Habits in the brain

We humans are creatures of habit: a large part of our actions and thoughts run more or less on autopilot. Habits develop in the brain as a kind of shortcut that forms through repetition and, ideally, makes everyday life more efficient. They develop through the interplay of a cue, a response and a reward, with dopamine playing a central role. This talk provides insights into the neural mechanisms behind habits and shows why it is precisely their stability that also holds the potential for lasting change.