It's harder to answer questions or solve problems when you're asked to choose between more than four solutions, research shows. Neuroscientist Paul Glimcher has a simple strategy to cut through the noise and consistently make smart decisions: Instead of trying to pick the best choice, start by picking the worst. Process of elimination isn't exactly a new concept — you might have learned about it in elementary school — but it can help you avoid mistakes and improve your accuracy making everyday decisions, Glimcher said. "We're just good at the binary choice task — pick your best and eliminate your worst," Glimcher added. That's because picking from fewer options can help us make more accurate decisions, said Glimcher.

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Persons: Paul Glimcher, Glimcher Organizations: New York University, Fast, CNBC