The human brain in decision-making processes in hospital administrative and financial units: Neural mechanisms, theta activity, and awareness

This study aims to examine theta activity in the frontal region during rational decisions and in the temporal region during intuitive decisions. It also evaluates awareness levels using a decision-making scale administered to personnel in hospital administrative and financial units. The study included 56 participants (32 women, 24 men). The experimental design employed EEG recordings during decision-making tasks, with theta (4–7 Hz) responses analyzed using oscillatory brain activity methods. The findings indicate a significant increase in theta activity in the frontal region during rational decision-making (F = 21.104, p < 0.001), suggesting that these decisions require greater cognitive control and attention. This supports cognitive control theories that highlight the role of the prefrontal cortex in deliberative processes. Additionally, elevated theta activity was observed in the temporal regions during intuitive decision-making (F = 6.821, p < 0.001), reflecting the involvement of memory and sensory integration processes. Weak negative correlations were found between rational decision-making scale scores and theta activity in the T7 region (r = –.129), and between intuitive decision-making scale scores and theta activity in the T8 region (r = –.180). These findings suggest that self-reported awareness may only partially capture the underlying neurophysiological mechanisms. Overall, these results highlight the role of regional brain oscillations in differentiating rational and intuitive decision-making. They carry important implications for enhancing cognitive assessment tools and advancing our understanding of neural mechanisms in high-stakes hospital settings.