Author: Jeevitha Ramesh
We have all likely experienced moments when we just knew something without being able to explain why we felt that way. Perhaps we met someone and immediately had strong positive or negative feelings about them, or maybe we sensed something important regarding a life-altering decision. Many people refer to this sensation as a "gut feeling" or intuition; however, evidence suggests that it is much more than a raw emotion.
Intuition is how humans have been wired to make decisions in a split second, depending on our past knowledge or experiences. Let’s delve deeper into understanding what intuition truly is, how it functions in our brains, and why it is so effective.
What Is Intuition?
Intuition is not merely a vague feeling or random guess; it is a complex mental process rooted in experience and learning. Operationally, intuition is the brain’s ability to process vast amounts of information rapidly—often subconsciously—to generate judgments or decisions without the need for deliberate reasoning.
From a neuroscientific perspective, intuition is believed to arise from the interplay between the brain's memory systems and pattern recognition processes. Studies show that the ventromedial prefrontal cortex is key in integrating emotional and experiential memory to produce intuitive insights. Philosophically, intuition is described as a form of direct knowledge or understanding that bypasses conscious thought, often referred to as “gut feeling” or “inner knowing.”
This phenomenon functions as if the brain is running in the background, silently processing and cataloguing patterns, events, and outcomes from past experiences. When confronted with a new situation resembling something previously encountered, the brain quickly synthesizes the information and delivers that familiar “intuitive” feeling—like a puzzle piece snapping into place.
According to Behavioural researchers, intuition can be operationally defined as “affectively charged judgments that arise through rapid, non-conscious, and holistic associations.” This definition emphasizes intuition's emotional and subconscious aspects, highlighting its reliance on the integration of past experiences and implicit knowledge.
How does Intuition work in the Brain?
When this sudden “I know this” appears in our cognitive space, which is referred to as knowing or a sudden epiphany, a lot of areas within our brain are doing work:
Pattern-Recognition Power: The Prefrontal Cortex
Let us put ourselves in the detective's shoes. Our heads would never get empty from looking for clues. Much of this investigation is done in the prefrontal region of the cerebral cortex (front part of the brain or frontal lobe). With time, the different experiences people go through help them identify and learn certain patterns in the prefrontal cortex. Therefore, if we feel that we have seen something before, the brain will probably spot something similar and tell us what it thinks is likely to happen.
The Amygdala: Emotional Brain
The amygdala is a small, almond-shaped structure in the brain that plays a crucial role in processing emotions. It acts as an "emotional tagger," attaching emotional significance to memories and experiences. By doing so, the amygdala helps us recognize emotions in ourselves and others, influencing how we react to various situations in our daily lives. For example, if we have had a bad experience in a particular situation, the amygdala will remember it. So, if something similar happens, we might feel an instinctive “uh-oh” moment.
The Fast Brain: System 1 Thinking
The term "fast brain" is often used metaphorically to describe the brain's ability to make quick, automatic, and intuitive decisions. It refers to what psychologist Daniel Kahneman calls System 1 Thinking in his book Thinking, Fast and Slow.
System 1 operates subconsciously and rapidly, processing information based on instinct, experience, and pattern recognition. It enables people to react swiftly in situations that require immediate action, such as avoiding a car accident or recognizing a familiar face in a crowd.
Although the "fast brain" isn't a specific part of the brain, neuroscientific studies suggest that certain areas, such as the amygdala (involved in emotional processing) and basal ganglia (linked to habits and automatic responses), play a role in these quick, intuitive reactions. This process contrasts with System 2 Thinking, which is slower, more deliberate, and relies on conscious reasoning.
Do We Have Real-Life Examples of Intuition?
Intuition plays an important role in real-life situations. Here are some real-life examples that show how intuition works and how studies have explored it.
Firefighters in an Emergency Situation
Firefighters often make split-second choices in dangerous situations, and it turns out intuition is a key part of this process. Psychologist Gary Klein studied experienced firefighters in 1998 through research at the University of Cincinnati and discovered that they often couldn’t explain how they “knew” to get out of a building just before it collapsed. Klein found that this intuition was based on subtle clues they had noticed from past fires, which their brains remembered even if they weren’t aware of it.
This type of “pattern recognition” allows them to sense danger in situations where logic alone might take too long. Klein’s study led to a better understanding of how intuition can be a life-saving tool in high-stress situations.
Athletes’ “Sixth Sense” in Games
In sports, intuition helps players react quickly without overthinking. A 2012 study at the University of Exeter in the UK observed soccer players and found that elite athletes had a strong sense of “where” the ball would go next. This wasn’t just luck—their brains were picking up on patterns from hours of practice, training, and past games. The researchers observed that these players could anticipate plays, showing that intuition in sports is often based on deeply ingrained patterns learned over time.
When Intuition Works Best
Intuition works best in situations where we already have experience. For example, If I am new to driving, I would be careful and think about each move. But once I have driven for a few years, I start to respond to things almost automatically. My brain would build “shortcuts” based on all the times I’ve driven before.
But here’s the thing: intuition can sometimes be wrong, especially if we don’t have enough experience in a particular area. That’s why experts often advise using intuition together with logical thinking, especially for important or complex decisions.
How to Strengthen Our Intuition?
Is it possible to train ourselves to have better intuition? Science says yes! Here are some ways we can improve it:
Practice and Gain Experience
The more we practice something, the stronger our intuition will get in that area. For example, if we frequently play a sport, our brain learns the patterns of the game, making it easier to anticipate our next move. Similarly, practising a craft, like drawing or playing an instrument, builds the intuition for making creative choices.
Reflect on Past Decisions
Taking a little time to think about past choices can help us understand when intuition worked well and when it didn’t. Reflecting helps our brain recognize patterns in both good and bad outcomes, making it easier to spot these patterns next time. For instance, we might notice that when we followed a hunch in a certain situation, things went well. This reflection can help us become more aware of when our intuition is reliable.
Pay Attention to the Body’s Signals
Intuition isn’t only in our mind—it’s connected to our body too! For example, if we are feeling tense or heart races when making a choice, it could be our intuition alerting us. Becoming aware of these physical signals can help us tune into our intuitive responses. Although it’s good to double-check our impressions, practising this sense helps us recognize what feels right early on. This is helpful in situations like meeting new people or making quick decisions.
Intuition: More Than Just a Feeling
So, intuition isn’t a mysterious power. It’s a shortcut our brain uses to help us make quick, often accurate decisions. When we develop skills and gain experience, our brains build mental “maps” that allow us to respond quickly when similar situations come up.
Next time you get a sudden hunch, remember—it’s not just “gut feeling.” It’s our brain working hard, using everything it has learned from the past to help guide us in the present. With practice and reflection, we can strengthen this incredible tool and use it to make wiser, faster decisions in everyday life.
References
Norman, G. R., & Eva, K. W. (2003). Diagnostic error and clinical reasoning. Medical Education, 37(8), 660–667. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2923.2003.01550.x
Klein, G. A. (1998). Sources of power: How people make decisions. MIT Press.
Swart, T., Chisholm, K., & Brown, P. (2015). Neuroscience for leadership: Harnessing the brain gain advantage. Palgrave Macmillan. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137466874
Raab, M. (2003). Decision making in sports: Influence of complexity on implicit and explicit learning. International Journal of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 1(4), 406–433. https://doi.org/10.1080/1612197X.2003.9671728
Dane, E., & Pratt, M. G. (2007). Exploring intuition and its role in managerial decision making. Academy of Management Review, 32(1), 33-54. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.2007.23463682
Kahneman, D. (2011). Thinking, fast and slow. Farrar, Straus and Giroux.