This chapter first explains what intuitive theories are, how they can be modeled as
probabilistic, generative programs, and how intuitive theories support various cognitive …

The ability to learn abstract concepts is a powerful component of human cognition. It has
been argued that variable binding is the key element enabling this ability, but the …

Highlights•Objects in motion activate multiple cortical regions in every lobe of the human
brain.•We outline an integrative computational architecture for this 'object-driven'cortex.• …

After observing a collision between two boxes, you can immediately tell which is empty and
which is full of books based on how the boxes moved. People form rich perceptions about …

How do people make causal judgments? What role, if any, does counterfactual simulation
play? Counterfactual theories of causal judgments predict that people compare what …

An intuitive understanding of physical objects and events is critical for successfully
interacting with the world. Does the brain achieve this understanding by running simulations …

A popular explanation of the human ability for physical reasoning is that it depends on a
sophisticated ability to perform mental simulations. According to this perspective, physical …

From building towers to picking an orange from a stack of fruit, assessing support is critical
for successfully interacting with the physical world. But how do people determine whether …

This article proposes how language relates structurally and evolutionarily to cognition. It
heuristically divides cognition into cognitive systems and the organizing factors that structure …

In this paper, we investigate how people use mental simulations: do people vary the number
of simulations that they run in order to optimally balance speed and accuracy? We combined …