As someone who does hypnotherapy it is exciting when the research supports the power of unconscious processing. When you have a decision to make how often have you heard – “sleep on it”? Turns out this is good advice.
“New brain imaging research shows that brain regions responsible for making decisions continue to be active even when the conscious brain is distracted with a different task. The research provides some of the first evidence showing how the brain unconsciously processes decision information in ways that lead to improved decision-making.”
“It [the research] shows that brain regions important for decision-making remain active even while our brains may be simultaneously engaged in unrelated tasks, such as thinking about a math problem. What’s most intriguing about this finding is that participants did not have any awareness that their brains were still working on the decision problem while they were engaged in an unrelated task.” J. David Creswell, assistant professor of psychology in Carnegie Mellon University Dietrich College of Humanities and Social Sciences and director of the Health and Human Performance Laboratory.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=eFX5S0tpTUA#t=8s
I am certainly in agreement with this,, ..many a time the solutions to a problem just arrive and flash….actually those keep on getting processed in the subconsious..only we are not aware.. Thanks Judy for another Gem..
My 700th post waits for your visit..
RS:)
I have many times used this distraction, in getting a better perspective, or resolving a problem, at work and and home. I certainly didn’t know the science, but I knew that it helped me. I often would garden, or take a walk, read, and then re-think it. It always works for me. Who knew, I could have made a youtube LOL.
But does that help in decision making, I mean distraction from the problem, does that really helps in finding a solution!!
Its Meenakshi,
That’s what the research is showing through brain imaging. Fascinating organ, our brain!