Skip to main content

Basil Ganglia and Habit Formation

 Habit is the compromise between being completely controlled by our instinct and being completely free to make intentional decisions about whatever we want to do. It is the trade-off we have made between instinct and reason in order to maintain speed and efficiency. 

Though we have become more and more adept at making complex decisions, it would be too slow and inefficient to have to make decisions about every single thing we ever did on a day-to-day basis. 

To improve speed and efficiency for example, our brains developed the ability to do our most repetitive routines without making any decisions at all. We could do them by habit.

Habit formation works by passing control over the most routine behaviors to the more primitive basal ganglia. 

As we do a routine over and over again our brain can determine what prompts the routine to begin ("the cue") and what prompts it to end ("the reward") and creates a "chunk" of automatic behavior. 

Brushing your teeth is a "chunk." You get the cue (time for bed) and without wrestling with any complex decisions simply go through the motions of putting the toothpaste on the brush, brushing your teeth, and rinsing the brush. 

"Chunking" allows complex activities to be controlled by the super-efficient "lizard brain" of the basil ganglia. 

Learn more at the Ransford Global College online

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Sweet Spot

How do you create a digital strategy that involves customers in an energized social community?  How do you create an engaged, active “go-to” website?   Prophet's David Aaaker says, You must change the orientation of marketing from selling the offering, the brand, and firm to becoming an active partner with a shared interest program around a customer’s “sweet spot.” A sweet spot reflects customers’ “thinking and doing” time, beliefs and values, activities and passions, possessions or places they treasure. Ideally, it would be a part of, if not central to, their self-identity and lifestyle and reflect a higher-order value proposition, much beyond the benefits provided by the offering. To illustrate, Pampers went beyond diapers by creating the Pampers Village community that provides a “go to” place for all issues relating to babies and child care. Its five sections – pregnancy, newborn, baby, toddler, and preschooler – all have a menu of topics. Its online ...
Post a Comment
Read more

What is Biri marung?

Biri marung" is a term in Chewa/Nyanja, a language spoken in Zambia, Malawi, and parts of Mozambique. It directly translates to "hyena in the sky" or "flying hyena.  It is often used in folklore and traditional beliefs in African cultures to refer to supernatural beings or mysterious occurrences, particularly those associated with witchcraft or spirits. In music, "Biri Marung" is a popular Amapiano track released in November 2024 by South African artists Mr Pilato, Ego Slimflow, and Tebogo G Mashego, featuring Sje Konka, Focalistic, DJ Maphorisa, Scotts Maphuma, and CowBoii.  The song has gained significant attention, with its official audio available on YouTube.  Additionally, it has been featured on various music platforms, including Apple Music.  The track has also inspired dance challenges and covers on social media platforms like TikTok, contributing to its viral status.  "Biri Marung" has been recognized for its impact in the music industry...
Post a Comment
Read more

New ways to business capital

A Business capital, often referred to as capital in a business context, is the financial resources or assets that a company or a sole proprietorship uses to operate, invest, and grow. Traditionally, it can come from various sources, including: 1. Equity Capital: This is the money invested by the business owners or shareholders. It represents ownership in the company and can be in the form of common stock or retained earnings. 2. Debt Capital: Debt capital is borrowed money that the business must repay with interest. This can include loans from banks, bonds issued by the company, or other forms of debt financing. 3. Working Capital: Working capital is the money a business uses for its day-to-day operations, such as paying bills, salaries, and purchasing inventory. 4. Fixed Capital: Fixed capital refers to the funds invested in long-term assets like buildings, machinery, and equipment. 5. Venture Capital or Angel Investment: Startups and high-growth companies may secure capital from vent...
Post a Comment
Read more