The Other Mode of Thinking
Pattern Matching, not Reasoning (cont)
This table summarizes the main feature differences between the two modes of thought. Please take the links to get more information.
| Reasoning | Pattern Matching | |
| Location | Neo-Cortex | Mass of brain |
| Method | Verbal, word based, sequential | Non-verbal, gestalt, intuitive |
| Prototypical Example | Sherlock Holmes | Face Recognition, Flash of insight |
| Learning Method | Verbal instruction iand rules of logic | Comparing expectation to reality |
| Reasoning | Pattern Matching | |
| Focus of Interest | Planning, consequences of premises | Reacting, Premise selection |
| Special features | Exactitude of conclusion | Probabilistic assessment |
| Special features | Needs complete info | Has a hierarchy of needed info. Successively improves answer with more info |
| Special features | Can explain conclusion | Can only awkwardly and after-the-fact put into words the reasons that drive our actions. |
| Special features | Emotions inhibit logic reasoning. They shorten the number of links between premises and conclusions. | Overlapping neural paths allows neutral matching to trigger emotions |
