This research shows that pauses in information streams alter decision-making. After a break, the brain increases effort, giving greater weight to subsequent information—a “peak-after-break” effect. A computational model explains this as a performance-effort tradeoff. Findings challenge traditional theories and suggest strategic pauses can shape attention, memory, and judgment.

This research examines how economic inequality affects children’s trust and generosity. In experimental games, children aged 5–9 who experienced unequal rewards trusted decision-makers less, regardless of whether they benefited. Repeated exposure to unfairness may spread mistrust to others, suggesting that early inequality can shape social attitudes and cooperative behavior.