The Mind Menagerie

Behaviorism

An Aged Tortoise Tells Us Much About Pavlovian Conditioning

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on August 29, 2024

Most believe that Pavlovian conditioning is a form of learning that is limited to simple reactions like salivation. But Pavlov's own view of conditioning was vastly more expansive.

Most believe that Pavlovian conditioning is a form of learning that is limited to simple reactions like salivation. But Pavlov's own view of conditioning was vastly more expansive.

Behaviorism

What Do We Make of Surprising Coincidences?

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on February 14, 2024

Coincidences certainly capture our attention. Most are quite personal and prompt many interpretations. But beware of magical or conspiratorial accounts. Sheer chance may suffice.

Coincidences certainly capture our attention. Most are quite personal and prompt many interpretations. But beware of magical or conspiratorial accounts. Sheer chance may suffice.

Creativity

The "Lightbulb Moment" Is Innovation's Most Misleading Meme

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on August 25, 2023

Most people have heard of the "Eureka!" moment, when Thomas Edison instantly and brilliantly invented the lightbulb. The problem? It never happened.

Most people have heard of the "Eureka!" moment, when Thomas Edison instantly and brilliantly invented the lightbulb. The problem? It never happened.

Education

Pigeons Can Solve a Task that Would Stump Us

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on April 6, 2023

Associative learning is often deemed to be rigid and limited, yet this process enables pigeons to learn a categorization task that can stump more sophisticated forms of learning.

Associative learning is often deemed to be rigid and limited, yet this process enables pigeons to learn a categorization task that can stump more sophisticated forms of learning.

Bias

Racist Robots? Part of the Problem, Part of the Solution

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on September 20, 2022

Do you think only people can become prejudiced? Recent work suggests that AI can also acquire biases. That fact may help us reduce social bias in published media.

Do you think only people can become prejudiced? Recent work suggests that AI can also acquire biases. That fact may help us reduce social bias in published media.

Environment

Inventing the Lithophone: Intelligent Design Hits the Rocks

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on August 30, 2022

We marvel at the products of human innovation and hail their inventors as geniuses. Learning more about the creative process behind their making tells a very different story.

We marvel at the products of human innovation and hail their inventors as geniuses. Learning more about the creative process behind their making tells a very different story.

Creativity

Does Innovation Come "Out of the Blue"?

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on August 22, 2022

Creative ideas are often bedecked with extravagant romance. Innovative ideas are believed to arise in a blinding flash, seemingly out of the blue. Let's take a look at this notion.

Creative ideas are often bedecked with extravagant romance. Innovative ideas are believed to arise in a blinding flash, seemingly out of the blue. Let's take a look at this notion.

Creativity

Writing Hit Songs—As If by Design!

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on November 16, 2021

How do songwriters put lyrics to music? Do they wait for a burst of inspiration? Do they follow rigid rules? Do they have a clear end in mind? Or is the process more improvisational?

How do songwriters put lyrics to music? Do they wait for a burst of inspiration? Do they follow rigid rules? Do they have a clear end in mind? Or is the process more improvisational?

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Trial and Error in Developing Vaccines

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on May 17, 2021

Vaccine development can be a slow and uncertain matter—one often disparaged as ‘trial-and-error medicine.’ Is there no better way?

Vaccine development can be a slow and uncertain matter—one often disparaged as ‘trial-and-error medicine.’ Is there no better way?

Intelligence

Keeping Pigeons Close to Our Hearts

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on July 14, 2020

By keeping pigeons close to our hearts and seeing the world through their eyes, we learned a thing or two about the processes underlying our own classification of medical images.

By keeping pigeons close to our hearts and seeing the world through their eyes, we learned a thing or two about the processes underlying our own classification of medical images.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

Is the Coronavirus Our Worst Enemy? Or Are We?

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on May 19, 2020

The coronavirus pandemic has been called a war in which the virus is our enemy. But another foe may be preventing us from defeating the virus. We may be our own worst enemy.

The coronavirus pandemic has been called a war in which the virus is our enemy. But another foe may be preventing us from defeating the virus. We may be our own worst enemy.

Coronavirus Disease 2019

The Ultimate Game of Trial and Error: Lessons to Be Learned

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on April 17, 2020

COVID-19 poses an even greater threat to our species than the Gulf Oil Spill. We are once again deploying trial-and-error learning to confront this challenge.

COVID-19 poses an even greater threat to our species than the Gulf Oil Spill. We are once again deploying trial-and-error learning to confront this challenge.

Politics

Truth or Consequences: The Stakes Couldn't be Higher

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on February 18, 2020

How might we establish what is true? Science confronts this matter and provides methods to determine truth. Rejecting scientific truths is both consequential and dangerous.

How might we establish what is true? Science confronts this matter and provides methods to determine truth. Rejecting scientific truths is both consequential and dangerous.

President Donald Trump

What Drives Trump's Tweets?

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on September 5, 2019

It might seem an odd occasion to distinguish the two key kinds of associative learning, but the war of words between Donald Trump and the Baltimore Sun provides a chance to do so.

It might seem an odd occasion to distinguish the two key kinds of associative learning, but the war of words between Donald Trump and the Baltimore Sun provides a chance to do so.

President Donald Trump

Are We Just Making It Up As We Go Along?

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on June 3, 2019

Experts laud the virtues of foresighted planning while they disparage a more improvisational lifestyle. Might trial-and-error more strongly control our lives than careful planning?

Experts laud the virtues of foresighted planning while they disparage a more improvisational lifestyle. Might trial-and-error more strongly control our lives than careful planning?

Intelligence

Google’s April Fools’ Pigeon Prank Proves More Than a Joke

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on March 31, 2019

After Google proposed PigeonRank was behind its search function, we gave a small flock of pigeons a medical diagnostic test to assess its plausibility. The results were revealing.

After Google proposed PigeonRank was behind its search function, we gave a small flock of pigeons a medical diagnostic test to assess its plausibility. The results were revealing.

Environment

Climate Change: The Conflict Within Us

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on January 26, 2019

Most commentators frame the climate change debate as between political extremes. But, perhaps the more basic battle may be between clashing tendencies within each of us.

Most commentators frame the climate change debate as between political extremes. But, perhaps the more basic battle may be between clashing tendencies within each of us.

Neuroscience

Time and Space May Be Perceived by a Common Brain System

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on November 25, 2018

Einstein’s theory of relativity suggested that time and space are inseparable. Research has now revealed that people and animals use shared brain systems to judge time and space.

Einstein’s theory of relativity suggested that time and space are inseparable. Research has now revealed that people and animals use shared brain systems to judge time and space.

Sport and Competition

Dick Fosbury’s Famous Flop Was Actually a Great Success

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on October 19, 2018

What role does insight and genius play in behavioral innovation? The origins of the Fosbury Flop force us to consider more mundane ways in which behavioral change comes about.

What role does insight and genius play in behavioral innovation? The origins of the Fosbury Flop force us to consider more mundane ways in which behavioral change comes about.

Environment

The Brain as a Weapon

Edward A. Wasserman Ph.D. on October 10, 2018

The world presents many daunting challenges to an organism. Its brain may be its best weapon for meeting those challenges to survive and reproduce.

The world presents many daunting challenges to an organism. Its brain may be its best weapon for meeting those challenges to survive and reproduce.