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The Human Brain Forgotten in Aviation

Human Error

“all occasions in which a planned sequence of mental or physical activity fails to achieve its intended outcome”.

Reason, 1990

Scope

• Executive Brain

• Social Brain

• Science of Insight

3 Brains

• Reptilian - basic functions

• Mammalian - emotions

• Neocortex - higher functions, language etc

Prefrontal Cortex

• Newest part of our brain

• Executive Function

• Contains our conscious thoughts at any one time

• Two basic modes

• Serial processor

• Mental braking system

Prefrontal Cortex

• Newest part of our brain

• Executive Function

• Contains our conscious thoughts at any one time

• Two basic modes

• Serial processor

• Mental braking system

Mental Braking System

Activated when we inhibit natural responses

BLACKBLACK

The brain’s limited mental resource

“We have a limited bucket of mental resources for mental activity like

decision making and impulse control, when we use these up we don’t have

as much for the next activity.”

DR Roy Beaumeister

Intelligence

If yuo can raed tihs, you hvae

a sgtrane mnid

3 Levels of Thinking

1. Deleting emails

2. Scheduling a meeting

3. Planning or problem solving

‘With mental rehearsal, minds and bodies become trained to actually perform the

skill imagined’

Our PFC is an Experience Simulator

Social Brain

StatusCertaintyAutonomy

RelatednessFairness

Human Social Behavior

Reward

Threat

Reward

Threat

Limbic Response

Feel Good

Get ready to run

The Moment of Insight

•Requires a ‘quiet’ brain•60% of complex problems are

solved in this manner•Brain storming can inhibit

insight

Moment of Insight

Conclusion

•Our PFC is the seat of human error

•It is very fragile an inefficient

•We need to be aware of internal states

•Social needs are most important

•We can change our brain so why don't we?