Does this background process have any neurological backing (literally a part of your brain) or is it more of a mental mode?

Literally part of the brain.

Limbic: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limbic_system

Frontal Lobe: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontal_lobe

Disclaimer: I only know this from armchair psychology books like Habit, Start with Why, etc.