Alain Berthoz
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300169348
- eISBN:
- 9780300177923
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300169348.001.0001
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
In this book a noted physiologist and neuroscientist introduces the concept of simplexity, the set of solutions living organisms find that enable them to deal with information and situations, while ...
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In this book a noted physiologist and neuroscientist introduces the concept of simplexity, the set of solutions living organisms find that enable them to deal with information and situations, while taking into account past experiences and anticipating future ones. Such solutions are new ways of addressing problems so that actions may be taken more quickly, more elegantly, and more efficiently. In a sense, the history of living organisms may be summed up by their remarkable ability to find solutions that avoid the world's complexity by imposing on it their own rules and functions. Evolution has resolved the problem of complexity not by simplifying but by finding solutions whose processes—though they can sometimes be complex—allow us to act in the midst of complexity and uncertainty. Nature can inspire us by making us realize that simplification is never simple and requires instead that we choose, refuse, connect, and imagine, in order to act in the best possible manner. Such solutions are already being applied in design and engineering and are significant in biology, medicine, economics, and the behavioral sciences.Less
In this book a noted physiologist and neuroscientist introduces the concept of simplexity, the set of solutions living organisms find that enable them to deal with information and situations, while taking into account past experiences and anticipating future ones. Such solutions are new ways of addressing problems so that actions may be taken more quickly, more elegantly, and more efficiently. In a sense, the history of living organisms may be summed up by their remarkable ability to find solutions that avoid the world's complexity by imposing on it their own rules and functions. Evolution has resolved the problem of complexity not by simplifying but by finding solutions whose processes—though they can sometimes be complex—allow us to act in the midst of complexity and uncertainty. Nature can inspire us by making us realize that simplification is never simple and requires instead that we choose, refuse, connect, and imagine, in order to act in the best possible manner. Such solutions are already being applied in design and engineering and are significant in biology, medicine, economics, and the behavioral sciences.
Alain Berthoz
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300169348
- eISBN:
- 9780300177923
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300169348.003.0001
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter discusses genetics and simplexity. It presents a list of basic characteristics of life that rely on simplex properties that constitute tools for life: modularity; speed; reliability; ...
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This chapter discusses genetics and simplexity. It presents a list of basic characteristics of life that rely on simplex properties that constitute tools for life: modularity; speed; reliability; flexibility, vicariance, and adaptation to change; memory; and generalization.Less
This chapter discusses genetics and simplexity. It presents a list of basic characteristics of life that rely on simplex properties that constitute tools for life: modularity; speed; reliability; flexibility, vicariance, and adaptation to change; memory; and generalization.
Alain Berthoz
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300169348
- eISBN:
- 9780300177923
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300169348.003.0002
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter sketches out a theory of simplexity. It discusses the following principles of simplexity: the principle of refusal; the principle of specialization and selection; the principle of ...
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This chapter sketches out a theory of simplexity. It discusses the following principles of simplexity: the principle of refusal; the principle of specialization and selection; the principle of probabilistic anticipation; the detour principle; the principle of cooperation and redundancy; and the principle of meaning.Less
This chapter sketches out a theory of simplexity. It discusses the following principles of simplexity: the principle of refusal; the principle of specialization and selection; the principle of probabilistic anticipation; the detour principle; the principle of cooperation and redundancy; and the principle of meaning.
Alain Berthoz
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300169348
- eISBN:
- 9780300177923
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300169348.003.0003
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter analyzes the simplexity of gaze mechanisms. It argues that simplifying principles are not situated uniquely at the motor or the sensory level. Rather, they bring into play high-order ...
More
This chapter analyzes the simplexity of gaze mechanisms. It argues that simplifying principles are not situated uniquely at the motor or the sensory level. Rather, they bring into play high-order biological processes, such as attention, that enable selection and anticipation, which constitute two of the basic elements of simplexity.Less
This chapter analyzes the simplexity of gaze mechanisms. It argues that simplifying principles are not situated uniquely at the motor or the sensory level. Rather, they bring into play high-order biological processes, such as attention, that enable selection and anticipation, which constitute two of the basic elements of simplexity.
Alain Berthoz
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300169348
- eISBN:
- 9780300177923
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300169348.003.0004
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter discusses attention as a basic tool of simplexity. It covers selective ignorance; attention and vigilance; biased competition; attention and emotion; and the development of attentional ...
More
This chapter discusses attention as a basic tool of simplexity. It covers selective ignorance; attention and vigilance; biased competition; attention and emotion; and the development of attentional processes.Less
This chapter discusses attention as a basic tool of simplexity. It covers selective ignorance; attention and vigilance; biased competition; attention and emotion; and the development of attentional processes.
Alain Berthoz
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300169348
- eISBN:
- 9780300177923
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300169348.003.0006
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter presents examples of simplexity in perceptual systems. These include nervous system's ability to encode continuous phenomena by pulses, that is, discrete signals; controlling uncertainty ...
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This chapter presents examples of simplexity in perceptual systems. These include nervous system's ability to encode continuous phenomena by pulses, that is, discrete signals; controlling uncertainty and randomness; specialization and modularity; resolving ambiguities; separating content from context; the brain's feeling for shape; detecting smells; and making a simplex decision.Less
This chapter presents examples of simplexity in perceptual systems. These include nervous system's ability to encode continuous phenomena by pulses, that is, discrete signals; controlling uncertainty and randomness; specialization and modularity; resolving ambiguities; separating content from context; the brain's feeling for shape; detecting smells; and making a simplex decision.
Alain Berthoz
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300169348
- eISBN:
- 9780300177923
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300169348.003.0007
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter discusses the simplexity in natural movement. The organization of motricity includes a variety of simplifying principles, some of which can be called “laws of natural movement.” Not only ...
More
This chapter discusses the simplexity in natural movement. The organization of motricity includes a variety of simplifying principles, some of which can be called “laws of natural movement.” Not only do they take into account kinematic and dynamic solutions that optimize the performance of movement; they are also embedded in the physics of our planetary environment.Less
This chapter discusses the simplexity in natural movement. The organization of motricity includes a variety of simplifying principles, some of which can be called “laws of natural movement.” Not only do they take into account kinematic and dynamic solutions that optimize the performance of movement; they are also embedded in the physics of our planetary environment.
Alain Berthoz
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300169348
- eISBN:
- 9780300177923
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300169348.003.0008
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter discusses the simplexity in gestures. It covers the concept of gesture; matching gestures and words; work gestures; the sacred gesture; and synergies of bodily expression of emotions.
This chapter discusses the simplexity in gestures. It covers the concept of gesture; matching gestures and words; work gestures; the sacred gesture; and synergies of bodily expression of emotions.
Alain Berthoz
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300169348
- eISBN:
- 9780300177923
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300169348.003.0009
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter discusses the simplexity in walking. Walking is not simple. One does not just have to maintain balance and take steps. One must go somewhere, following a path, and the body must be used ...
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This chapter discusses the simplexity in walking. Walking is not simple. One does not just have to maintain balance and take steps. One must go somewhere, following a path, and the body must be used to produce a trajectory. The following simplex idea is proposed: the laws that underlie movement of the hands are very similar to those that govern the production of locomotor trajectories.Less
This chapter discusses the simplexity in walking. Walking is not simple. One does not just have to maintain balance and take steps. One must go somewhere, following a path, and the body must be used to produce a trajectory. The following simplex idea is proposed: the laws that underlie movement of the hands are very similar to those that govern the production of locomotor trajectories.
Alain Berthoz
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300169348
- eISBN:
- 9780300177923
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300169348.003.0010
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter reviews the neural basis of spatial processing in the brain. The goal is to show how the spatialization of perception, action, memory, and decision making reduces complexity, sometimes ...
More
This chapter reviews the neural basis of spatial processing in the brain. The goal is to show how the spatialization of perception, action, memory, and decision making reduces complexity, sometimes by way of detours that, in turn, engender simplexity.Less
This chapter reviews the neural basis of spatial processing in the brain. The goal is to show how the spatialization of perception, action, memory, and decision making reduces complexity, sometimes by way of detours that, in turn, engender simplexity.
Alain Berthoz
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300169348
- eISBN:
- 9780300177923
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300169348.003.0012
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter suggests that the neural bases of mental manipulation of spatial frames of reference (egocentric, allocentric, geocentric, heterocentric, near, and far) constitute the basis of rational ...
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This chapter suggests that the neural bases of mental manipulation of spatial frames of reference (egocentric, allocentric, geocentric, heterocentric, near, and far) constitute the basis of rational thought, in particular, the human aptitude for geometry, reasoning, changing perspective, simultaneously processing different “points of view,” and contingent logic. Together with the brain, these neural bases also appear to enable emotions, interaction with others, intersubjectivity, and even empathy.Less
This chapter suggests that the neural bases of mental manipulation of spatial frames of reference (egocentric, allocentric, geocentric, heterocentric, near, and far) constitute the basis of rational thought, in particular, the human aptitude for geometry, reasoning, changing perspective, simultaneously processing different “points of view,” and contingent logic. Together with the brain, these neural bases also appear to enable emotions, interaction with others, intersubjectivity, and even empathy.
Alain Berthoz
- Published in print:
- 2012
- Published Online:
- October 2013
- ISBN:
- 9780300169348
- eISBN:
- 9780300177923
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- Yale University Press
- DOI:
- 10.12987/yale/9780300169348.003.0013
- Subject:
- Psychology, Cognitive Psychology
This chapter summarizes the main themes covered and presents some final thoughts. It describes examples of simplexity in architecture, street corners, and music. It considers whether love is the ...
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This chapter summarizes the main themes covered and presents some final thoughts. It describes examples of simplexity in architecture, street corners, and music. It considers whether love is the ultimate form of simplexity. It concludes that simplexity is a way of living with the world. It favors elegance over dullness, intelligence over formal logic, subtlety over rigidness, diplomacy over authority. It is adaptive rather than normative or prescriptive, probabilistic rather than deterministic. It takes into account the perceiving body as well as consciousness, and it considers context.Less
This chapter summarizes the main themes covered and presents some final thoughts. It describes examples of simplexity in architecture, street corners, and music. It considers whether love is the ultimate form of simplexity. It concludes that simplexity is a way of living with the world. It favors elegance over dullness, intelligence over formal logic, subtlety over rigidness, diplomacy over authority. It is adaptive rather than normative or prescriptive, probabilistic rather than deterministic. It takes into account the perceiving body as well as consciousness, and it considers context.
