STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS OF NON-VERBAL THINKING IN MAN

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the characteristics of nonverbal thinking in man and elementary reasoning activity in animals and children. Verbal thinking is associated with the formation of a structural–functional organization of a pattern-code of verbal signals. Nonverbal thinking is associated with comprehension of the principles that make up the structural organization of environment. This type of thinking occurs in humans and other vertebrates. The chapter also discusses physiological and phenotypic aspects of nonverbal thinking. Both types of thinking have their own characteristics, which are related to the chemistry of the brain, and both reflect the nature of man. The main characteristic of nonverbal thinking is the success in performing the task at the first attempt. Repeated presentations of the task often lead to refusals to resolve it, the appearance of fear of the experimental conditions, and numerous signs of an overexcited state. A study described in the chapter revealed age to be a leading factor in determining the accurate understanding of object movement within the spatial–temporal coordinate system when the exact whereabouts of the object is unknown.