Cacophony

futuramb:

Economics and the Brain: How People Really Make Decisions in Turbulent Times | Neuroscience News

More and more, psychological and neurological science is discovering that much of our decision-making is made at an unconscious and emotional level. What we are now finding is that when we are thinking about mundane and simple issues, such as small calculations, the brain areas associated with rational planning (such as the pre-frontal cortex) tend to be more active.

But when thinking about difficult, exciting, interesting activities, such as investing in a new business, or perhaps buying a $10 million lottery ticket, the brain areas associated with emotion – such as the midbrain dopamine system – become more active.

These new knowledge of neurophysiological research is important if we want to understand how we relate to the future, both on individual as well as group level.

To futurists this is important in order to understand our own and our clients biases and quirks. To managers it is knowledge which is crucial in times of change when the tasks consists of leading people through uncertainties and radical change.