Testing both sides of the brain

This clip from Brain Games shows how we are influenced to more quickly believe a news headline with a picture than one that contains just text. Our brains take a shortcut to reach conclusions more quickly, this is known as heuristics. How can this be advantageous in life? Then think of some examples where it might be less so.

This clip from Brain Games illustrates our tendency to believe something the more times we hear it. This is called 'the illusory effect' or 'the reiteration effect'. It's important to be aware of this effect so we are more inclined to fact check something even when we have heard it several times. Can you think of an example where this could have a negative effect in real life? Is it possible to ensure you don't fall victim to the 'illusory effect'?

In this clip from Brain Games we see how the phenomenon known as 'cognitive ease' can trick us into believing something just because it is easier or clearer to read. Discuss with a partner how this might happen in your life. What measures can you take to make sure you don't get misled when reading statements in articles or on the Internet?