Lunch time. Friends order pizza. I so want to follow their example, but once again you promised yourself to eat right. You are faced with a choice: either order pizza together with everyone, but then suffer from guilt, or protect yourself from this unpleasant experience by eating something healthy for lunch – for example, a salad. From the outside, it may seem that you are just studying the menu, but what is going on in your brain in the meantime?
neural battle
At that moment, while you are trying to solve the dinner dilemma, in the depths of your skull, nerve cells, neurons, are actively interacting with each other: some transmit excitement to others, others suppress.
And every time you are faced with a choice, a real neural battle begins – a battle between different versions of you. One neural network votes for pizza. The neurons in this network are in the parts of the brain responsible for vision, smell, memories, and emotions. They send out electrical and chemical signals, activating other neurons in the network. The neurons of the other network are lettuce proponents, and each of these networks tries to dominate.
The winning network will determine which choice you end up making.
For example, when you see your friends ordering pizza, the neurons that support that choice fire up in parts of the brain responsible for memory and emotion, and you instantly remember the best pizza you’ve ever tasted.
If the memory is colorful and enjoyable (e.g. eating pizza with friends at a cool party), the pizza network is likely to win (especially if the last salad you ate was so-so).
At the same time, the salad party, especially the neurons in the part of the brain responsible for will and self-determination, will try to suppress the pizza people.
It is also possible that another neural network will tell you that you can order pizza now, but only on the condition that tomorrow you will have a good workout in order to “work it out”.
This whole battle is played out in a few seconds, and when friends ask what you have decided, you open your mouth and order a pizza.
But what about fateful decisions?
Actually, everything is the same here, but it’s not about the battle, but about the whole war: the opponents fight much more fiercely, and the victory is no longer given so easily – too much is at stake.
If you’re stuck and can’t make a choice, the unconscious will step in and work on the issue even while you’re asleep. And if you suddenly “feel inwardly” what to do, most likely, this is his handiwork.
Neurons on guard
Every waking moment, when thoughts whirl through your head, when you decide which color of blouse to choose or whether to accept a marriage proposal, billions of neurons in your brain fire up, interacting with each other.
Sometimes you make a decision in seconds. Sometimes the process can take a long time. These everyday battles and wars between neural networks determine the choices you make and ultimately who you are.
So the next time you’re faced with a choice, big or small, pause and think about what your brain is doing right now to help you decide. And thank him.