Neurons in the brain form cohesive decision groups by joining thro

Question

Neurons in the brain form cohesive decision groups by joining through pathways during any decision-making process. The number of neurons that join must be optimal for any decision to be properly made. If more neurons than required join, then the mind may start thinking in tangential direction. If fewer neurons than needed join, then the decision-making process may not get done properly.

Which of the following conclusions can be drawn based on the information provided in the passage?

(A) It is highly unlikely that the brain will be able to make an optimal decision once it starts thinking tangentially due to an excess of neurons involved.
(B) Since the total number of neurons in the brain start to decline after 30 years of age, the decision-making capability of an individual also declines.
(C) Poor decisions are caused either by an excess of neurons or an inadequacy of the same.
(D) Decisions in which an adequate number of neurons are involved are usually optimal.
(E) It's better to have more neurons than to have fewer.

AndrewN · Accepted Answer

All right,  kntombat , I will bite. You know I do not like to shy away from taking a closer look at a question, even if that question may not be from a reliable source or may be of questionable quality. Remember, the goal when taking on any Verbal question is not to choose the only answer that can be justified, but to select the best answer of the five presented. This question asks us to draw our own conclusion based on the information presented in the passage. So, just what is that information?

Sentence one provides background information on the neuronal underpinnings of  any decision-making process .

Sentence two outlines a balance that must be struck among the number of neurons that group together—an  optimal  number— for  any  decision to be properly made .

Sentence three presents a problem with neuron saturation: the mind  may  wander.

Sentence four presents the counterpart to the previous sentence, indicating that too few neurons clustering  may  hinder the proper decision-making process.

There are a lot of absolutes in the passage— any ,  must be optimal ,  required ,  needed —and yet there are also some instances of softer language in  may . Such a mixture of language, with judgmental words such as  properly  peppered in, may leave the passage more open to interpretation, and following what I like to call the linear logic of the passage may prove more challenging. Anyway, how about we see what the answer choices have in store?

On first pass, this one meets a  yellow-light  standard. There are a few questionable elements to sort out later, but nothing leaps out at me as being egregious. The passage discusses neuronal grouping in order for a decision,  any  decision, to be made. It seems overreaching, perhaps, to make a judgment call as to the quality of a decision— optimal  does appear in the passage, but in the context of how the neurons must group together for, again,  any decision to be properly made . Also, why can we conclude that it is  highly  unlikely that the brain will be capable of making an optimal decision once it has started down a tangential path? If you recall, line three is one that uses cautious language: the mind  may  start to wander is  not  the same as saying that the mind  will  start to wander. This answer choice looks okay for now, but I want to keep searching.

Okay, this one is much easier to assess. There is no evidence in the passage whatsoever to support such mathematical certainty. For all we know, the optimal number of neurons that come together for a proper decision to be made is far lower than the total number of neurons available, and even an aging brain could muster up enough neurons for the decision-making process.  Red light.

Comparing the language of (A) and (C), you can appreciate why I would disfavor this answer choice. We are again getting into interpretive territory in assessing the quality of decisions, but whereas (A) softens the conclusion with  unlikely , this option tells us with certainty that poor decisions  are caused  by something or another, and the passage never asserts that an excess or inadequacy of neurons  will  cause poor decisions. The last two lines of the passage clearly adopt a  may  framework instead, making this answer choice easier than (A) to argue against.  Red light.

We seem not be able to escape this quality-of-decision conclusion. The beginning of the answer looks somewhat promising, but, as we saw in (C), the definitive  are  gives me cause for concern here. Moreover, the passage provides no insight into the  frequency  with which the optimal alignment or grouping of neurons may lead to proper decisions, just that such an optimal arrangement must be reached. Finally, we are dealing with the same  optimal  we saw in (A). In sum, all three words at the end of this answer choice are debatable, while  highly  in (A) is the only unmatched questionable element. We could  yellow-light  this on first pass, although I still favor the earlier answer.

Like (B), this provides an easy elimination. There is no evidence in the passage that having too many or too few neurons in the decision-making process is any better or worse than the other. All we can say is that either condition is suboptimal, compared to having just the right number of neurons.  Red light.

Between (A) and (D), the former has a slight edge, in my mind, for its use of cautious language. I am guessing that whoever created the question was going for something along such lines, with the intention of pointing out that assertive language is more readily debated or disproved. I just think that this same person conflated an optimal number of neurons (to make any decision) with an optimal number of neurons to make an  optimal  decision. In short, I would say right idea, wrong execution. I am certain the question would not appear as is on the GMAT™, but it provides a learning opportunity, nonetheless. (I spent a little under a minute and a half before I settled on (A) over (D), and I feel as though the time was not wasted, even if I am glad I did not invest much more of it.)

I hope that helps. You wanted my input, so there you have it. Thank you for thinking to ask me about the question.

- Andrew

IanStewart · Answer

The question is so careless with language, there's no way to pick a good answer. What is the "optimal decision" described in answer A? The question stem doesn't talk about "optimal decisions" anywhere - it only talks about an "optimal" "number of neurons". The stem talks about "properly made" decisions, but we have no way to know if that means the same thing as "optimal". Those aren't even close to being synonymous. It's very possible (at least based on the information provided) that the brain makes "optimal decisions" precisely when the brain thinks "tangentially".

There are so many issues with wording here that there's no reason to pay attention to the question. Where is it from?

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There are so many issues with wording here that there's no reason to pay attention to the question. Where is it from?

021997 · Answer

Exactly.. though I had marked option D but then it's not the decisions that are optimal(as stated by the answer choice). It's the number of neurons that should be optimal(as stated in the stimulus). Nothing is mentioned about the source though

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richirish · Answer

I don't think there is a logical reason to eliminate D, would love to hear expert's view, please don't start with the pre-thinking crap, other than that all ears.

ekta26 · Answer

Hi could you please clarify why A is correct?

This is conclusion passage, which means the correct option should be broad enough to include all the elements of the passage, but choice A here only talks about the scenario when the number of neurons are in excess. 
This is the only reason why I eliminated this option.

CrackverbalGMAT · Answer

Hi Ekta

It is not necessary for a conclusion to include  all  the premises that are stated. Several times, there may be premises which are thrown in just to create confusion in the minds of the test takers, or may have nothing to do with the final conclusion. Do not go in with such preconceived notions.

For an inference/conclusion to hold, the only condition that must be satisfied is that it must be  100% supported  by the information given in the passage (not necessarily every bit of information in the passage). Absence of negative confirmation ("may be true" scenario) is insufficient to call something an inference/conclusion - we must get an unambiguous affirmative confirmation. Once that is available, a statement can be considered a valid inference/conclusion.

In this passage, option (A) is fully supported by the passage and hence is the correct answer. Hope this helps.

kntombat · Answer

AndrewN , would love to hear your take on this question. Despite excellent explanations above, I am still not able to understand why answer D is wrong.

Sid2105 · Answer

Totally agreeing wth you here, Ian, thanks!!

RenB · Answer

Hi  AndrewN ,

In option A, isnt it possible that though the brain started thinking tangentially in the beginning, it did come to track and led to a proper (or optimal in this context though I think there is a difference between a decision taken properly and an optimal decision) decision? Arent we wrongly assuming in all options that once the brain starts thinking tangentially or fewer neurons join, the optimal connection cannot be made later in the decision-making process and the correct decision cannot be taken?

Looking forward to your POV.
TIA!

AndrewN · Answer

Hello,  RenB . Yes, we do have to assume that once tangential thinking occurs, there is no coming back to make an optimal decision in that moment. CR passages are written with straight-arrow logic in mind, and in this passage, there is either proper decision-making or tangential thinking. If we are to suppose that someone can toggle back and forth between the two modes of thinking, then there is no way to reasonably assess the answer choices. That said, I agree with  IanStewart  above that the question takes liberties that an official question would not. It probably does not deserve too much airtime.

Good luck with your studies.

- Andrew

shubhim20 · Answer

KarishmaB  Martymurray why is option D wrong?

nikhiltanwarop · Answer

why isnt C a better answer ? please reply

bb · Answer

Hi  nikhiltanwarop

C. does not align well with the passage because we’re only told that having two few neurons result in the poor decision. Having too many, results in getting stuck in congenial thinking.

The statement incorrectly summarizes the information provided.

A) is not something I’m in love with either. I’m not sure that we can arrive to this conclusion. We just don’t have enough information to conclude that if too many neurons join that it’s impossible to shed them and thus every decision will be doomed.

In particular,A) tells us highly unlikely whereas the passage says “may” so there is a mismatch in likelihood.

DrPranesh · Answer

A) Correct  because it is mentioned in the passage that the if number of neurons increases, tangential thinking may increase which will lead to decreased chances of an optimal decision to occur.
B)Out of scope
C)Poor decisions seem extreme as there is no information regarding how bad the decisions could be if there are no adequate number of neurons. Decision good also be average instead of poor.
D) The probability that a decision would be right if the number of neurons are adequate is not mentioned.
E) Which one is better cannot be concluded from the passage

Neurons in the brain form cohesive decision groups by joining thro

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Neurons in the brain form cohesive decision groups by joining thro

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