Intuition is a skittish animal. Like a forest creature, it works best from the shadows—the more directly you try to observe and analyze it, the more elusive it becomes.
Research shows that intuition originates in the nonverbal regions of our brain, particularly the basal ganglia and anterior cingulate cortex. These regions process patterns outside of our conscious awareness.
When we try to put intuitive insights into words, we often end up with rationalization rather than explanation. The verbal parts of our brain, while trying to construct a coherent narrative, fill in gaps with plausible but potentially false explanations.
Despite its mysterious nature, intuition is not magical—it's a form of unconscious intelligence. As researcher Gerd Gigerenzer argues, intuition operates through “smart heuristics”—simple, efficient rules our brains construct to handle real-world complexities. These mental shortcuts aren't irrational; they're sophisticated tools developed through years of experience.
Herbert Simon, another decision-making researcher, said expert intuition is "nothing more and nothing less than recognition."