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Your Worry Spot May Indicate Your Financial Aptitude, Stanford Scientists Report

Scanning brain activities of a group of subjects playing a financial game, researchers found that some made better economic decisions than others, as they were better able to predict outcome. Considering susceptibility of some people to scams and poor financial decision making, this research could identify potential victims and help them.

While in investment banking for nearly 20 years, I found that there were times when my "gut feelings" proved better indicators of potential risk/reward than the numbers on a spreadsheet. But, sometimes, being overly cautious also had its price. Researchers believe this sense of danger comes from a little studied region deep inside the brain called the anterior insula that ties us back to our reptilian heritage.

Read a summary of this fascinating study that was published in the April issue of Psychological Science. http://health.msn.com/health-topics/mental-health/articlepage.aspx?cp-do...