Thinking Modes

Focused mode and Diffuse mode

Have you ever had Archimedes eureka effect?

Suddenly flashed by the solution for your problem while you are doing a different task. That is the thumbs up signals generated for your dedication by the brain. Actually brain is operating in two different modes. 

1. Focused Mode
2. Diffused Mode

when we are thinking, our thought generates the neuron firings in the brain region to find the solution, 
you can compare the neuron firing with following pinball video clip 

So we can apply the same concept of the pinball machine to our brain thinking modes

Focused mode: According to our past experiences and knowledge we learnt a traditional approach that structured the neural path to solving a problem in a rational ways.Coverage of narrow route. 

Diffuse mode: The best thing that rather than killing your mood on struck on a specific problem. Instead - divert your focus to a completely different activity, which forces your brain to relax. Take a shower. Go walking or jogging  by the beach. Your brain will continue working on the problem by making random connections in an unstructured order surprisingly the answer (epiphany)!s popped up. Coverage of the big picture.

Brain can work at any one of the above mode at a given time.

Courtesy: A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra), by Barbara Oakley

Concentration on the specific problem or activity       Relax mode or driving different problem     

 -  working on math problem                                                   - Going jogging , listening music

Traditional approach to solving                                            Different or innovative approach
in rational and analytic ways.

Functioning brain pre-frontal cortex                                       Big picture perspective

Mostly structured route                                                          Unstructured random route


Thanks to Tanvi Jagtap for following video animation that explains the thinking modes

  Courtesy: Tanvi Jagtap