Psychomorphology: The Study of Thought Structures and Visualization
Is there a field of study that examines the intricate relationship between the electricity between your neurons, visual imagination, and the shapes of our thoughts?
The Intricacies of Thought Shapes
The shape of our thoughts can be a powerful metaphor. It may serve as a bounding element to other elements, defining the context in which our ideas thrive. However, we need to be cautious not to ascribe too much intrinsic meaning to these shapes. They might not indicate anything more than their intrinsic capabilities, an order of sorts that reflects our externalized capabilities tied to our neural structure, but not strictly.
Exploring Related Sciences
Our curiosity leads us to explore the overlap between social sciences, psychology, film, chemical sciences, and neurology. We are interested in how these fields coalesce around a common theme—the study of thought structures and visualization.
For instance, some neurologists note that our brain is tuned to process physical shapes, and in doing so, we reuse parts of our brain that were previously relegated to tracking motion for the processing of abstract concepts. This interplay between physical and abstract thought suggests that our visual capabilities might be linked to more fundamental cognitive processes.
Psychomorphology: A New Frontier
Given the intricate relationship between thought and visualization, it is possible that we are on the cusp of a new field of study, which could be referred to as psychomorphology. This field would encompass the exploration of thought structures and visualization, highlighting the interplay between our intuitive, cognitive, and physical processes.
The Challenges and Opportunities in Psychomorphology
Understanding psychomorphology presents both challenges and opportunities. Our first major challenge lies in the area of visualization itself. Visualization falls under the domains of cognitive psychology and neuropsychology, but as of now, there is no specific subfield dedicated to the study of visualization.
Neuropsychology has made strides in understanding the link between brain activity and imagination, but these areas of research are still underdeveloped. Cognitive psychology provides some theories on learning styles, such as visual learners being better suited for visualization than auditory or kinesthetic learners. However, these theories are still nascent and require further exploration.
The second major focus in psychomorphology is the complexity of thought structures. Cognitive structures have been extensively studied in psychology, critical theory, and philosophy. These studies explore various theories such as schema theory, symbolic interactionism, and hermeneutic processes, which all contribute to our understanding of complex thought and memory.
For instance, working on a philosophical issue often involves 'seeing' the various aspects of the problem in a relational context, which is a form of abstract structural visualization. This is fundamentally different from the direct visualization of a visual object, such as a tree or a cow.
There is also a developmental component to these processes. Younger individuals may be more prone to direct visualization, while more mature individuals develop the capacity for abstract structures and dimensional thinking over time.
Psychomorphology is an exciting and new field that bridges the cognitive, social, and physical domains. Its understanding and development could shed light on how our minds operate, and how we process and visualize complex ideas.
As we continue to explore this field, we stand at the threshold of a new era of understanding, where the interplay between thought, structure, and visualization becomes more comprehensible. Visualization is key to the things that I enjoy, and I believe it holds the potential to unlock new insights into the workings of our minds.