3. Human knowledge management process

This chapter presents some brain operative modes when producing responses.

The behavior reflects an explicit aim to optimize the processes.

3.a) Automatic or unconscious brain functions

• Preconceptions and emotions

The assumptions and prejudices are hardly negative in the theory of knowledge; they are necessary to avoid thought repetition and constant mental reasoning; at the same time, they can act as a real limit of knowledge and its innovation.

When the knowledge management process has sufficiently developed an idea and reached a conclusion, it records it to avoid repeating the entire process over again. Typically, the essential preconceptions are immediately loaded into the memory every day, establishing part of what is called a person's character.

Regarding the computer knowledge, we can assimilate the preconceptions to direct links, an association of files, or other similar mechanisms.

One of the characteristics of computer abilities that stand out is their capacity to repeat or carry out instructions previously saved. The computers need a program loaded in the memory to achieve automatism.

The human knowledge management system is much more powerful than any existing computer, but it also needs previously developed programs loaded into operative or immediate memory to work. These programs or cognitive processes are somewhat similar to the preconceptions but have an operative nature, and are usually programs, small functions, or groups of them.

The following processes are relevant.

• Driving a car

  When we are not driving, the related knowledge and experiences are in our brain, but they are not active; once we enter a vehicle, the operative memory loads those programs. The cognitive process is intense for the driver.

• Personal security

  Another clarifying example is the control of the immediate surroundings. When the knowledge management process loads a security program, it affects how the senses operate and the capacity of the rapid response of the body's muscles; this process does not correspond with the adrenaline effect.

• Language

  People who speak various languages know they will lose a lot if they do not practice a specific one. They also know it can recover almost miraculously with a little bit of practice. The problem is significant when people speak more than one foreign language because they tend to interchange in the operative memory due to the brain's limited capacity. Too many concepts and different grammatical structures to maintain active.

  It seems reasonable to assume that, when waking up, the knowledge management system boots the programs or information is going to use throughout the entire day. Additionally, the group of programs and words loaded would be in direct relation with the brain’s capacity. That is, as our cognitive abilities develop as a human species, the number of words in a language increase.

• Emotions

  Following the same logic, the brain will locate other programs of immediate reaction in a particular place so that they can be quickly accessed. It seems it is one of the functions of the human brain area called Thalamus, which controls emotions; understanding them as biochemical reactions provoked by a specific stimulus, regardless of the feelings that may or may not accompany them.

Naturally, the programs must exist previously, and with each new experience, they enriched. In other words, there is a constant cognitive development producing the evolution of the knowledge management system. It is just like how a programmer perfects his work until obtaining a certain level.

The brain's power notably increases with this automation, and response velocity will be quite superior for two reasons.

First, because the information from the outset is placed directly in the subprograms or functions' prepared fields, and once all the information is received, the specific operation is triggered.

The second is that just a few responses from the knowledge system are enough to validate the start or result of the operation. In this respect, the speed can be similar or even faster than the ultra-fast responses of the language manager.

Aside from the examples in the previous section, the following two cognitive processes show an internal function development.

• Typing

  An exciting example of programs is the constant improvement when learning to type, if one stops for a week and then returns, a pleasant surprise will occur; instead of worsening the skills due to inactivity, they improve. The human brain and other cells dedicated a great deal of time to reordering, simplifying, rationalizing, and improving without the conscious being aware.

• Dreams

  The section optimization of the brain also discuss the cognitive functions of the unconscious.