Neuroeconomics - what drives healthy behaviours? | Professor Todd Hare

Professor of Neuroeconomics Todd Hare explains the processes behind decision making and self-control.

The ongoing development and application of neuroimaging and computational modelling techniques is giving us better insights into the processes underlying self-control, and how and why self-control may fail in certain situations or individuals. Professor Hare here outlines current consensus in neuroeconomics as well controversies about the neurobiological mechanisms of self-control.

Professor Hare also demonstrates how applying computational modelling techniques to choice behaviour can reveal previously unknown variation in the response to health cues during food decisions. This more complete picture of the decision process presents additional targets for interventions aimed at promoting healthy behaviours.

Professor Todd Hare has been a professor of Neuroeconomics at the University of Zurich since 2010. His research is focused on the neurobiology of decision making with a specific emphasis on the neural mechanisms of self-control in goal-directed choice. He uses both neuroimaging methodologies, primarily functional magnetic resonance imaging, and brain stimulation techniques to investigate the neurobiology of decision making.

This talk was given as part of the the Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Symposium: Behaviour change to improve health for all

This symposium was co-hosted by the US National Academy of Medicine and the UK Academy of Medical Sciences.

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