Malls are Darden Clarkedesigned to overwhelm our brains.

Add the stress of holiday shopping, and a quick trip to pick up presents could turn into an hours-long shopping spree thanks to all the ways stores use research from fields like consumer neuroscience and neuromarketing to entice you. Retailers create urgency and scarcity to push you to give into the emotional part of your brain, motivated by the release of dopamine.

But we've got your back!

With the help of NPR business correspondent Alina Selyukh, we get into the psychology of sales and discounts: Why it's SO hard to resist the tricks stores use — and some tips to outsmart them.

Read Alina's full story here.

Curious about the human brain? Email us at [email protected] — we might answer your question on a future episode!

Listen to Short Wave on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts.

Today's episode was produced by Rachel Carlson. It was edited by Rebecca Ramirez. Alina Selyukh checked the facts. Maggie Luthar was the audio engineer. Special thanks to Jon Hamilton and Emily Kopp.