What Brain Science might teach us about Conceptual Understanding.
Evolutionary cognitive neuroscientist Michael Gazzaniga argues that one useful way to understand the brain is as a collection of modular units each evolved to solve particular functional challenges. Let me give an example: You’re standing on the curb ready to cross at the pedestrian lights on your way to work. The lights turn green and you start to step onto the road. Just as you step forward a flash of red in your peripheral vision causes you to step back quickly onto the curb. Several things have happened in this scenario. Because you are familiar with the process of crossing roads and have crossed this road many times before, your brain is following a script for how to read the green light and where to walk. You do this relatively automatically, perhaps directing your attention to a podcast you’re listening to or thinking about your day ahead as you stand at the lights. When you step forward onto the road and the flash of red light is detected in your peripheral vision, anothe...