Anxiety Can Alter the Way We Perceive Negative Emotions

Lydia Wang ’26 As individuals, we constantly make decisions, many of which depend on our perception of social contexts. For example, when answering a question during class, one may gauge a friend’s expressions and observe whether they are grimacing or smiling, which (respectively) suggest an incorrect or correct response. This is an example of perceptual decision-making, where through observation and sensory input, one chooses an … Continue reading Anxiety Can Alter the Way We Perceive Negative Emotions

Figure 1. In the experiment discussed, OCD patients showed a dissociation between their confidence and actions.

How Confident Are People in Their Actions?

By Maryna Mullerman ‘20 Confidence is thought to be based on previous experiences and outcomes, while new information modifies human perception of the environment. Matilde M. Vaghi and researchers from the University of Cambridge conducted a study to find a dissociation between action and confidence. They focused on obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients who struggled with repetitive behavior. Their findings revealed a novel aspect of human … Continue reading How Confident Are People in Their Actions?