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 talk describes research on how the brain learns and remembers by recording neural activity in mice navigating virtual environments. By studying hippocampal and cortical neurons, the work reveals how the brain builds cognitive maps of space and experience, offering insights into memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease.