The Extended Mind: The Power of Thinking Outside the Brain

by Annie Murphy Paul

A number of years ago, the US Air Force sought the advice of psychologist Itiel Dror, now a senior researcher at University College London. Endeavoring to prevent friendly fire aimed at their own aircraft, air force leaders were looking for ways to improve the ability of pilots in training to instantly recognize the shapes of various planes. Dror observed that the trainees were becoming overwhelmed with details about the many airplanes they were expected to identify. He took a new tack, digitally morphing the outlines of the aircraft diagrams the pilots were given to study. Planes with a wide wingspan became even wider; sharp-angled planes were made pointier; snub-nosed planes appeared more rounded. The differences among the aircraft, once subtle and hard to notice, now leaped out at the pilots—and they continued to recognize these distinguishing features even when they viewed the planes at normal scale.