What actually happens in your brain when you change your mind?

Imagine a game show where the host asks the contestant to randomly pick one option out of three: A, B, or C.

- DRAGAN RANGELOV

After the contestant chooses, say, option B, the host reveals that one of the remaining choices (say C) does not contain the prize. In the final step, the contestant is asked whether they want to change their mind and select the remaining option A or stick with their original choice, B.

Dubbed the Monty Hall problem after an American game show host, this famous puzzle has entertained mathematicians for decades. But it can also tell us something about how the human mind and brain function.

Why do some people choose to change their minds while others stick with their first choice? What would you do, and what might your choice reveal about your mind?

Choosing when to change

Research on changes of mind uses the concept of 'metacognition' to explain when and how mind changes occur. Broadly speaking, metacognition refers to psychological and biological processes that inform us about how well we are doing the task.

In a sense, metacognition is that inner voice telling us we are either on track or that we should try harder.