“Neuroeconomics is the study of how the physical limits of the brain give rise to the sometimes-irrational biases we have when making decisions, particularly those that seem to contradict our own best interests. My work focused on how memories influence the way the brain makes decisions and how those decisions could go awry. I identified new biomarkers that could be targeted to help individuals struggling with unique decision-making deficits—like addiction, for example. Ultimately, this is a way to rethink how we diagnose and treat mental illnesses.”—Brian Sweis, ’20 M.D., ’18 Ph.D.

Brian Sweis received support through the Bakken M.D./Ph.D. Endowed Scholarship and the Frederick M. Stark, M.D., Graduate Neuroscience Research Fund.