Weekly Thought Volume - 93 - Old and New Brain

Brand new research in neuroscience reveals that the human brain is divided into three separate parts that act as separate organs with different cellular structures and different functions. Knowing how these separate parts work can help you in your efforts to reach and influence customers.

Three Parts of the Brain

The brain stem, formed during the earliest stages of evolution, sits atop the spinal column in the base of the skull. This is the "Old Brain" (also referred to as the reptilian brain, because all vertebrates have one, from vertebrates to reptiles), a.k.a. the "Survival Brain," because it's responsible for fight, flight and feeding functions.

The Old Brain also oversees such important functions as breathing, sleeping, reproduction, circulation of the blood, and contractions of muscles in response to external stimulation.

The two other parts of the brain include:

1. The "New Brain." The New Brain thinks. It processes rational data and shares its deductions with the other two brains.

2. The "Middle Brain." The Middle Brain feels. It processes emotions and gut feelings and also shares its findings with the other two brains.

3. The "Old Brain." Since it is responsible for our survival, the Old Brain plays a central role in all decisions. It takes input from the other two brains, but it alone controls the final decision-making process.

This actually relates to several personality profilers that have been developed over the years, including the Zamora process and the Jungian Personality Profiler developed by Carl Jung which determined the basic "Left Brain - Adult" and "Right Brain - Child"  analogy.   Some people are more analytical and disciplined (Left Brain or New Brain) while others are more expressive and free-minded (Right Brain or Middle Brain).

What Stimulates the Old Brain?

Six proven stimuli have been found that influence the Old Brain. If you use these to speak to the Old Brain in a language it can understand and relate to, you'll significantly improve your ability to influence any audience, anytime.

1. Self-Centered. The Old Brain is a selfish entity. General considerations about what others think don't reach it.

The Old Brain is the center of "me." Don't assume that it has any patience or empathy for anything that doesn't immediately concern its survival and well-being.  It doesn't care about YOU until it knows you care about IT.

2. Contrast. Before/after, with/without, slow/fast all allow the Old Brain to decide. Contrast is a safe decision engine. It enables the Old Brain to make quick and safe decisions. Without contrast, the Old Brain enters a state of confusion, which ultimately results in delaying decision.

3. Concrete. Numbers work for the New Brain, but the Old Brain won't decide based on numbers alone. The Old Brain constantly scans for what's familiar and friendly, what can be recognized quickly, what is tangible and immutable. The Old Brain can't process concepts like "flexible solution," "integrated approach," or "scalable architecture," without efforts and doubts.

4. First and last. The Old Brain forgets most everything in the middle. This short attention span has huge implications on how to construct and deliver powerful messages. Placing the most important content at the beginning is a must, and repeating it at the end is an imperative. Keep in mind that anything you say in the middle of your delivery will be mostly overlooked.

5. Visual. The Old Brain is visual. Neuroscience demonstrates that when you see something that looks like a snake, your Old Brain warns you instantly of danger - so that you react even before the New Brain physically recognizes it's a snake. This implies that visual processing enters the Old Brain first, which can lead to very fast and effective connections to the true decision-maker.

6. Emotion. The Old Brain is strongly triggered by emotions. Neuroscience has demonstrated that "emotional cocktails" create chemical reactions that directly impact the way information is memorized and processed by the Old Brain. Since the Old Brian likes what is familiar it favors existing relationships.

To develop strong relationship networks you must rely on personal relationships that are developed over time. Since business is primarily about who you know, relationship networks play a key role in effective selling.

To maximize sales or marketing efforts you need to craft your message to appeal to the Old Brain.

Having insight to the point of view of the person you are meeting with will enable you to create a message honed for the Old Brain and by implementing a model catered to the Old Brain, you can have a positive influence on the success of your sales or marketing cycle.

It's certainly something to "think" about, isn't it?

Thanks for reading.