Why your brain always looks on the bright side: THE OPTIMISM BIAS BY TALI S... Page 1 of 15 Cookie Policy Feedback Like 2.3m Follow @MailOnline DailyMail Friday, Dec 12th 2014 6PM 5°C 9PM 4°C 5-Day Forecast Home News U.S. Sport TV&Showbiz Australia Femail Health Science Money Video Travel Fashion Finder Latest headlines You mag Event Books Promos Rewards Mail Shopping Bingo Horoscopes Property Motoring Columnists Stats Login Why your brain always looks on Site Web Enter your search the bright side THE OPTIMISM BIAS BY TALI SHAROT (Robinson £8.99) By JOHN HARDING FOR MAILONLINE UPDATED: 14:56, 6 January 2012 Jumping for joy: We are naturally optimistic Monty Python told us: ‘Always look on the bright side of life’, but it seems Ads by Google they needn’t have bothered because people do that anyway. 3 Months According to neuroscientist Tali Sharot the human brain is hardwired to Telegraph - £1 see the glass as half full rather than half empty. Like Follow www.telegraph.co. Daily Mail @MailOnline uk Sharot first stumbled on the phenomenon when researching people’s Tablet, mobile & web memories of the events of 9/11. She found that their later memories of the Follow +1 full access. Join day often diverged dramatically from what they reported at the time. today for as little as Daily Mail Daily Mail £1! Memories are constructed in an area of the brain called the hippocampus, Lumosity Fit Test and her research showed what every entertaining dinner guest already DON'T MISS www.lumosity.com knows: that we tend to embellish and enhance our recall of the past. Take a 10 minute Why should this be? The answer appears to be that the hippocampus’s Keira Knightley Lumosity Fit Test pregnant with Challenge Memory, function of imagining scenarios is actually designed not for thinking about musician husband Attention, & more the past, but the future, and that we put a positive spin on what we think is James Righton's first John Lewis Official going to happen. child Site Actress confirmed she is www.johnlewis.co Research indicates a huge reality gap in our predictive habits. expecting 18 months after French wedding m We know that around 50 per cent Shop For The Latest Brands Online. Free of marriages end in divorce, but Is that part of your Delivery On Orders even people who’ve had a number Masterpiece? Jessie J Over £50. of failed marriages continue to tie flashes her pert derriere the knot again - what Dr Johnson and wears racy leather Cognitive testing bikini in new video www.metrisquare. famously called the ‘triumph of Putting her gym honed com hope over experience’. We know body on show Innovative solutions the odds of a successful marriage for digital psychol. & aren’t great, but we don’t think ours IQ-testing & Shirtless Justin Bieber education will fail. playfully wrestles with his friends as they enjoy 100% Natural Similarly, statistics tell us one in Muscle Rub a pool party at his lavish three people will suffer from new $60k-a-month glass www.ultrabeehealt cancer, but the overwhelming h.co.uk mansion http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-2082646/Why-brain-looks-bright-TH... 12/12/2014 Why your brain always looks on the bright side: THE OPTIMISM BIAS BY TALI S... Page 2 of 15 Subtle majority don’t believe it will happen Just a normal lad... Warming.Excellent to them. for Joint Pain.Spicy Nicki Minaj displays Ginger. FreeP&Pt&c We view favourably decisions that her dramatic curves as apply we’ve made. Research subjects a dominatrix in were asked to rate different S&M-themed video for Only starring Drake and possible holidays. They were then Chris Brown asked to choose between two Loves to be provocative holidays they had rated the same. Having chosen, they were then Rihanna slips into an invited to re-evaluate all the elegant rose gown as holidays. she towers over tiny Kim Kardashian at her Nearly all rated the one they had First Annual Diamond chosen as higher than the one Ball rejected, even though they had Ri-ri was demure, Kim... previously judged them equally not so much attractive. ... before Rihanna When asked to imagine different wows in billowing future scenarios, both pleasant and black bouffant gown as she performs for VIP unpleasant, subjects whose brains guests at her inaugural were being scanned by an MRI Diamond Ball scanner showed increased activity She's a gem! in areas of the brain associated with emotion. If looks could KILL! The more optimistic a person was, Awkward moment Sony boss tried to Glass half full: Cartoonist Pugh's take the greater the activity when embrace Angelina after on the eternal question considering a positive future event. those hacked emails Amy Pascal's days may Why do we see the future through be numbered... rose-coloured spectacles? The obvious conclusion is that life’s realities - the fact that we know we are going to grow old, probably suffer illness and ultimately definitely die - would be unbearable otherwise. Looking on the Bikini-clad Alyson Hannigan is in high bright side enables us to cope. spirits as she enjoys a At the same time, being overly optimistic may not be good for us. Thinking day at the beach with her family only others will get heart disease or cancer may encourage us to miss Actress, 40, looking good potentially life-saving check-ups. Believing our own household will remain after two children immune from a general recession may lead us to spend recklessly when we should be saving. Katie Price looks But moderate optimists tend to stay healthier and live longer, probably markedly different as she showcases her because they suffer less stress and anxiety worrying about the future. newly-refined figure Optimism, like red wine, concludes Sharot in this fascinating account, is after having her breasts good for us in moderation. A half full glass every day, perhaps? drastically reduced to a C-cup Dress like a the Duchess of Cambridge Share or comment on this article without the royal price tag: How to get glamorous festive party looks for less SPONSORED y Tb o apnoe Links by TaboolaSponsored Forget the iPhone - Check 10% of the population is Most Hated Trick by Life Out These Classic Nokias Colourblind. Are You? Insurance Companies... Stuff Take The Quiz And Find… NationCover Quizzyn Butt implants aged 12, waists crushed into straps and intestines removed by 16: Inside extreme Venezuelan 'beauty factories' where girls go to become Miss World 35 Celebrities Who New Policy in U.K. - If You You've Been Eating Chips Completely Ruined Their Don't Have Life Insurance Wrong Your Entire Life One Direction's Harry Faces You Better Read This... Foodnetwork.co.uk Styles flashes his Caliser Best Life Cover Quotes chest as he rocks a plunging shirt and loud striped trousers at fashion bash Ads by Google Out without his bandmates after awards Your "Shocking" Future Hey, Sandra Bullock Lied Enter Your Zodiac Sign for a Custom Her Fans Are In Shock. Her Huge Secret Boyfriends before best Horoscope Reading-Empower Yourself! Is Finally Exposed! friends! Stephanie Pratt ignores Lucy Reverse Signs of Aging Boost Brain Power Watson's warnings 12 Natural Ways to Stimulate Your Cells Dr. Sears Reveals How to Improve Brain about beau Josh to Grow Younger! Function in 15 Minutes A Day! http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-2082646/Why-brain-looks-bright-TH... 12/12/2014 Why your brain always looks on the bright side: THE OPTIMISM BIAS BY TALI S... Page 3 of 15 Shepherd as they enjoy cute date Reality couple have Comments (0) jumped in head first Share what you think That's one way to get attention! Ellie Goulding flashes We are no longer accepting comments on this article. sideboob in daring cut- out blazer at BBC Music Awards Find out now Singer, 27, rocked up to Who is this week's top commenter? the event in a trousersuit EXCLUSIVE: Andrea Faustini WON'T win X-Factor because the British public are too 'nationalistic' to vote for a foreigner, his own father claims Showed baby photos Lively looks lovely! Pregnant Blake tips her flat cap to the Brits by keeping her baby bump warm in a checked jacket and tartan fur coat JAN MOIR: Angelina an angel? No, just another spoilt rampaging ego It all seems too good to be true - and that's because it is One is definitely NOT amused! Hilarious video of the Duchess of Cambridge rolling her eyes after being told to 'keep wrapping' during charity visit in New York emerges Nicole Scherzinger smoulders in form- fitting taupe dress as she celebrates successful opening of Cats with co-star Cassie Clare Feline fine Kris Jenner, 59, proves she's keeping up with her sexy daughters as she displays cleavage in daring lace top at glitzy gala Not your average mum... Pixie takes a bow! Pop star Lott leads the way at star-studded BBC Music Awards in large bow crop-top Looking stunning following her shock Strictly exit Slumber party? Karlie Kloss spotted leaving BFF Taylor Swift's NYC apartment... after singer denies lesbian romance Singer recently revealed she has a spare room for her best friend Marital bliss! Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green share a tender kiss at rapper's gig afterparty Still as in love as ever after three years together Taking it to the next level! Cara Delevingne 'planning move' to new best friend Kendall Jenner's lavish $1.39m Los Angeles condo Future flatmates A Christmas miracle! Kendra Wilkinson reunites with husband http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/books/article-2082646/Why-brain-looks-bright-TH..