We literally have two brains: The Conscious and The Subconscious.
The Conscious Mind
The conscious mind is located in the brain’s topmost layers. It includes the neocortex and the lobes. More specifically, it is located at the top and sides of our brain. Some neuroscientists refer to it as the upper brain. I like to to call it the new brain because it represents the most recent addition to our brain. Our new brain has only been around for about 300,000 years. It is responsible for the following functions:
- Voluntary thought
The new brain can overpower automatic routines – habits. It can mute our emotions and sudden impulses. It is where willpower resides. Our ability to focus for short periods of time is fueled by willpower. Our new brain cannot multitask. It can only perform one function at a time. When we “multitask” we are actually switching from one function, activity, group of brain cells to another. This wears out the brain. Willpower is a very limited resource.
The Subconscious Mind
The subconscious mind is located in the limbic system and the brain stem. Some refer to it as the lower brain. I like to call it the old brain because it’s been with us for millions of years. Our old brain has massive computing power. It operates constantly, solving complex problems offline (without conscious effort, without using any willpower). It is responsible for the following functions:
- Autonomic nervous system – controls our internal organs
- Forges and manages all habits
- Insight and creativity
The old brain is much faster and more efficient than the new brain. It has the capacity to multitask. It gives us the ability to make quick decisions. While our new brain is at rest our old brain is at work helping us solve problems, uncover opportunities, comprehend the incomprehensible, solidify memory and nudges us into doing things or to stop doing things. When you have a gut feeling that something is wrong it is because your old brain identified a problem that is invisible to your new brain. Intuition is the old brain’s way of communicating knowledge it has that the new brain doesn’t.
Some of the scientists who study the brain (neuroscientists, behavioral psychologists, etc.) believe the vagus nerve or spindle neurons that connect the prefrontal cortex (new brain) to the insula (old brain) may be the communication superhighway that links the conscious (new brain) to the subconscious (old brain). The subconscious brain may be using this very superhighway to communicate intuition, gut feelings and insight (aha moments) to the conscious brain.