David Badre explores Cognitive Control (BS 190)

This month's episode of Brain Science features David Badre, author of On Task: How Our Brain Gets Things Done. He gives us an overview of recent research in the field of cognitive control, which has has actually overturned some popular assumptions about things like willpower. Our focus is on the practical implications of this research with an extra emphasis on the role of learning. Cognitive control is a learned skill, which is why Dr. Badre emphasized that children need a chance to develop this skill through experience. It is critical to provide a safe environment that even allows failure!

Cognitive control includes a constant trade-off between stability and flexibility.

Another key idea is that knowledge and action are separate. Cognitive control is the neural mechanism that fills the gap. If cognitive control is deficient a person can’t carry out even a simple plan of action.

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