Intuition and Noise in Decision Making (Chapter 16)

Erico Azevedo

How a Decade of Research Challenges Everything We Thought We Knew About Rational Choice

About the Book

Information Fields: Theory and Applications (Springer Nature, 2026) is a landmark publication that establishes a new frontier in science. Edited by Erico Azevedo and José Pissolato Filho, this volume brings together 17 chapters from leading researchers around the world to explore how information—not just matter and energy—may be a fundamental building block of reality. The book bridges quantum physics, biology, and psychology, offering a unified framework for understanding how information organizes the universe, from entangled particles to human consciousness.

[Link to book: https://link.springer.com/book/9789819517411]

About the Author: The Engineer Who Studied the Soul of Decision

Erico Azevedo, PhD, is the co-editor of this volume and a researcher whose unique trajectory—PhD in Electrical Engineering from UNICAMP and PhD in Clinical Psychology from PUC/SP—positions him as a rare bridge-builder between the exact sciences and the human sciences. As co-founder and Director of ORIONT, an institute dedicated to research and human potential development, Azevedo has dedicated his career to investigating questions that conventional science avoids: Is intuition real? Can it be measured? What is its physical basis?

This chapter represents the culmination of over a decade of research (2006–2016) with 131 participants—entrepreneurs making high-stakes business decisions, professionals at career crossroads, and psychologists seeking deeper understanding of their own decision processes. It is at once a scientific report, a philosophical reflection, and a practical guide.

Azevedo is also the author of Intuition: From Mystery to Mastery (ORIONT Books, 2025), where these ideas are developed for a broader audience. His work honors the tradition of great thinkers—from Einstein to Husserl—who recognized that intuition is not a cognitive glitch but a fundamental mode of knowing.

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The Big Picture: The Riddle of Intuition

Throughout human history, intuition has had great advocates.

Scientists like August Kekulé, who discovered the ring structure of benzene in a dream. Dmitri Mendeleev, who saw the periodic table in his sleep. Albert Einstein, who famously said: “The intellect has little to do on the road to discovery. There comes a leap in consciousness—call it intuition or what you will—and the solution comes to you.”

Inventors like Thomas Edison, who would alternate between work and sleep in his laboratory, solving practical problems in his dreams. Artists like Picasso and Tchaikovsky. Philosophers from Aristotle to Husserl. Entrepreneurs like Steve Jobs and Richard Branson. Investors like George Soros, who wrote: “I heavily rely on my animal instincts.”

Yet modern decision science—particularly the prospect theory of Daniel Kahneman and Amos Tversky, which won the Nobel Prize in Economics—has taken a very different view. In this framework, intuition is “System 1″—fast, automatic, effortless, but also error-prone. It generates impressions that must be monitored and corrected by “System 2″—slow, deliberate, rational. Intuition, in this view, is the source of bias, not wisdom.

Who is right? The greatest minds in history, or the laboratory experiments?

Azevedo’s answer is nuanced: both are right, but they are talking about different things. The intuition of Einstein and Kekulé is not the same as the “intuition” measured in cognitive psychology experiments. One is a deep resonance with reality; the other is a mental shortcut. Confusing them has led to a century of misunderstanding.

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What Is Intuition, Really?

To understand intuition, we must first understand how knowledge works. Classically, humans acquire knowledge through two distinct methods:

Mediated methods include induction and deduction. Incomplete induction is common in empirical sciences like Physics and Biology—conclusions are based on sufficiently large samples, allowing for ongoing progress but only conditional validity. Despite this limitation, empirical science remains highly useful for practical life.

Intuition, by contrast, is a non-mediated form of knowledge. The Greek word for “truth”, Αλήθεια (alethéia), means “without veil”—direct, immediate, unmediated. Philosopher Edmund Husserl described intuition as the originary experience of knowing the truth, free from theoretical layers or biases. Etymologically, “intuition” comes from intus actionem—the inner form of a being or action, a deep, internal connection with reality.

From the perspective of information field theory, this makes perfect sense. We exist in an informational universe, continuously exchanging configuration states within interconnected quantum fields that influence at any distance. Intuition is simply our conscious access to this continuous exchange.

Azevedo outlines the process:

1. Being, whatever it might be, is action—and every action has its intrinsic form. Every energetic quantum has its state, known or not.
2. Humans are no exception. We are energy in a totality of energy, a unity of action—whether chemical, biological, or psychic.
3. We are inevitably intus actionem (intuition), whether we have consciousness of it or not. Knowledge is the result of this intuitive metabolism.
4. The life-world is precisely the total action of which we are an integral and constituent part—the pre-logical, pre-scientific concrete world.
5. Within this flowing experience, some situations are more pertinent to our identity than others. They become priority, taking us out of indifference, producing actions and reactions.
6. These actions which act in me (in me ago = “image”) stabilize in images. Through them, it is possible to individuate the informing causes of our actions, before their effects.

This is how how information fields operate in human experience.

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Three Levels of Intuition

According to Azevedo, intuition manifests at three levels, each with the same underlying processes but differing in complexity:

Level 1: Routine Decisions

Intuition provides quick solutions in daily life—deciding what to eat, which route to take, how to respond in conversation. This intuitive process helps us make optimal decisions among the thousands of choices we face every day.

Level 2: Complex Problems

When facing business or scientific challenges, intuition offers solutions and identifies opportunities that are not immediately obvious. This involves an immersion in the problem, an unconscious “gestation” of solutions that may surface during relaxed states—sudden realizations or “eureka” moments. Many significant scientific discoveries occur in such states.

Level 3: Pure Intuitions

These transcend space and time, breaking down the subject-object barrier and achieving profound understanding of reality’s structures. Mystical visions, transformative theories that redefine science and humanity—these are insights into a deeper universal reality, not solutions to everyday problems.

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How Intuition Expresses Itself

Intuition typically expresses itself through images, which act as powerful structures for energy. Images can be immediately clear or require careful interpretation. Intuitions become “insights” when they are complete and ready for action, often accompanied by strong “eureka” situations

Intuition can also emerge in dreams or deep meditation, where messages are not literal and require understanding the unconscious’s language. In some cases, it manifests as a direct, non-imagistic effect from information fields—clear subjective knowledge that becomes evident upon rational investigation.

Crucially, intuition should not be mistaken with emotion, though it can trigger emotional responses upon realization. It is not a memory, as it offers unique perceptions of reality. Intuition uses any form—memory, emotion, music—to express itself, transcending structural boundaries.

This means the richness of one’s cultural and specific knowledge directly influences how precisely intuition can be expressed. Those with broader knowledge have more refined intuitive expression.

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What You’ll Discover in This Chapter

Reading this chapter, you will encounter:

The story of people who changed their lives based on intuition understood through their dreames. In one case, he followed the dream intuition anyway, in spite of initial resistence, and the project grew into a multinational technology company with over 1,000 consultants and $500 million in annual revenue. On the other, dreams were warnings—but she prefered to ignore them, chosing the “safe” path, and found herself trapped in the very future she had feared.

The discovery that during dream reporting, therapist and client physiological signals synchronize up to 96%. Pulse rates align. Biophoton emissions correlate. This is not suggestion or empathy in the conventional sense. It is field resonance—the same phenomenon that entangles particles across the universe, now manifesting in human relationship.

The mathematical model that explains why we self-sabotage. Just as we approach breakthrough, dormant noise erupts—anxiety spikes, confidence crumbles, we make choices that undermine our own success. This is not weakness. It is a field dynamic, predictable and addressable.

The synthesis of prospect theory and information fields. What Kahneman called “biases” become noise $\eta(t)$. What he called “System 1” becomes $\lambda$-driven field resonance. The two frameworks, seemingly opposed, find their unity in a deeper physics of information.

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The Mathematical Model: Intuition as Field Resonance

Azevedo formalizes his observations in a mathematical model that unites prospect theory with information field dynamics.

Intuition as Field-Mediated Resonance

Intuitions arise from nonlocal coupling between the individual’s ontic core ($\Psi_{I}$) and environmental information fields ($\Psi_{env}$):

$Ψ_{total}=Ψ_I+∑_k λ_k Ψ_{env}^{(k)}$

where $λ_k$ represents coupling constants modulating the influence of external fields. Intuition emerges when $\Psi_{I}$ resonates with $\Psi_{env}$ without energetic transfer. Azevedo says.

We are ‘one’ with our reality, including problems and opportunities

Decision-making Dynamics

The mathematical model proposed also envolves:

• Teleological Unfolding ($\lambda$-Term): Self-fulfillment drive toward authentic choices
• Noise ($\eta(t)$): Cognitive biases, cultural distortions, trauma, which may decay with time.

High $\lambda$ and low $\eta$ correlate with accurate intuition—”eureka” moments.

Dreams as Geometric Projections

Intuitive content surfaces in dreams as nonlinear projections. Dream imagery encodes teleological weights, biases toward $\Psi_{I}^{(ideal)}$. Dreams amplify salient signals while filtering noise.

The Self-Sabotage Model: Why We Ignore Intuition?

Perhaps the most original contribution of this chapter is the mathematical modeling of self-sabotage—why we consistently act against our own best interests. Azevedo models noise with memory-dependent decay, , strengthening with each repetition of noise-driven choices. Each repetition slows decay, making noise more persistent.

When the self-actualization drive $\lambda$ exceeds a threshold ($\lambda_{th}$), dormant noise erupts ($\kappa$ term). This captures the growth paradox: sudden anxiety during career advancements, “fear of success,” inexplicable self-sabotage just as breakthrough approaches.

Self-sabotage becomes reality when repetition lowers the threshold for noise dominance. The model also identifies two key intervention points: (1) breaking repetition cycles to accelerate noise decay, and (2) resolving dormant distortions to prevent resurgence during growth thresholds.

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The key insight

intuition does not lead to errors. Errors are the effect of noise generated by rigid judgment biases that hinder intuitive access. 

When proper methods restore access to intuition—through dream analysis, bodily awareness, and careful attention to patterns—decision satisfaction improves dramatically.

This does not mean abandoning rationality. Rather, rationality works best when it has a clean signal to work with. The goal is not to override reason with gut feelings, but to give reason the full range of information that perception can provide—including the organismic perception of information fields.

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Why This Chapter Matters

Azevedo’s contribution is significant for several reasons:

1. It validates intuition scientifically 

Over a decade of research with real-world decisions, physiological measurements, and rigorous statistical analysis demonstrates that intuition is real, measurable, and effective.

2. It provides a mathematical framework

The $\Psi_{I}$ model formalizes intuition, noise, and self-sabotage in equations that generate testable predictions—a first in the field.

3. It reconciles apparent contradictions

The intuition of geniuses and the “intuition” of cognitive psychology are different phenomena. Confusing them has led to misunderstanding; distinguishing them clarifies both.

4. It offers practical tools

The introspective method, dream analysis protocol, and authenticity index provide clinicians and individuals with concrete ways to access and evaluate intuition.

5. It explains self-sabotage

The growth paradox—why we undermine ourselves just as we approach breakthrough—is not a moral failing but a field dynamic with predictable patterns and intervention points.

6. It honors the wisdom of the past

From Aristotle to Einstein, Husserl to Jung, the great minds who trusted intuition are vindicated—not as lucky exceptions but as exemplars of a fundamental human capacity.

7. It connects to the broader $\Psi_{I}$ framework

Intuition is not an isolated phenomenon but a manifestation of the same field dynamics that entangle particles, coordinate cells, and synchronize brains.

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Connections to Other Chapters

This chapter resonates deeply with other contributions:

• Chapter 1 (Azevedo & Pissolato): The $\Psi_{I}$ field as fundamental primitive—here applied to decision-making
• Chapter 10 (Meneghetti): Semantic fields—the psychological manifestation of $\Psi_{I}$ in human interaction
• Chapter 11 (Radin et al.): Nonlocal experiences—psi phenomena as evidence for field-mediated perception
• Chapter 12 (Azevedo): Nonlocal human communication—experimental validation of field synchronization
• Chapter 13 (Goto): Phenomenology of consciousness—the philosophical foundation for studying intuition
• Chapter 14 (Azevedo & Perin): Information fields in psychology—clinical validation of the framework

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What Makes This Chapter Unique

Several features distinguish this chapter from other treatments of intuition:

It is grounded in real-world decisions. The 131 participants were not undergraduates earning course credit. They were entrepreneurs whose choices affected employees and families, professionals at career crossroads, psychologists seeking deeper understanding. The stakes were real, the outcomes measurable.

It integrates multiple levels of analysis. Dreams, physiological measurements, self-reports, and mathematical modeling all converge on the same conclusions. This is not armchair philosophy or single-method psychology. It is science at its most robust.

It honors the wisdom of the past. From Aristotle to Husserl, from Einstein to Jung, the great minds who trusted intuition are vindicated—not as lucky exceptions but as exemplars of a fundamental human capacity that modern science has neglected.

It is clinically applicable. The introspective method, dream analysis protocol, and authenticity index provide concrete tools for therapists, coaches, and individuals seeking to make better decisions.

It connects to fundamental physics. By grounding intuition in information field theory, Azevedo shows that decision science is not separate from the rest of science. The same principles that govern quantum entanglement govern human choice.

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Key Takeaways

1. Intuition is real and measurable. A decade of research with 131 participants demonstrates that intuitive insights can be accessed, validated, and distinguished from noise.
2. Intuition is not a bias. It is resonance between the individual’s ontic core and environmental information fields. Errors arise from noise, not intuition.
3. Dreams are geometric projections of the ontic core. They reveal the path to self-fulfillment before we consciously know it—and can be decoded through proper methods.
4. Physiological synchronization confirms field resonance. During dream reporting, therapist-client physiological signals synchronize up to 96% ($p < 0.0001$).
5. Noise has memory. Self-sabotage patterns strengthen with repetition, making them increasingly resistant to change.
6. The growth paradox is real. Just as we approach breakthrough, dormant noise erupts ($\kappa$-surge). This is not weakness but a field dynamic.
7. Authenticity can be quantified. The Authenticity Index predicts decision satisfaction and therapeutic success.
8. Integration is possible. Prospect theory’s descriptive power and $\Psi_{I}$‘s field mechanics can be unified in a single framework.

Why This Matters for You

You might be wondering: why should I, as someone who is not a decision scientist, care about this chapter?

Because you make decisions every day. Some are trivial; others shape the course of your life. And if Azevedo is right, you have access to a source of guidance that most decision science ignores—a source that can help you navigate complexity, avoid pitfalls, and align your choices with your deepest self.

Learning to access intuition is not about abandoning reason. It is about giving reason a cleaner signal to work with. The entrepreneurs, scientists, and artists who trusted their intuition were not irrational. They were integrating more information than rational analysis alone could provide.

This chapter offers a framework for doing that consciously, systematically, and scientifically.

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A Glimpse Inside: What You’ll Find

The chapter is structured to guide you through this revolutionary perspective:

Section 1 introduces the problem: the clash between the testimony of geniuses and the conclusions of decision science. It defines intuition in phenomenological terms and distinguishes three levels at which it operates.

Section 2 describes the research methods—the introspective tools, the physiological measurements, the structured questionnaire that guided 131 participants through real decisions.

Section 3 presents the results, including the stunning 96% physiological synchrony during dream reporting, the patterns of intuition awareness, and the predictors of decision satisfaction.

Section 4 introduces the mathematical model, formalizing intuition as field resonance and noise as interference. The equations are there for those who want them, but the conceptual insights are accessible to all.

Section 5 extends the model to self-sabotage, revealing the dynamics of the growth paradox and the conditions under which noise becomes dominant.

Section 6 shows how the research instruments—dream analysis, body language, semantic field examination—map onto the mathematical framework.

Section 7 synthesizes the findings, proposing a unified decision theory that integrates prospect theory with information field dynamics.

Section 8 concludes with a vision of wise choices grounded in the physics of information.

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About the Author’s Journey

Erico Azevedo began this research as an engineer, trained to measure and model. But he found that the most important decisions in life resisted measurement by conventional tools. This led him to psychology, to philosophy, to the study of dreams and intuition—and ultimately to the information field theory that unifies this volume.

His journey is a testament to what becomes possible when we refuse to accept the boundaries that disciplines impose. The engineer who learned to listen to dreams. The psychologist who learned to model mathematically. The scientist who took intuition seriously enough to study it for a decade.

The result is a chapter that challenges not only decision science but our very understanding of what it means to choose wisely.

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For Further Exploration

• ORIONT Institute: https://oriont.org
• Key book: Azevedo, E. (2025). Intuition: From Mystery to Mastery. ORIONT Books.
• Key concepts: Ontic core, semantic field, noise decay, self-sabotage, authenticity index, $\kappa$-surge, growth paradox
• Key researchers: Daniel Kahneman (prospect theory), Antonio Meneghetti (Ontopsychology), Edmund Husserl (phenomenology)

Explore other Information Fields book chapters

Book Intro

Part I: The Physical Realm

Chapter 1: Information Fields as a Fundamental Physical Primitive
Erico Azevedo & José Pissolato Filho

Chapter 2: The Persistence of Information in a Quantum Reality
Shantena Sabbadini

Chapter 3: Unveiling Quantum Entanglement
Erico Azevedo & José Pissolato Filho

Chapter 4: Fractal Hyperspace Engineering
Anirban Bandyopadhyay, Sudeshna Pramanik & Pushpendra Singh

Part II: The Biophysical Realm

Chapter 5: Long-Distance Cellular Communication: A Review
Mariana Cabral Schveitzer & Maria Luiza Bazzo

Chapter 6: Biofields and Bioenergy
Konstantin Korotkov

Chapter 7: Developmental Biology and Morphogenetic Fields
Ricardo Ghelman

Chapter 8: Imperfection as the Foundation of Life
Ivan V. Savelev, Michael M. Rempel, Oksana Polesskaya, Richard Alan Miller & Max Myakishev-Rempel

Part III: The Biopsychical Realm

Chapter 9: Morphic Resonance and Beyond
Rupert Sheldrake

Chapter 10: Semantic Fields
Antonio Meneghetti

Chapter 11: Nonlocal Experiences in a Quantum Reality
Dean Radin, Helané Wahbeh, Garret Yount, Thomas Brophy, Sitara Taddeo & Arnaud Delorme

Chapter 12: Nonlocal Human Communication: A Unified Framework via the $Ψ_I$ Field
Erico Azevedo

Chapter 13: Exploring the Dimensions of Consciousness
Tommy Akira Goto

Part IV: Applications

Chapter 14: Information Fields in Psychology
Erico Azevedo & Nathália Perin

Chapter 15: Medical Systems and Integrative Health
Ricardo Ghelman, Caio S. Portella & José Ruguê Ribeiro Junior

Chapter 16: Intuition and Noise in Decision Making
Erico Azevedo

Chapter 17: From Metaphysics to Science
Alécio Vidor

Conclusion

About ORIONT

ORIONT is an institute dedicated to research, training, and practical applications of Ontopsychology and human potential development. Co-founded by Erico Azevedo and Nathália Perin, it serves as a bridge between rigorous scientific investigation and the lived experience of human development. Through research, publications, and training programs, ORIONT carries forward the vision of a science that includes the full depth of human experience. [Website: https://oriont.org]

Stay tuned for our ongoing series exploring each chapter of Information Fields in depth. Follow us for deep dives into the frontiers of consciousness research!

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