Cognitive consonance

'''Cognitive consonance''' is a comfortable and pleasant state of harmony and internal consistency arising from compatibility among a person's attitudes, behavior, beliefs, and/or knowledge. It is the opposite of [[Cognitive dissonance|cognitive dissonance]].

In an [[Agent-Based Model]], cognitive consonance can be described as a '''conflict resolution''' between agents. The resolution of conflicts and contradictions is pleasant for the mind, society or population as a whole, because group integrity is restored. Each conflict resolution reduces confusion, and is associated with a pleasant insight. The moments of discovery where cognitive consonance is reached are called the "aha," "eureka!" or "light bulb" moments. In these moments of insight, "EEG recordings revealed a distinctive flash of gamma waves emanating from the brain's right hemisphere" [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-daydreaming/200909/aha-moments-caught-tape]. They are related to a flash of neural waves, a real flood of neural activation.

== Links ==

* Psychology Today [http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-power-daydreaming/200909/aha-moments-caught-tape "Aha" Moments Caught on Tape ]