What determines whether you deal with new situations in a flexible manner or simply act out of habit? A team of psychologists have discovered that this is predicted by the strength of specific connections in the brain. It can therefore be seen in your brain whether you act consciously or on automatic pilot. An understanding of this is relevant for the treatment of drug addicts and compulsive patients, for example. Dr Sanne de Wit, Poppy Watson and professor Richard Ridderinkhof from the University of Amsterdam led the research that was funded by NWO. The renowned Journal of Neuroscience published the research results on 29 August 2012.