The Two Brain Systems

With two brain systems and two possibilities for each of them, we can thus identify four different cognitive modes—four different ways of interacting with people and responding to situations that arise in the world:

	Highly Utilized Top	Minimally Utilized Top
Highly Utilized Bottom	Mover Mode	Perceiver Mode
Minimally Utilized Bottom	Stimulator Mode	Adaptor Mode

   

Mover Mode results when the top- and bottom-brain systems are both highly utilized.

According to our theory, when people think in this mode, they are inclined both to implement plans (using the top-brain system) and to register the consequences of doing so (using the bottom-brain system), subsequently adjusting plans on the basis of feedback. The evidence suggests that prior to his injury, Phineas Gage often relied on this mode when he was at work; he probably could not have risen so far so fast if he had not. But after his accident he could no longer operate in this mode.

People who habitually operate in Mover Mode tend to be well suited to being leaders. They might head a company, act as a principal of a school, or take charge of revising a church afterschool program. According to our theory, people who habitually operate in this mode should be most comfortable when in positions that allow them to plan, act, and see the consequences of their actions.

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Perceiver Mode results when the bottom-brain system is highly utilized but the top-brain system is not.

People who highly utilize the bottom-brain system try to make sense in depth of what they perceive; they interpret what they experience, put it in context, and try to understand the implications. They may use the top-brain system to generate narratives that make sense of what the bottom brain registers, but they do not use the top brain to initiate complex or detailed plans; the top brain is largely used in the service of the bottom brain. Gage would have been better off post-accident if his top-brain system had been better able to sort the inputs from his bottom-brain system.

Among others, many librarians, naturalists, and pastors appear to rely habitually on Perceiver Mode. If the Theory of Cognitive Modes is correct, people who are relying on this mode often play a crucial role in a group; they can make sense of events and provide a bigger-picture perspective. In business, they are often crucial members of teams, providing perspective and wisdom but not always getting credit.

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Stimulator Mode results when the top-brain system is highly utilized but the bottom-brain system is not.

People interacting with the world in Stimulator Mode often create and execute plans (using the top-brain system) but fail to register consistently and accurately the consequences of acting on those plans (using the bottom-brain system). They may be creative and original, and may be able to think outside the box even when everybody around them has a fixed way of approaching an issue or situation. But, at the same time, these people may not always note when enough is enough—their actions can be disruptive and they may not adjust their behavior appropriately. Gage’s problem was not so much in registering the consequences of his actions but in too freely allowing ongoing situations to interrupt his plans; the damage disrupted the usual interactions between his top-brain and bottom-brain systems.

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Adaptor Mode results when neither the top- nor the bottom-brain system is highly utilized.

People who are thinking in this mode are not caught up in initiating plans, nor are they fully focused on classifying and interpreting what they experience; instead, they are open to becoming absorbed by local events and the immediate requirements of the situation. If the Theory of Cognitive Modes is correct, they often are “action-oriented” and responsive. In addition, people who habitually operate in this mode often “go with the flow” and may tend to be seen as free-spirited and fun to be with. (Gage would have been better off if he had been able to adopt this mode and let others define his agenda.)

Source: Top Brain, Bottom Brain: Surprising Insights into How You Think (2014) by Stephen Kosslyn, Ph. D. and G. Wayne Miller.