Metacognition: How We Control Our Brain
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Yurui’s Summary
What if there was a distinction between our physical brain and what we think about in our mind?
Our minds are dormant until 10 years of age, but our brains are always active.
I’d like to think that the mind governs the brain, which governs the body.
Your brain presents thoughts, and your mind acts on them.
Self-suppression is when you resist desires; self-discipline is when your highest desires rule your lesser desires.
Does this mean we have free will? To an extent.
The brain can be split into the reptile, mammal, and primate brains.
Affect and cognition affect behaviour.
I think, therefore I am. We have control of who we become, to an extent. Our mind governs our brain.
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I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how thoughts arise in our ‘mind’.
And my conclusion was quite quirky - what if there was a distinction between our physical brain and what we think about in our mind? Or is the mind an extension of the brain?
My thinking has evolved to lead me to believe that the brain is a physical entity with neurological processes, and that the mind is something external to said processes. I think this can be aptly described by the term metacognition: thinking about one's thinking. I think that the mind is able to perform metacognition, by its analysis of the thoughts that arise in the brain.
When we look to the past, we realise something weird.
How far back can you remember? When do you think you become conscious?
After a couple of chats with mates, I’ve come to the conclusion that our minds become conscious at 10 years old, for that’s when you start remembering. However, it’s not possible for our brains to be dormant until then; it is always conscious, just your mind is unable to connect with it for some reason. Why? I have no idea.
Author Bob Proctor says that we are living simultaneously on three distinct planes.
The Spiritual Plane of Thoughts; highest potential, the mind.
The Intellectual Plane of Ideas; middle potential, the brain.
The Physical Plane of Results; lowest potential, the body.
I’d like to think that the mind governs the brain, which governs the body.
As someone who’s been going to the gym for nearly a couple of years now, I found this video on the ‘mind muscle’ connection fascinating. It’s the idea of how when you body tells your brain to give up, the mind can overpower both those impulses. Hence, I think that there is potential to conquer your brain with your mind. When your brain tells you to stop, you must use your mind to persevere.
It’s how people end up doing hard things that their brain tells them not to do because it is painful, but your mind persists because you know that it is good for you. Your conscience is the voice inside your head. Your brain presents thoughts, and your mind acts on them.
Self-suppression is when you resist desires; self-discipline is when your highest desires rule your lesser desires.
Recently, I’ve been acknowledging my thoughts as transient; never allowing them to disrupt my peace, embracing Stoicism. There really is nothing to worry about.
We can extend this idea of the mind and the brain to happiness.
What is happiness? Arguably, It’s the presence of neuroreceptors like dopamine in your brain (don’t quote me on this though lol). But your mind? Well, that’s unique to you, and you define happiness. Sometimes, I personally find happiness in the lack of dopamine, when I do stuff I don’t want to do.
Dr Robert Sapolsky agrees: “Dopamine is not about the pursuit of happiness, it is about the happiness of pursuit.”
I think that knowing your mind and brain are separate puts you in the control seat, because you can learn to manage your thoughts and actions. Ultimately, it means you can choose what you build into your brain and how you choose to change what's already built in. You are not your thoughts.
"My brain is not me - it presents thoughts, and I can still control these thoughts and make judgements. You are the boss of your brain. " - Anon
This is an interesting segue into the discussion of free will and the subconscious mind; evidently, if we can act on our thoughts, we have free will. Yet, we are limited by the thoughts that our subconscious mind (our brain) brings forward to us. Where do these thoughts come from? I have no clue. So we probably still don’t have free will, lol. Maybe to an extent, balanced as all things are.
My English tutor Sean sent me this idea after I proposed the idea of the brain and the mind to him. It breaks down the brain into three parts.
The Lizard Brain (brain stem) focuses on staying alive. Reptile brain.
The Mouse Brain (limbic system) regulates our emotions and desires. Mammal brain.
The Monkey Brain (cortex) handles the higher cerebral functions—thinking, making mental maps of our world, and connecting with others. Primate brain.
I’d like to think that our mind is most effective as the primate brain; the other two brains are instinctive of our ‘brain’. I don’t know if this makes sense or if I’m just waffling.
Be aware of them, keep them in check.
Another one of my friends showed me this idea of ABC: Affect, Behaviour, Cognition.
Both affect (subconscious feelings) and cognition (rational thinking) affect our behaviour.
One of my favourite quotes:
I think, therefore I am.
- Rene Descartes
I hope this was interesting brain food. This little chunk of introspection was something that I’ve reflected on for quite a while, and something that I’ve become conscious of. I’m not sure if there’s a panacea for this.
If you resonate or disagree with my ideas, send me a message. Always looking to learn more about how different humans operate.
Yurui
I can heartily recommend this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kX62n6yNXA
My previous article on free will and the Mind-Body distinction. My thinking has evolved, I think.
