Cognitive Plasticity and Cortical Modules

Author: Mercado III, Eduardo

Source: Current Directions in Psychological Science, Volume 18, Number 3, June 2009 , pp. 153-158(6)

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Abstract:

Some organisms learn to calculate, accumulate knowledge, and communicate in ways that others do not. What factors determine which intellectual abilities a particular species or individual can easily acquire? I propose that cognitive-skill learning capacity reflects (a) the availability of specialized cortical circuits, (b) the flexibility with which cortical activity is coordinated, and (c) the customizability of cortical networks. This framework can potentially account for differences in learning capacity across species, individuals, and developmental stages. Understanding the mechanisms that constrain cognitive plasticity is fundamental to developing new technologies and educational practices that maximize intellectual advancements.

Keywords: cognitive neuroscience; comparative cognition; intelligence; cognitive aging; cognitive modifiability

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01627.x

Affiliations: 1: University at Buffalo, The State University of New York

Publication date: 2009-06-01