Natural Information Processing Systems
Open accessAbstract
Natural information processing systems such as biological evolution and human cognition organize information used to govern the activities of natural entities. When dealing with biologically secondary information, these systems can be specified by five common principles that we propose underlie natural information processing systems. The principles equate: (1) human long-term memory with a genome; (2) learning from other humans with biological reproduction; (3) problem solving through random generate and test with random mutation; (4) working memory when processing novel information with the epigenetic system managing environmental information; (5) long-term working memory with the epigenetic system managing genomic information. These five principles provide an integrated perspective for the nature of human learning and thought. They also have implications for the presentation of information.
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Together, the processes mimic the information processing procedures of biological evolution and can be described as constituting a natural information processing system.
“Together, the processes mimic the information processing procedures of biological evolution (Sweller and Sweller 2006) and can be described as constituting a natural information processing system.”
From Cognitive Architecture and Instructional Design: 20 Years Later (2019) · cites this paper as Sweller and Sweller 2006
This approach facilitates schema formation through borrowing and reorganising principle, enabling effective strategies without excessive cognitive load.
“This approach facilitates schema formation through the borrowing and reorganising principle, enabling learners to develop effective strategies without the strain of excessive cognitive load (Paas & van Merriënboer, 2020; Sweller & Sweller, 2006).”
From Does difficulty moderate learning? A comparative analysis of the desirable difficulties framework and cognitive load theory (2025) · cites this paper as Sweller & Sweller, 2006
For complex tasks, providing a worked example can be more beneficial, as it frees working memory resources, allowing more effective schema formation.
“For these more complex tasks, providing a worked example can be more beneficial, as it frees up working memory resources, allowing for more effective schema formation (Paas & van Merriënboer, 2020; Sweller & Sweller, 2006).”
From Does difficulty moderate learning? A comparative analysis of the desirable difficulties framework and cognitive load theory (2025) · cites this paper as Sweller & Sweller, 2006
A large number of elements would result in combinatorial explosions preventing adequate processing.
“A large number of elements would result in combinatorial explosions preventing adequate processing (Sweller and Sweller 2006).”
From Cognitive Load Theory: New Conceptualizations, Specifications, and Integrated Research Perspectives (2010) · cites this paper as Sweller and Sweller 2006
Cognitive load theory has been responsive to challenges of contemporary education by building on theories and research results from other disciplines such as evolutionary biology and neuroscience.
“the theory has been responsive to the challenges of contemporary education by building on theories and research results from other disciplines, such as evolutionary biology (e.g., Sweller 2003Sweller , 2004;;Sweller and Sweller 2006) and neuroscience (e.g., Kirschner et al. 2009a;Van Gog et al. 2009).”
From Cognitive Load Theory: New Conceptualizations, Specifications, and Integrated Research Perspectives (2010) · cites this paper as Sweller and Sweller 2006
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Sweller, J., & Sweller, S.
- Affiliations
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- ORCID
- Sweller, John
- Venue
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2006-01-01
- Volume
- 4
- Issue
- 1
- ISSN
- 1474-7049 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2177345101
- Cited by
- 279
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 21 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 19 · 2022: 7 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 10 · 2014: 9 · 2013: 14 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 10.28
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Evolutionary Psychology (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- UNSWorks (UNSW Sydney) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- UNSWorks (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Computer Science › Artificial Intelligence › Cognitive Computing and Networks
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Cognitive Science and Education Research
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Cognitive Abilities and Testing
- Keywords
- evolution, human cognition, long-term memory, genome, learning, reproduction, random mutation, generate-and-test, working memory, human learning, thinking, data presentation
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