Priya Chandrasekaran
Behavioral Science WriterTrained in cognitive psychology, obsessed with the gap between what people think they do and what they actually do. Her work will make you question your own brain.
Articles by Priya Chandrasekaran
The Universal Loner: Why Everyone Makes Big Decisions Alone, Everywhere
A surprising global study shows that people in individualistic cities and collectivist Amazon villages alike avoid asking for help when facing complex decisions—defying everything we think we know about cultural differences.
Wine Experts Got Fooled by Food Coloring—and It Reveals Something Terrifying About Your Brain
A landmark study dyed white wine red and watched trained sommeliers confidently describe non-existent flavors. Your senses aren't reporting reality—they're reporting what your brain expects to see.
Brain Damage Changes How You Do Politics—Not What You Believe
A study of brain-injured veterans reveals a startling disconnect: traumatic injuries reshape political engagement while leaving core beliefs untouched. Brain structure controls behavior, not ideology.
Your Brain and Immune System Age Faster Than You Do—And That's What Actually Kills You
Forget your genes. People whose brain and immune system stay biologically young cut their mortality risk by 56% over 15 years, regardless of genetic predisposition.
Rats Remember Kindness—And Pay It Forward to Strangers
Rats who receive help from one unknown rat become more helpful to other unknown rats, suggesting they operate on a generalized belief in reciprocity rather than simple tit-for-tat exchange.
The Great Longevity Plateau: Why No Generation Born After 1939 Will Reach 100
Medical progress isn't translating to longer lifespans anymore. Mortality improvements have slowed to a crawl, and longevity gains peaked a century ago.
The Statistical Trap That Makes Bad Medicine Look Good
A treatment can harm every single group of patients it's tested on, yet still appear beneficial overall. Welcome to Simpson's Paradox, the statistical illusion that exposes why raw numbers lie.
Chimps Are Better at Changing Their Minds Than You'd Think
Experiments reveal that chimpanzees don't just follow instinct—they actually revise their beliefs when the evidence demands it, in ways that look disturbingly similar to human reasoning.
Your Paycheck Is Literally Called 'Salt Money'—And You Never Noticed
The word 'salary' comes from Roman soldiers being paid in salt or salt-money. Every time you cash a check, you're speaking an ancient economy into existence.
The Lifespan Plateau: Why Nobody Born After 1939 Will Ever See 100
Medical progress promised endless life extension, but a hard biological ceiling and the end of easy gains means future generations will live longer than their parents—but never reach the mythical 100-year average.