Antonio Rangel is a professor of neuroscience and economics at Caltech. He received a Ph.D. in economics from Harvard University in 1998, and was an assistant professor of economics at Stanford from 1998 to 2006, as well as a research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research. The Rangel Neuroeconomics Laboratory studies the computational and neurobiological basis of decision-making and the applications of this knowledge to economics, psychiatry and the development of 'neurotechnologies' designed to improve decision-making. The primary focus of Antonio's lab is on understanding how the brain computes and compares values to make simple choices. Antonio and his team also investigate how the workings of the decision-making system change in more complex forms of choice, such as decisions involving self-control or altruism. He is a past president of the Society for Neuroeconomics.
In the spirit of ideas worth spreading, TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. At a TEDx event, TEDTalks video and live speakers combine to spark deep discussion and connection in a small group. These local, self-organized events are branded TEDx, where x = independently organized TED event. The TED Conference provides general guidance for the TEDx program, but individual TEDx events are self-organized.* (*Subject to certain rules and regulations)


On January 18, 2013, Caltech hosted TEDxCaltech: The Brain, a forward-looking celebration of humankind's quest to understand the brain, by exploring the past, present and future of neuroscience. Visit TEDxCaltech.com for more details.