When life gives you lemons, you take more risks

When life gives you lemons, you take more risks. Anyone needing a little excitement in their lives could do worse than suck a lemon, surprising new research at the University of Sussex suggests. Scientists at the Sussex Computer Human Interaction ( SCHI ) Lab say they have found for the first time empirical evidence that sour tastes lead to more risk-taking behaviour in a paper published in Scientific Reports today (7 June). The researchers recommend that risk-averse people, such as those suffering from anxiety disorders or depression, could benefit from sour-enriched diets to boost risk-taking behaviour such as leaving the house or talking to a stranger. They also recommend that people in professions where risk-taking could have serious repercussions, such as airline pilots, may benefit from reducing the amount of sour they have in their daily diet. Dr Chi Thanh Vi , Research Fellow in Multisensory Experiences at the University of Sussex's Department of Informatics, said: "Risk-taking can mean different things for different people; for some that is jumping out of a plane at 30,000 feet but for others it can be simply leaving the house. But while it may have negative connotations for some, risk taking is actually one of the primary behaviours that leads to a happier life." Dr Marianna Obrist , Reader in Interaction Design at the University of Sussex's Department of Informatics, added: "Our research indicates that sour does not provoke people to indulge in reckless risky habits, but does have unique attributes to modulate risk-taking and may encourage risk-averse people to take new opportunities.