After a long day's work, choosing easier tasks over challenging ones is a common inclination due to cognitive fatigue. According to a study in the Journal of Neuroscience, sustained mental effort can lead to decision-making bias towards simpler tasks. The study, led by Vikram Chib, explores how fatigue impacts daily choices by influencing brain activity. Research participants were tasked with a memory challenge, with fatigue affecting their willingness to exert further effort for higher rewards. Brain scans revealed the involvement of specific regions like the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and the anterior insula in evaluating effort and reward. Despite feeling fatigued, participants maintained performance levels but tended to opt for easier tasks over more demanding ones. This study highlights the importance of understanding cognitive fatigue in managing mental exhaustion and its impact on decision-making processes.