Wegner demonstrated a two-step process of frontocortical regulation: (A) one stream identifies X as being very important; (B) the other stream tracks whether the conclusion is “Do X” or “Never do X.” And during stress, distraction, or heavy cognitive load, the two streams can dissociate; the A stream exerts its presence without the B stream saying which fork in the road to take. The chance that you will do precisely the wrong thing rises not despite your best efforts but because of a stress-boggled version of them.
