Decision-making, human cognition, and equanimity of mind

• Main Author: Sisir Roy
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2014-01-01
• Series: Yoga-Mimamsa
• Subjects: decision-making; eastern approaches; neutral mind; equanimity; human cognition
• Online Access: http://www.ym-kdham.in/article.asp?issn=0044-0507;year=2014;volume=46;issue=1;spage=25;epage=28;aulast=Roy
• ISSN: 0044-0507; 2394-2487

Background: Decision-making is one of the most puzzling issues in modern neuro-cognitive dynamics. It depends on how the brain behaves at that particular instance and identifies and responds to a signal among myriads of noises that are present in the surroundings (called external noise) as well as in the neurons themselves (called internal noise). The ability to predict the outcome of future events is, arguably, the most universal and significant of all global brain functions. The ability to anticipate the outcome of a given action depends on sensory stimuli from the outside world and previously learned experience and/or inherited instincts. So, there is a need to formulate a theory of inference using prior knowledge for decision-making and judgment, as well as, new empirical evidences. Aims: The current paper aims to shed new light on decision-making and judgment with the help of states of mind like neutral mind and equanimity. The paper also aims at highlighting the scientific aspects of these states, which are conducive to proper decision making by an individual. Method: The current paper makes use of methods of mathematical modeling based on a generalized version of probability argument in the Bayesian framework, which includes prior knowledge for decision making and human judgment, as well as, quantum theory in order to model the cognitive domain. Result: The states of mind like neutral mind and equanimity may help an individual to take correct decision with unbiased judgment, and accomplish right cognition. Conclusion: The general Bayesian framework when coupled with quantum theory may help us to understand states of mind like neutral mind and equanimity, in which decision-making happens with unbiased judgment. The current paper also opens up a new dialog between modern science and Indian philosophy as the latter is likely to offer an explanation to the superposed state that has been studied by the scientific community in quantum theory.