Science explains how we make decisions

It may seem that the world is returning to normal, yet we still have our doubts. Emotions and feelings conflict with each other, I am afraid of the tendency to distrust everything and everyone. “The epidemic has had an impact on our lives in general, and especially on our mental life “Coronaviruses like the nervous system have changed, both psychologically and nervously,” notes Antonio Damasio, professor of psychology, philosophy, and neuroscience at the University of Southern California and director of the Institute for Brain and Creativity. The lack of preparation and resources to combat the fallout from the coronavirus is causing humiliation and anxiety about everything. Our routines, tasks, and paths have come to a halt, and thus the decision-making process has been affected,” he said. The neurologist argues that feelings are the cornerstone of our survival, and occur when the brain interprets emotions, which are signals from the body that react to external stimuli — which help us make decisions.

We are governed by different types of intelligence, which are based on two cognitive systems: the first, based on thinking and creativity, and based on the manipulation of clear informational patterns. the second, and the emotions, is inexpressive competence; It is the diversity of intelligence upon which most living things on Earth depend.

“In everyday language we use the terms interchangeably, which shows how closely these feelings are related to feelings,” he says. For the Portuguese, “emotions are complex physiological reactions of the body to certain external stimuli, for example, when we are afraid, the heart races, the mouth tends to dry, the muscles contract; this emotional reaction occurs automatically and unconsciously. On the other hand, feelings occur after to realize ourselves brain These physical changes, and only then do we feel fear.” In neurophysiology, the limbic system is responsible for feelings and memories, the mind originates in the neocortex, and where reason and emotion come together in the prefrontal cortex.

A group of components of the brain responsible for mapping the changes that occur constantly within an organism; It is known as the internal nervous system (INS). The INS contributes to the production of emotions when the brain reads the maps and it becomes clear that emotional changes have been recorded in the organism. This designation is not always accurate: o StressOr fear or pain changes the way we interpret information that reaches the brain from other parts of the body. According to Damasio, we tend to prioritize us I rational when it comes to making decisions; However, good decisions are those that respond to the emotions generated by our internal system. Damásio adds: “We have internal emotional regulation processes that not only sustain our lives, but also shape creativity.

Written by Vivian Cory Lonardi, psychologist, hypnotherapist, and researcher.

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