Know Your Brain Type

Brain imaging studies show us that not all brains are alike. In fact, after reviewing over 180,000 brain scans at Amen Clinics, we have identified 16 different brain types. Each brain type has unique strengths and weaknesses that influence your performance in the workplace. Knowing your brain type can help you understand more about how you work, perform under pressure, and interact with your supervisors, co-workers, or employees. There are 5 primary brain types, and then 11 brain types that are combinations of the primary ones. You can learn more about the 5 primary brain types below.

Type 1: Balanced Brain

• Brain findings: When the brain shows full, even, symmetrical blood flow in most areas, we call it balanced.
• Work style: If you have the balanced brain type, you tend to do what you say you’re going to do. You show up on time and follow through on tasks you promise to get done. Typically, you don’t like taking big risks, are not a first adopter, and tended to play in the sandbox when as a child. In general, you like rules and tend to play by them.
• Common professions: People with the balanced brain type are not likely to be entrepreneurs or industry disruptors. They are more likely to make effective managers.
• Possible mental health issues: This brain type tends to be healthy.
• Optimization bonus: Boost brainpower to even higher levels for peak performance in every area of your career or business.

Type 2: Spontaneous Brain

• Brain findings: If the front part of your brain is lower in activity compared to others, you are more likely to be impulsive and spontaneous.
• Work style: In business, this means you tend to be creative, a risk-taker, and an outside-the-box thinker. People with the spontaneous brain type also tend to be impulsive, struggle with organization, are often late or in a rush to meetings, and are prone to miss deadlines.
• Common professions: The spontaneous brain type is very common among entrepreneurs, entertainers, politicians, and realtors.
• Possible mental health issues: People with the spontaneous brain type are more vulnerable to ADD/ADHD, substance abuse, and depression.
• Optimization bonus: Take smarter risks and harness your efforts so you can follow through more effectively on your creative ideas.

Type 3: Persistent Brain

• Brain findings: If the front part of your brain is much more active than average, especially in an area called the anterior cingulate gyrus, you tend to worry and be more persistent.
• Work style: People with this type are often take-charge people who won’t take no for an answer. You tend to be tenacious and stubborn. In addition, you may worry, have trouble sleeping, be argumentative and oppositional, and hold grudges from the past. You may have trouble shifting gears from one project to another or changing directions to help your business stay relevant in a fluid market.
• Common professions: The persistent brain type is common among chief operating officers, project managers, and web engineers.
• Possible mental health issues: People with this brain type are more vulnerable to obsessive compulsive disorder.
• Optimization bonus: Capitalize on your take-charge style while developing greater flexibility so you can go with the flow and make quick career or business shifts at the most opportune times.

Type 4: Sensitive Brain

• Brain findings: If your emotional or limbic brain is more active than average, you tend to be more vulnerable to sadness and be more sensitive.
• Work style: People with this type tend to be deeply feeling and empathic, which is a benefit in many professions. However, you may also be more prone to pessimism and struggle with negative thoughts that can prevent you from believing in your ability to get to the next level of success.
• Common professions: The sensitive brain type is common among therapists, healthcare professionals, social workers, as well as creative types.
• Possible mental health issues: This brain type is more prone to depression, mood disorders, and addiction.
• Optimization bonus: Imagine how much more effective you could be if you could break free from negative thinking patterns and embrace a can-do attitude.

Type 5: Cautious Brain

• Brain findings: If your amygdala and basal ganglia are more active than average, you tend to be more anxious and cautious.
• Work style: People with the cautious brain type tend to be prepared, motivated, and risk-averse. You’re the type who shows up 5 minutes early for meetings, tends to have a busy mind and has trouble relaxing.
• Common professions: The cautious brain type is common among accountants, researchers, and data analysts.
• Possible mental health issues: This brain type has a vulnerability for anxiety.
• Optimization bonus: When you free yourself of anxious tendencies, you stop thinking about the fear of failure and open yourself up to greater possibilities.