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THE PUMP MODEL OF LEARNING
The brain is a pump for information.
Mechanically, you can’t push stuff in a pump. The pump has to be pulling.
Now, imagine the brain being a set of pumps.
You can learn on a topic only if you developed the right pump.
What does it mean?
[1/N]
The brain is a pump for information.
Mechanically, you can’t push stuff in a pump. The pump has to be pulling.
Now, imagine the brain being a set of pumps.
You can learn on a topic only if you developed the right pump.
What does it mean?
[1/N]
The brain can learn only if it has the cognitive resources and previous know-how to perceive a stimulus as non-noisy.
In this case, it can use the signal of the stimulus to update its knowledge.
If, instead, it can’t pick signal (too noisy), no learning.
[2/N]
In this case, it can use the signal of the stimulus to update its knowledge.
If, instead, it can’t pick signal (too noisy), no learning.
[2/N]
Technically speaking, the brain has to be able to create stable representation of incoming stimuli in order to be able to learn from them
For those interested in the exact neurological processes behind it, I published this paper not long ago: psyarxiv.com/erxp4
[3/N]
For those interested in the exact neurological processes behind it, I published this paper not long ago: psyarxiv.com/erxp4
[3/N]
Metaphorically speaking, if a pump isn’t active, water can’t pass though it, no matter how you push.
*This is not (only) about motivation*
It’s about being able to perceive the meaning of what we’re exposed to, rather than to just perceive noise.
[4/N]
*This is not (only) about motivation*
It’s about being able to perceive the meaning of what we’re exposed to, rather than to just perceive noise.
[4/N]
You can model a learning brain as a set of serially connected pumps (one providing water to the other).
Unless the first pump is working, the next one won’t be getting water.
If you can’t read, you won’t be able to learn from books. The “read” pump has to be working first.
5/N
Unless the first pump is working, the next one won’t be getting water.
If you can’t read, you won’t be able to learn from books. The “read” pump has to be working first.
5/N
Similarly, if you don’t *understand*, for example, statistics, you won’t be able to learn economics; all you will see is a set of spurious correlations and a lot of noise (as described in Taleb’s “Fooled by Randomness”.
[6/N]
[6/N]
Therefore, learning is about:
- First, establishing strong foundations to be able to perceive the signal hidden behind the noise, and to use.
- Second, using that signal to wash out noise from another set of data.
-Third, iterating The above.
[7/N]
- First, establishing strong foundations to be able to perceive the signal hidden behind the noise, and to use.
- Second, using that signal to wash out noise from another set of data.
-Third, iterating The above.
[7/N]
Lot of developmental disorders (such as autism spectrum disorders) consist in one (or more) of the first pumps not working (yet) and the rest of the world pushing information directed at the higher pumps.
As previously described, the order of pumps matter.
[8/N]
As previously described, the order of pumps matter.
[8/N]
It is my hypothesis that action to improve patients affected by high-functional instances of developmental disorders should focus on feeding information appropriate for the first not-functioning-yet pump in the system, to have it self repair.
[9/N]
[9/N]
If you are working with people who you think might benefit from the approach described above, I’m looking to hear from your comments. My DMs are open. Also, I’m looking for a few first patients to test this approach with for free. Again, my DMs are open.
[10/10]
[10/10]
CLARIFICATIONS
- The pumps correspond to brain regions.
- They’re not fully sequential; rather they’re loosely organized in a pyramid-like hierarchy.
- One pump at the basis can be skipped, but the higher pumps will not receive the information which should have passed thorough it
- The pumps correspond to brain regions.
- They’re not fully sequential; rather they’re loosely organized in a pyramid-like hierarchy.
- One pump at the basis can be skipped, but the higher pumps will not receive the information which should have passed thorough it
- An example would be those whose “body language” pump isn’t working.
They can sustain conversations, but will be unable to pick clue passed through the body language channel.
This might lead them to perceive some conversations as meaningless.
They can sustain conversations, but will be unable to pick clue passed through the body language channel.
This might lead them to perceive some conversations as meaningless.
Here is another example (in the highlighted bit): 
