The need for synthesis in the domain of implicit processes was the motivation behind this book. Two major questions sparked its development: Is there one implicit process or processing principle, or are there many? Are implicit memory, learning, and expertise; skill acquisition; and automatic detection simply different facets of one general principle or process, or are they distinct processes performing very different functions? This book has been designed to cast light on this issue. Because it is impossible to make sense of implicit processes without taking into account their explicit counterparts, consideration is also given to explicit memory, learning, and expertise; and controlled processing. The chapter authors consider principles, processes, and models which stand above a wealth of data collected to evaluate models designed specifically to account for data from a specific paradigm, or even more narrowly, from a specific experimental task. The motivation behind this approach is the proposition that modeling is possible for a much broader data domain, even though there may be some cost where specific tasks are concerned. The aim of this book is to treat synthesis as the objective, and to approach this objective by collecting and discussing phenomena which--although they are drawn from diverse areas of psychological science--touch a single issue concerning the distinction between explicit and implicit processes.

For years now, learning has been at the heart of research within cognitive psychology. How do we acquire new knowledge and new skills? Are the principles underlying skill acquisition unique to learning, or similar to those underlying other behaviours? Is the mental system essentially modular, or is the mental system a simple product of experience, a product that, inevitably, reflects the shape of the external world with all of its specialisms and similarities? This new book takes the view that learning is a major influence on the nature of the processes and representations that fill our minds. Throughout, the authors review and consider the areas of skill acquisition and lexical representation to illustrate the effects that practice can have on cognitive processes. They also draw parallels between theories in physical and biological domains to propose not only a new theory of mental function but also demonstrate that the mind is essentially subject to the same natural laws as the physical world. In so doing Speelman and Kirsner present a new perspective on psychology - one that identifies universal principles underlying all behaviours and one which contrasts markedly from our current focus on highly specific behaviours. Accessibly written, Beyond the Learning Curve is a thought provoking and challenging new text for students and researchers in the cognitive sciences.

For years now, learning has been at the heart of research within cognitive psychology. How do we acquire new knowledge and new skills? Are the principles underlying skill acquisition unique to learning, or similar to those underlying other behaviours? Is the mental system essentially modular, or is the mental system a simple product of experience, a product that, inevitably, reflects the shape of the external world with all of its specialisms and similarities? This new books takes the view that learning is a major influence on the nature of the processes and representations that fill our minds. Throughout, the authors review and consider the psychological research areas of skill acquisition and lexical representation to illustrate the effects that practice can have on cognitive phenomena. They also draw parallels between theories in physical and biological domains to not only propose a new theory of mental function but also demonstrate that the mind is subject to the same natural laws as the physical world. In so doing Speelman and Kirsner present a new perspective on Psychology--one that identifies universal principles underlying all behaviours and one which contrasts markedly from our current focus on highly specific behaviours. Accessibly written, Beyond the Learning Curve is a thought provoking and challenging new text for students and researchers in the cognitive sciences.