Page 45 - Microsoft Word - The Future of Learning April 2017.docx

Having larger and more sophisticated astrocytes changed everything for humans as there is a considerable advantage to mapping and remembering ideas and concepts without having to go through a lengthy rote-learning process for every roundabout!
We carry out most of our daily activities non-consciously via these automated non- conscious processes. Each of our automated actions has an underlying concept framework that has been mapped by us, and is automatically triggered when we require it. Even though eating each meal or navigating each roundabout is a unique event. The brain interrogates all our sensory data and then applies our underlying concept framework of roundabouts and predicts how we will navigate that specific roundabout, all without any conscious thinking. The same process explains how we eat our meals, vacuum the house and play sports without consciously thinking about each underlying concept framework for each action.
In this model, it is proposed that the hormones associated with our feelings of excitement, danger and possible success, chemically induce astrocytes to map and identify the concept framework associated with the hormone response we are experiencing. The more powerful the hormone response, the quicker the concept framework is mapped and learned.
As explained above, the more intense the hormonal response in the brain, the more quickly the concept is mapped and stored as a long-term conceptual memory. When learning a concept, there are no temporary or short-term memory processes. The underlying patterns provide the foundation for all the concepts we learn, and once understood, we map them to permanent memory instantly. This is an amazing capability and has provided us with significant evolutionary advantages.
This process provides humans with a huge efficiency gain in learning when compared to every other species. From a learning perspective, what is more interesting is that it appears that everyone has about the same level of capacity for learning, creating and applying concepts. The distribution curve of success for forming ideas and concepts seems to be relatively equitable for everyone. We are also the only species with this ability to form new concepts ‘on the fly’.
Once we have developed knowledge, ideas and concepts the brain can then start linking together the millions of possible combinations of these thinking elements to create frameworks of concepts. Driving a car requires a concept framework that draws on numerous concepts. The brain only ever stores one copy of each concept; however, each concept can be linked into hundreds of different concept frameworks, the ultimate in cognitive recycling and efficiency!
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