On the Theory of Mental Representation Block. A Novel Perspective on Learning and Behavior.

• Main Author: Tobore Onojighofia Tobore
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2021-03-01
• Series: Communicative & Integrative Biology
• Subjects: learning; behavior; evolution; memory; consolidation; reconsolidation; extinction; energy efficiency; brain’s resistance to change; schema; mental representation block; why people believe in god; teleological argument. cognitive biases; creativity; psychiatric; cognitive and neurodegenerative diseases; sleep; synaptic transmission; physician misdiagnosis; racism; homophobia; transphobia; indoctrination; deception; conditioning; close-mindedness; love; hate; artificial intelligence; neural network algorithm
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19420889.2021.1898752

Understanding the mechanisms behind memory, learning, and behavior is crucial to human development and significant research has been done in this area. Classical and operant conditioning among other theories has elucidated different mechanisms of learning and how it modulates behavior. Even with advances in this area, questions remain on how to unlearn faulty ideas or extinguish maladaptive behaviors. In this paper, a novel theory to improve our understanding of this area is proposed. The theory proposes that as a consequence of the brain’s energy efficiency evolutionary adaptations, all learning following memory consolidation, reconsolidation, and repeated reinforcements or strengthening over time, results in a phenomenon called mental representation block. The implications of this block on learning and behavior are significant and broad and include cognitive biases, belief in a creator or God, close-mindedness, dogmatism, physician misdiagnosis, racism, homophobia, and transphobia, susceptibility to deception and indoctrination, hate and love, artificial intelligence and creativity.