Some scholars believe thot Cognitive Science is the attempt to achieve in artificial systems what has already been achieved in the brain. Others, by contrast, argue that the study of ideal adaptive mechanisms could go on without reference to the brain. The author points out that the brain may not be the ideal cognitive device because of biological limitotions on its capacity. Although it may not be ideal, it is still of major interest to cognitive scientists because of the great (...) interest in the human mind, and, in addition, because at this moment the brain is the most important single reservoir of odoptive mechanisms.The paper discusses several areas of neuroscience which are likely to shed light on mechanisms of adaptation. The study of simple nervous systems is likely to reveal important design principles of cognitive devices. The study of complex nervous systems will, of course, exert a major influence. The study of such systems leads to certain general principles concerning the neural circuits involved in complex odoptive behaviors: (1) There exist innate specialized systems for the learning of many specific behaviors that at first might appeor to be purely cultural. (2) There is no evidence for the existence of any all‐purpose computer in the brain. (3) There are many surprising dissociations manifested by the specialized systems in the brain, e.g., a special system for recognition of faces as against other visual patterns. (4) The study of the nervous system enables one to formulate more precise mechanisms for the role of emotion in cognitive function.(5) Some human behoviors con probably be understood poorly or not at all if the neural substrate is not considered. (6) The cognitive systems designed for dealing with ottentionol processes may be among the most complex neural structures which underlie behavior.There are certain other properties of brains that should be kept in mind by the cognitive scientists who are studying human behovior: (1) Brains differ from each other in structure, and it is very likely that the strategy for the solution of certain problems differs from person to person. (2) The presence of certain innate cognitive strategies in the brain may prevent that organism from employing other strategies which might be optimal for other problems. (3) Any theory about a particular cognitive strategy will have implications as to the particular mode of breakdown that might be expected after brain lesions. The study of disordered function from brain disease may thus be a valuable way to test certain cognitive theories. (shrink)

Grandiose narcissistic traits refer to exploitative and arrogant attitudes, while vulnerable narcissistic traits entail hypersensitivity to judgment and low self-esteem. Little is known about how individuals with narcissistic traits can improve their attitudes toward themselves and others. The current research puts self- and other compassion forward as possible targets to alleviate some of destructive patterns of narcissism. Generally, self-compassion has previously been associated with beneficial effects on psychological wellbeing, while other compassion is advantageous for interpersonal relationships. This study explored the (...) relationship between narcissistic traits and the efficacy of experimental compassion inductions. Student and community participants completed grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic trait, SC and OC state questionnaires, and either an SC or OC induction. It was expected that individuals with higher narcissistic traits would benefit from the inductions and show higher SC after but would have greater difficulty showing meaningful increases in OC. The results indicated that individual differences in grandiose and vulnerable narcissistic traits are related to the magnitude of improvements following the inductions: the theorized lack of SC in individuals with vulnerable oversensitivity to judgment traits seems possible to be counteracted through different types of compassion exercises. Moreover, higher grandiose exploitativeness–entitlement and global vulnerable narcissistic traits related to less increases than others. However, directly inducing OC in individuals with these traits was linked to greater OC improvements than improvements after inducing SC. Overall, the present findings suggest that self-compassionate behavior can be improved in individuals with high oversensitivity and that other compassionate behavior could potentially be increased if, specifically, other compassion exercises are utilized when higher levels of certain narcissistic traits are present. (shrink)