“Be practical”!
“Don’t take instinctive decisions”!
We all listen to this advice from many people at different stages of life. Whether it is a big career decision or simple things like choosing an upcoming weekend plan -short trip with friends or working on a new project? Sometimes even if nobody is telling you to be practical, your inner voice sometimes echoes those two words. But is it possible for us humans, to be practical all the time or our basic nature is to be instinctive in decisions of our lives? Let us try to figure out, neuroscientifically.
The human brain has two important systems-
1. Prefrontal cortex ( PFC) :The prefrontal cortex is an evolutionarily newly developed part of the brain which has enabled us to make logical decisions. Also this part is responsible for language, planning and executing complex tasks and our social behaviour.
2. Limbic System: The limbic system is the primitive part involved in raw emotions like fear, anger, happiness and sadness.
Our mind shuffles between two parts all the time. The part that overtakes the other will decide our final decision and then we work on the decision.
So now it’s obvious that whenever we hear – be practical – this activates the prefrontal cortex. The activated prefrontal cortex overpowers the limbic system and starts planning to make logical decisions. In that case, you would prefer working on your important project rather than going for a trip with friends. At this moment emotions appear to be suppressed as the limbic system is dormant. But for how long? At some point or other the suppressed limbic system starts to break the shackles and comes into play. Why? Because it is natural – humans are just another animal on this planet like millions others. Emotions are ‘in built’- necessary for survival instinct. And at that time if you would have chosen to stay home and work on your important project, inner voices tell you otherwise- “ Why I missed the opportunity of going for a memorable trip with friends, work will never be finished?”
In today’s world, we see great advancement with science and technology, it definitely requires a tremendous amount of work by the prefrontal cortex of many scientists and engineers. But that has somewhat dehumanized mankind. So much so that, now we have to confirm to the computer that we are humans and not robots! In this age of social media we humans are becoming less social. Thousands of “friends” online , but no true friends in real life. For a complete human life experience, we must have the feeling of all the emotions deep inside us. It’s quite natural to us.
Scientific research, especially in decision-making, suggests that for most significant choices, the final action is often driven by an emotional response or intuition, with logic then being used to rationalize the decision.
Now let us see what can happen when a person uses one part more than the other.
1.Prefrontal cortex- people who tend to use prefrontal cortex more-
- Have better impulse control, fewer rash behaviors
- Chooses long-term benefit over short-term reward
- More consistent planning and executing goals
- Greater emotional regulation: calibrating one’s emotional responses rather than being overwhelmed
However there are downsides of overreliance on the prefrontal cortex. These are-
- Emotional suppression or rigidity (shutting down spontaneity or affect)
- Slower responsiveness when fast, intuitive action is required
- Cognitive fatigue, especially under stress
- May discount embodied, affective information that sometimes carries wisdom
2.Limbic system dominated people exhibit:
- More empathy and rapid emotional responsiveness
- More capacity to act when moved- strong drive and vigor
- More sensitivity to reward, social cues, emotional resonance
It also has risks and downsides:
- Difficulty in long-term planning
- Vulnerability to mood swings and reacting strong
- Acting on immediate desires or fears
- Difficulty inhibiting maladaptive impulses (e.g. addiction, aggression)
- Decision making skewed by affect and bias rather than cold reason
When limbic responses dominate without adequate prefrontal cortex “checks” one may be “emotionally hijacked” and acting from fear, anger or reward.
So now you know why it becomes difficult to decide between – short trip with friends on weekend or working on new project?
And finally the most important question- How to balance between these two systems in the long term to have a great life?
Balance comes from harmony between the prefrontal cortex and the limbic system. Excess limbic use causes impulsivity and mood swings, while excessive prefrontal dominance leads to rigidity and emotional detachment. Practices like mindfulness, emotional labeling, and journaling, strengthen the neural connections between both systems. Pausing before reacting, physical exercise, a good sleep, and setting priorities enhance emotional regulation and rational decision-making. It doesn’t mean suppressing emotions —it means understanding and integrating them.
When emotions and logic cooperate, choices become wiser, relationships deepen, and mental health stabilizes.
So next time when you are told – “be practical !” You may pause and blend empathy and reason. You might reply, “You’re right; practicality matters, but I also believe compassion and purpose are truly practical in the long run.” True practicality isn’t cold efficiency; it’s sustainable wisdom—acting effectively while staying humane.
The finest humans neither drown in emotion nor freeze into logic; they walk the quiet bridge between heart and mind, letting each guide the other toward wiser steps.
Dr Arun Tungaria I Neurosurgeon I Author I Educator
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