Apophenia, the belief that our brain is sending us “signals”
The light turns green when you are considering a major decision. When you’re thinking about your ex, a song associated with a painful memory starts playing. These moments, often thought of as winks from the universe, are actually expressions of our brain’s search for meaning.
This phenomenon, called apophenia, is the result of brain activity that associates events without any real connection between them. But why does our mind do this, and is it always a bad thing?
Apophenia, a cognitive bias inherited from evolution.
The term “apophenia” was introduced by neurologist Klaus Conrad in 1959 to describe the tendency to attribute meaning to unrelated events. This phenomenon, initially used to study psychological disorders, is actually an evolutionary legacy.
Our ancestors, by observing nature to survive, developed the ability to recognize patterns in their environment. Today, our brain keeps trying to make connections, even if they are confusing. As neuroscientist Tali Sharot explains when interviewed by the media Self, The human brain is a pattern recognition machine ”, which can sometimes play tricks on us.
Engine of creativity and optimism
Rather than being entirely problematic, apophenia may have positive effects, particularly on creativity. According to Christian Rominger, people who are more susceptible to apophenia receive more sensory information, are more attentive and generate new ideas.
This quality not only promotes artistic pursuits but can also encourage healthy optimism. However, as psychologist Colin DeYoung points out, it is important not to give excessive importance to these “signs” at the risk of falling into obsession.
How to understand and use apophenia?
If apophenia can enrich our imagination and our perception, it can also mislead us. It is necessary to separate innocent coincidences from important decisions. Learn to strike a balance between intuition and rational thinking, rather than systematically searching for hidden messages.
Apophenia can be a fascinating tool for exploring your thoughts, but it shouldn’t dominate your life.