Problem Solving

prefrontal cortex

involved in language, memory, imagery, and higher functions

goal directed behavior

the behavior is clearly directed towards the goal

subgoal composition

the original goal has to be composed into subgoals

operator application

using an action that will transform the problem state into another problem state

goal directedness, subgoal composition, operator application

3 essential features of problem solving

problem space

consists of the various states of the problem and includes operators

problem state

a representation of the problem in some degree of solution

being told

which method of acquiring new operators is uniquely human

what method of acquiring new operators is most common in primates

analysis

the process by which operators used to solve one problem are extracted and used to find a solution for another problem

analysis

involves noticing that a past problem solution is relevant and then mapping the elements from that solution to produce an operator for the current problem

backup avoidance

biases the solver against operators that will undo the effects of previous operators

means-ends analysis

the creation of a new goal to enable an operator to apply

means-ends analysis

much more sophisticated method of operator selection

means-ends analysis

focuses on enabling blocked applicators, solver ignores the real goal to focus on goal enabling means