Is It Worth It? How Your Brain Decides to Make an Effort

Everything you do requires you to exert effort. For instance, basic things like walking or cycling require physical effort and have to do with using your body. Another type of effort is cognitive effort, which has to do with thinking and using your brain. For instance, think about trying to master a Rubik’s cube. Would you want to put in your effort here? The pleasure of finding a solution might outweigh the effort of thinking hard. Or you may decide that finding a solution is not worth your effort. Why and when would you decide to think hard? In this article, we will explain how you decide to exert cognitive effort and what is happening in your brain while you make this decision.