ABSTRACT
In most societies, expertise is revered as an exceptional ability that very few can attain and even fewer can retain over extended periods of time. No doubt, part of this reverence derives from the somewhat inexplicable nature of expert performance. Indeed, one of the more perplexing aspects of the behaviour of experts is their capacity to formulate relatively rapid, accurate responses, in situations where there is uncertainty, and often, a plethora of information. This capacity to ‘cut through’ superfluous detail and identify the key ingredients associated with a response represents one of society’s artefacts of expertise. However, it is also a cognitive capacity that has been difficult to explain empirically.
