- The brain contains neural machinery for recognizing errors,
correcting them, and optimizing behavior. - The neurotransmitter
dopamine plays a major role in our ability to learn from our
mistakes. Genetic variants that affect dopamine signaling may
partly explain differences between people in the extent to which
they learn from errors or negative consequences. - Certain
patterns of cerebral activity often foreshadow errors, opening
up the possibility of preventing blunders with portable devices
that can detect error-prone brain states. April 26, 1986: During
routine testing, reactor number 4 of the Chernobyl nuclear power
plant explodes, triggering the worst catastrophe in the history
of the civilian use of nuclear energy. September 22, 2006: On a
trial run, experimental maglev train Transrapid 08 plows into a
maintenance vehicle at 125 mph near Lathen, Germany, spewing
wreckage over hundreds of yards, killing 23 passengers and
severely injuring 10 others. This article was originally
published with the title