What is Metacognition?
Metacognition is a fancy word for what we all know and do hundreds of times each day. Have you ever tried to focus your attention, attempted to regulate an emotion, or felt distracted and made the decision to put away your phone? Each is an example of recognizing a mental state and trying to control it.We all engage with our immune systems each day. We have a vague understanding of why we should wash our hands, wipe the kitchen counter, and wear a mask while chatting with people indoors. Yet the science of immunology has given us a deeper understanding of our personal immune system and we can, in turn, use this knowledge to combat a global pandemic.
The Quiet Growth of Metacognitive Research
A unique side effect of modern technology is that apps, games, social media, and online content can hijack the learning pathways of the human brain. As a result, we’re increasingly captive to compulsive behaviors, attention issues, and emotional problems.The pandemic has poured gasoline on this crisis. It has forced many people into social isolation and contributed to an even greater reliance on devices for social interaction and entertainment.
But there’s good news: the quiet growth of metacognitive research.
The Successes of Metacognitive Therapy
Computer simulations of cognition are a large focus of the Cognitive Modeling Lab at Carleton University, where I work as a researcher while pursuing a doctoral degree in cognitive science. The theme of my research is the use of computational modeling to clarify metacognition. Metacognitive strategies can be thought of as a kind of mental software that can help to improve our cognitive functioning.It’s Time We Take Care of Our Minds
Overcoming the cognition crisis partly depends on getting around our mind’s automatic pleasure-seeking. Internally, we can avoid falling into the trap of instant gratification by being mindful of the information and entertainment that we consume. Externally, we can craft a physical environment that improves our efficiency and mental welfare. Distraction blocking software offers just one example of how to do this.We exercise, control what we eat, and buy ergonomic desk chairs to take care of our bodies—it’s long past time we similarly take the same care of our minds. There are so many evidence-based actions we can take to design a personalized toolkit of mental habits and strategies. Doing so will allow us to be more deliberate with our thoughts, attention, and emotions, which can then improve every aspect of our lives.
Just as human health depends on mastering our own physical systems, the future of cognition depends on understanding and controlling our own psychological states. Solving the cognition crisis requires that we get smart about our own minds, and there’s never been a more vital time to do that.