Thinking can often feel uncomfortable. Many of us try to avoid it when we can. For example, if you were asked how long it takes for the Earth to go around the Sun, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? A day? While that’s a common answer, the correct one is actually a year.

The Bat and the Ball: A Common Mistake

Consider this classic problem: A toy bat and a toy ball together cost $1.10. The bat costs $1 more than the ball. What’s the cost of the ball? Many people might guess ten cents. However, if the ball costs ten cents, the bat would have to cost $1.10, making the total $1.20. The actual answer? The ball costs five cents.

These mistakes aren’t just minor slip-ups; they reveal something deeper about how our brains work.

Two Systems at Work

Psychologists often describe our thinking as having two systems, known as System One and System Two. Think of these as two characters in your brain: Gun and Drew.

• Drew is your conscious thought. He represents the voice in your head and is careful and methodical. Drew can follow instructions and solve complicated problems, but he takes time and effort.
• Gun, on the other hand, is fast and automatic. He processes a huge amount of information without you even realizing it. For instance, when you read a sentence, Gun helps you understand it without consciously thinking about each word.

These two systems work together. Gun uses your past experiences stored in long-term memory, while Drew deals with new information in working memory. This is an important aspect of how we learn.

The Limits of Working Memory

Drew can only hold a few pieces of new information at once—about four or five chunks. This is why trying to remember a long string of random numbers can be tough. But if those numbers are familiar, like the year 2017, they become one single chunk, making them easier to handle. This process of grouping information is called chunking.

As we learn, we build bigger and bigger chunks, allowing us to pass tasks from Drew to Gun. Initially, tasks like tying your shoelaces take a lot of concentration, but with practice, they become automatic. This transformation explains the phenomenon often referred to as “muscle memory,” although it’s really all happening in your brain.

The Physiology of Thinking

When Drew works hard, like during a challenging math task, you may notice some physiological responses—your heart rate increases, you might sweat a bit, and your pupils dilate. Research shows that when people engage in mentally challenging tasks, their pupils widen, indicating effort.

For example, during an experiment with a task called the “Add One,” participants had to manage numbers while adding one to each. It became clear that this simple task required significant mental effort from Drew.

Why Confusion Can Be Beneficial

Interestingly, researchers found that making a test harder to read resulted in fewer errors. When the questions were printed in a difficult font, students had to engage more with the content, leading to more correct answers. This suggests that when Gun can’t offer a quick answer, he hands the task over to Drew, forcing him to put in the effort to reason through the problem.

This principle is also evident in advertising. Confusing ads can capture attention better than straightforward ones because Gun cannot easily process them. For instance, a campaign in Australia used the letters “Un” with vague descriptions that required more thought to understand. This kind of challenge can lead to better engagement.

Rethinking Education

In schools, the traditional lecture model is shifting to formats that encourage active participation. Workshops and peer instruction push Drew to engage more, making learning more effective, though many students find this effort unappealing.

To truly learn and improve, we must be willing to embrace discomfort. Just like exercising, it can be hard to motivate ourselves to think deeply, and yet it’s essential for growth.

Conclusion

In essence, our brains have evolved to handle everyday tasks with minimal effort. But when it comes to learning and problem-solving, pushing ourselves to think deeply can lead to greater understanding and success. So, the next time you feel reluctant to engage your brain, remember that this effort is what drives real learning and growth.