Judgment under pressure

Catalog description

Under what circumstances are we most likely to make wise decisions? And what conditions push us toward forgettable or regrettable choices? While quantitative models of economic, political, and medical decision-making often assume 'rationality,' this course addresses the exercise of choice under physiological, emotional, and psychological stressors. Topics include: neuroanatomic sub-strates of executive function; the physiologic impact of acute and chronic stress responses; cognitive biases; and the effect of evidence, advisors, and experiential learning on reaching conclusions. Focus on neuroanatomical & physiological underpinnings of stress responses and rendering judgments.