95% of decision making occurs in the unconscious mind Rational thinking or what Kahneman calls ‘slow thinking’ occurs in the frontal cortex or conscious mind. Irrational ‘thinking’ or what Kahneman called ‘fast thinking’ occurs in the brain stem or limbic system or unconscious part of the mind. Some call irrational thinking – ‘bottom up’ thinking […]

95% of decision making occurs in the unconscious mind Rational thinking or what Kahneman calls ‘slow thinking’ occurs in the frontal cortex or conscious mind. Irrational ‘thinking’ or what Kahneman called ‘fast thinking’ occurs in the brain stem or limbic system or unconscious part of the mind. Some call irrational thinking – ‘bottom up’ thinking and rational thinking ‘top down thinking’.The cortex or neo-cortex is responsible for cognitive thinking where we consider facts in detail and respond on the basis of the evidence available to us. The brain stem is responsible for instinctive ‘thinking’ and the limbic system is responsible for emotional ‘thinking’. Both are absolutely essential where we need to think automatically – as when we are driving a car. There is no time to think through every action when we drive. That said – a little more though might help some drivers.Neurological and psychological research would suggest that…