Brain-Computer Similarities, 2

Both the brain and computers use software programs, to use that metaphor. Some have said that “software” is a somewhat generic term that describes two major types of computer software: system software providing basic functions of the computer and application software designed to accomplish specific tasks. The brain has system software, if you will, for breathing, and heart beating, and lung expansion and contraction—all of which operate largely subconsciously. It also has application software for learning to read, write, play musical instruments, and a host of other specific functions (many of which are triggered and processed at some level of consciousness). When you do something once, your brain begins to create a software program just in case you want to do that something again. The more you do that something, the stronger the software becomes, until pretty soon that something becomes almost automatic. Choose carefully what you do once—because it’s always easier to do it a second time and a third time. That’s the good news and the bad news. If you choose to build software that consistently gives you positive outcomes, yay! If not, oops . . . you’ve still created software and you'll need to deal with the negative outcomes. More tomorrow.