Homo narrare. Narrative Intelligence 3.0: Managing Reality and Influencing People. Arsen Avetisov

stories can put you in someone else’s shoes metaphorically. Now we see that something biological may also occur.» This important conclusion prompts us to critically reconsider our relationship with attention-grabbing stories, books, and films – and the time we devote to them, every minute of our lives.

      How and why does this happen? How does the process evolve from attention to biological change? It all lies in the structure of the human brain and the ways it functions.

      The Human Brain – An Eclectic Design

      How the Triune Brain Emerged and What’s Really Going on Inside It.

      For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.

      Matthew 25:29

      Our brain is a complex system of interconnected structures. Its architecture reflects the entire evolution of life, comprising functional modules responsible for sustaining life. These modules, while conditionally distinct, are deeply interconnected. The average reaction time for a human – measured as the interval between seeing a flash of light and pressing a button in response – is approximately 250 milliseconds. By comparison, an average computer processes information 750 million times faster. However, this fact pales in significance when we consider the vast capabilities of the brain and the extraordinary talent of nature, an unmatched yet remarkably resourceful designer.

      The «Reptilian Brain» – The Oldest Layer. The first and most ancient layer of the brain is the «reptilian brain,» which emerged about 150 million years ago. This structure governs three fundamental functions crucial for individual survival:

      – Safety: It enables instantaneous decisions based on the «fight-or-flight» algorithm. Interestingly, this well-known reaction omits a third possible response: freezing.

      – Foraging: Actions related to finding and securing food.

      – Reproduction: Identifying and seeking suitable mates to ensure the continuation of the species.

      The «reptilian brain» works ceaselessly, yet we remain unaware of its operations. Its key performance indicator (KPI) is not awareness but rapid and reliable responsiveness. Awareness is an energy-intensive, slow, and ambiguous process. While advice often emphasizes the importance of thinking before reacting, doing so could result in being «eaten» before any thought is completed.

      The «Mammalian Brain» – The Emotional Layer. Above the reptilian brain lies the «mammalian brain,» also known as the emotional brain. This layer, which developed around 50 million years ago, facilitates survival and interaction within social groups. It governs social relationships, structuring communities such as herds, tribes, prides, families, and societies.

      The emotional brain shapes behaviors of dominance and submission, fundamental to hierarchical structures. It also contributes to reproductive behavior, though in a distinct manner: impress and be impressed. This brain layer is the seat of the drive for superiority, aimed at showcasing the exclusivity of one’s genetic material. It enables humans to «understand» pets and find joy in interacting with them. Emotions, experiences, and attention are all rooted in this level.

      The «Human Brain» – The Cortex and Consciousness. Finally, about two million years ago, the most advanced layer of the brain emerged: the structures responsible for consciousness. While the functions of the earlier layers are relatively well understood, the purpose and workings of the conscious brain remain the subject of much speculation and misunderstanding.

      Imagine a thin sheet of material, 2—3 millimeters thick, with sides slightly over 40 centimeters. This «sheet» houses approximately 18 billion neurons, forming the cerebral cortex. Is that a lot? For comparison, the entire brain contains about 87 billion cells. While 18 billion may sound impressive, the cerebellum, the brain’s coordination center, contains twice as many neurons. This suggests that nature prioritized steady movement and balance over composing poetry or formulating scientific theories.

      To this day, many people associate consciousness with advanced abilities such as planning, developing military doctrines, crafting scientific theories, composing novels and poetry, creating art, and producing films. However, all these activities are merely byproducts – unintentional parallel outputs of the cerebral cortex’s primary purpose: adaptive responses to environmental changes with minimal energy expenditure.

      The cortex achieves this adaptation by accumulating proven interaction strategies and transitioning them into unconscious, energy-efficient processes. Most importantly, the brain strives to avoid creating new processes whenever possible, as they demand exorbitant additional energy. But how and why did this principle of brain function come into existence?

      The Brain’s Energy Concept

      What truly matters is what happens within us, not to us.

      Misunderstandings and lethargy produce more wrong in the world than deceit and malice do.

      Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

      The issue of conserving energy and using it wisely boils down to the strategy for managing it. The brain is constantly involved in optimizing processes that require energy: thinking, physical activities, reactions, actions, and the functioning of internal organs. Even digesting food requires energy.

      Canadian neuropsychologist Donald Hebb demonstrated that when brain neurons activate, they release neurotransmitters. These are absorbed by neighboring cells, transmitting important information. Over time, this synaptic transmission can strengthen, as similar messages travel along the same neural pathways, eventually becoming automatic. Essentially, every experience activates thousands, possibly millions, of neurons. If a task is repeated enough, the brain quickly learns the pattern, automatically activating the same neurons. This is how the brain develops efficiency strategies – relying on pre-formed templates rather than «reinventing the wheel» each time, triggering a conveyor belt of unconscious processes.

      People rarely think about the many actions they perform daily, even the simplest ones. Brushing their teeth, brewing coffee, driving a car – these are just a few examples. Over time, the brain builds a massive «library» of such behavioral templates. It’s hard to quantify how much energy was spent optimizing and organizing these seemingly simple yet essential tasks.

      Most of these processes are unconscious. Markus Raichle, the pioneer of the brain’s default mode network, explains that the brain is constantly constructing an internal model of the surrounding world. This model works as a forecast, helping the brain predict and prepare for events. As long as predictions hold true, the brain doesn’t engage attention, which is always costly and energy-intensive. However, when something contradicts the prediction, it immediately captures attention. For instance, stepping onto a stopped escalator can cause a sudden jolt. Why? Your brain’s forecast, repeatedly confirmed, assumes the escalator will move, so it compensates for the expected acceleration.

      This principle applies universally. In daily life, people rely on existing behavioral programs and are more inclined to adjust them or adopt ready-made templates than to create entirely new ones. The brain follows this energy-saving logic persistently and subtly.

      For the brain, its operation resembles a business – a craft of managing limited resources. In its case, the limited resource is energy, which is constantly in demand. While the brain accounts for about 2% of body weight, it consumes a disproportionate amount of energy – approximately 20% of the body’s total. In practical terms, this translates to a power consumption of about 12 watts. Imagine how much power a computer would require if it had the same capabilities as the human brain.

      The brain never truly rests, not even during sleep. It uses about 350—400 calories daily, primarily in the form of glucose. Energy consumption peaks around ages 5—6 when the brain can utilize up to 60% of the body’s energy. In adults, the brain’s