representational-systems

The prologue critiques cognitive science for neglecting the evolutionary and cultural origins of human cognition, emphasizing the need for broad integrative theories. Merlin Donald proposes that the modern human mind evolved through successive adaptations that created new representational systems, resulting in a mosaic cognitive architecture that integrates vestiges from earlier stages. He also highlights the transformative role of symbolic representation and external memory technologies in shaping the modern mind's structure.

The chapter critiques traditional neuropsychological and connectionist models, particularly Hebb's episodic memory-based theory, for their failure to explain uniquely human cognitive features such as symbolic representation and consciousness. It proposes a hybrid model of consciousness where control dynamically shifts among multiple representational systems—episodic, mimetic, oral-narrative, and external symbolic storage—highlighting the complexity of human cognition and the influence of external media on attentional control and cognitive architecture. The discussion emphasizes the challenges in modeling the transition from nonsymbolic to symbolic cognition and the implications of multimedia exposure on consciousness and cognitive flexibility.