Cognitive Legos
https://sciencebasedmedicine.org/the-war-over-ultraprocessed-foods/
Learning one task often helps us tackle other related tasks. This is known as cognitive flexibility, where our brains – specifically, networks of processing modules – allow us to repurpose knowledge. Research with rhesus macaques shows they can break down tasks into components, using the same brain paths for different challenges. However, there’s a tradeoff between smoothly applying past skills and the interference that can arise from doing so. The discussion around whether we’re ‘lumpers’ (who easily transfer skills) versus ‘splitters’ (who keep tasks separate) raises more questions than answers. How do varying strategies affect our learning? Can we really have the best of both worlds?
