3 Brains Intelligence™ is a neuroscience-based model developed by Christoffel Sneijders that identifies three functional brains — the Head, Heart, and Gut — each with its own memory, intelligence, and motivation. The model shows how aligning these three brains improves decision-making, leadership, relationships, and personal well-being.
There are crucial new scientific insights into human thinking and feeling, connecting the dots of 100,000 million body cells. Current research has upended the notion that we have a single powerful mind home to thoughts, emotions, and reactions (neocortex, limbic brain, and cerebellum). Science now tells us we have two other brains comprising thought, memory, and action!
In addition to our well-known 'thinking' brain (which we will call the 'Head-Brain'), we have the 'social' brain (which we will call the 'Heart-Brain'), and the 'self-preservation' brain (which we will call the ‘Gut-Brain’). More importantly, all 3 Brains perceive, interpret, and react to the world in a distinctly different way. Although the brains have the same objective of keeping us alive, healthy, and happy, the critical functions are the opposite.
Before now, if Heart and Gut Brains were thought to exist at all, they were considered separate entities that existed and reacted independently and were not capable of communicating or collaborating with one another. We have come to know differently.
The Gut Brain – Our Survival and Drive Center
First identified by neurobiologist Dr. Michael Gershon in The Second Brain (1998), the Gut Brain is a vast neural network containing more than 500 million neurons. It communicates continuously with the rest of the body through the vagus nerve and regulates our most primal instincts of survival and safety.
The Gut Brain’s core motivation is self-preservation. It triggers instinctive emotions like fear, anger, desire, and courage — driving the “fight, flight, or freeze” responses. When the Gut Brain dominates, our decisions are fast, reactive, and focused on me — on staying safe and in control.
Yet this survival drive also fuels achievement, risk-taking, and perseverance. Leaders with a strong Gut Brain often act decisively under pressure and follow through on goals. The challenge arises when it overrides the Heart and Head Brains, creating defensiveness, aggression, or burnout.
Our Gut Brain is the real survivor; when push comes to shove, it tells us how to survive.
Traits of the Gut Brain:
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Pro: Drives action, courage, and results
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Con: May dismiss collaboration or empathy when under threat
When aligned with the Heart and Head Brains, the Gut becomes our source of grounded confidence and authentic power.
The Heart Brain – Our Connection and Compassion Center
In 1991, neurocardiologist Dr. J. Andrew Armour discovered a complex neural network within the heart, capable of learning, remembering, and making independent decisions — a true “Heart Brain.” It communicates with the Head and Gut through electrical, hormonal, and energetic pathways.
The Heart Brain’s primary motivation is connection and belonging. It governs emotions such as love, empathy, joy, guilt, and compassion — everything related to us rather than me. It shapes our ability to build trust, create psychological safety, and lead with emotional intelligence.
When balanced, the Heart Brain allows authentic connection and empathy; when overactive, it can lead to people-pleasing or over-caretaking at the expense of one’s own needs.
Our Heart is our relationship radar, it is the center of values and is good or wrong.
Traits of the Heart Brain:
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Pro: Builds empathy, collaboration, and relational trust
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Con: Can suppress boundaries or self-prioritisation
In leadership, the Heart Brain is the bridge between performance and humanity — translating intention into authentic influence.
Curious how your 3 brains dominate your life
do the free 3 Brains Preference Test
The Head Brain – Our Logic and Prediction Center
The place where three parts are connected ad are actually one braind : Reptile Brain, Mammal (limbic) Brain and Primate (neocortex) Brain.
The Head Brain integrates three major evolutionary layers — the reptilian, mammalian (limbic), and primate (neocortex) systems. It is our thinking, planning, and predicting center, responsible for reasoning, language, and foresight.
Its core motivation is to make sense of the world — to analyze data, understand patterns, and design intelligent solutions. The Head Brain works with intellectual emotions like curiosity, anticipation, and wonder. It is what allows us to learn, innovate, and envision the future.
However, when disconnected from the Heart and Gut, the Head Brain can become over-analytical, detached, or paralyzed by overthinking. True intelligence emerges when rational analysis (Head) collaborates with emotional wisdom (Heart) and instinctive intuition (Gut).
Our Head is focused on providing the right prediction, and therefore understand, analyses and creates scenarios.
Traits of the Head Brain:
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Pro: Brings clarity, logic, and strategic foresight
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Con: Risks emotional disconnection or analysis paralysis
Aligned with the other brains, the Head becomes the visionary leader’s compass, transforming insight into purpose-driven action.
Aligning Your Three Brains
When your Head, Heart, and Gut Brains work in harmony, decisions become balanced — rationally sound, emotionally wise, and instinctively confident. This alignment is at the core of 3 Brains Intelligence™, a model created by Christoffel Sneijders to help leaders, coaches, and individuals reconnect with their biological intelligence and make choices that create lasting success and well-being.
Applying 3 Brains Intelligence in Daily Life and Leadership
True mastery of 3 Brains Intelligence™ begins when you use it consciously in everyday moments.
Every decision, conversation, and challenge invites you to ask: Which brain is leading right now — my Head, my Heart, or my Gut?
When you pause and realign the three, you shift from reaction to intention.
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In leadership, this means balancing clarity with compassion and courage — making choices that are logical, empathetic, and grounded.
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In coaching or teamwork, it allows you to listen beyond words, sense unspoken emotions, and respond from alignment rather than ego.
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In personal life, it cultivates self-awareness, emotional resilience, and peace between your mind, emotions, and instincts.
Leading and living with Head–Heart–Gut alignment builds integrity, trust, and purpose.
It transforms the way you think, connect, and act — empowering you to become the kind of leader who inspires from wholeness, not hierarchy.
Explore how to apply 3 Brains Intelligence™ in real life through our
Coach and Leadership Trainings.
This synopsis of the 3 Brains - Head, Heart, and Gut - the path for long-lasting change a webinar that I did for ICF International Coaching Week will definitely provide you with some interesting insights, beautiful people, and some meat on the bones.
This spotify interview by executive coach Mireia Mujika Irusta about the 3 Brains - Head, Heart, and Gut - coaching
will definitely provide you with some interesting insights, beautiful people, and some meat on the bones.
