Designing with the Mind in Mind, 2nd Edition

Chapter 10

Learning from Experience and Performing Learned Actions are Easy; Novel Actions, Problem Solving, and Calculation are Hard

Abstract

Human brains consist of three structures that evolved at vastly different times, serve different functions, and operate at different rates: the old brain, the midbrain, and the new brain. The result is that our brain operates in at least two ways: automatic and controlled. Most of our behavior is automatic. The automatic system is faster and dominant; it helps keep us alive. The automatic system easily learns from experience and executes learned actions. However, the controlled system believes it is in charge, because it is the only one with consciousness. It is only used when novel action is required, ...