activity and how people make decisions. They hooked up 108 participants to an MRI scanner and let them play video games that simulated risk taking.
By analyzing brain regions typically involved with functions such as control, working memory, and attention, scientists could predict a person鈥檚 future choices. They concluded that risky decisions stem from a failure of our control systems.
鈥淲e all have these desires, but whether we act on them is a function of control,鈥 reported Sarah Helfinstein, a and lead author of the study. The report will appear online this week in .
Scientists hope the new research will help doctors treat mental illness and addiction. The findings might also give us a better idea of what our brains look like on adventure.