ABSTRACT
We began by looking at what constitutes a problem and ended with what goes on in the brain when people try to solve problems. With experience we learn to deal with everyday problems, particularly the biologically primary ones, to ensure our survival. We can develop general skills such as driving cars, sewing, operating machinery, putting up curtains, typing and so on. We also develop specific skills such as playing the electric guitar, solving complex mathematical equations, designing bridges, repairing satellites and the like. So situations or tasks that were once problematic become automatic or straightforward or at least tractable. At first, not knowing what aspects of a situation are relevant, not knowing how to get round constraints or not being aware of what operators can be applied mean that our understanding of a situation or problem is impoverished – we have a problem. Experience teaches us how to operate inside constraints, what operators to apply and when to apply them, how to respond often automatically to a given situation – and the problem goes away. We know what to do to achieve our goal and this is accompanied by changes in the areas of the brain involved.
