Cognition

Cognition research reveals how differently the mind works from how it feels. We believe we see reality directly; we construct it from fragments. We believe we decide consciously; unconscious processing precedes awareness. We believe we remember accurately; we reconstruct selectively.

These gaps between felt experience and actual process aren’t flaws. They’re features that allow rapid action in complex environments. The shortcuts work — until they don’t.

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Experts don’t think harder. They perceive differently. Chess masters don’t calculate more moves; they recognize patterns that compress complexity. The 50,000 hours of practice reorganizes perception itself.

Chunking transforms sequences into single units. The beginner sees letters; the reader sees words; the speed reader sees phrases. Each level reduces cognitive load by packaging lower-level elements into higher-level chunks.

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Desire paths reveal where designed systems and actual behavior diverge. The trail worn through the grass shows where people actually walk, regardless of where sidewalks were laid. Legibility-seeking systems impose grids; desire paths record reality.

Slack — the buffer of unexploited resources — enables response to the unexpected. Systems optimized to 100% utilization shatter under stress. Spare capacity isn’t waste; it’s responsiveness.

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The mind isn’t a camera or a computer. It’s a prediction machine running on shortcuts, building models from fragments, trading accuracy for speed. Understanding how it actually works — not how it feels — is the first step to using it better.

Related: [[chunking]], [[desire-paths]], [[legibility]]