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Perspectives on Neuroscience

Perspectives on Neuroscience

Published on: July 31, 2007

Growing Technological Opacity and the Social Brain.

François Osiurak^1,2, Giovanni Federico³

¹Laboratoire d'Étude des Mécanismes Cognitifs, Université de Lyon.

Perspectives on Psychological Science : a Journal of the Association for Psychological Science

|May 11, 2026

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

As technology advances, our social brain increasingly helps us understand complex systems. This neurocognitive framework highlights how social cognition aids in navigating opaque technologies, even treating machines as intentional agents.

Keywords:

machine technical cognition technological evolution transactive cognition

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Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Cognitive Science
Human-Technology Interaction

Background:

Technological sophistication has grown, seemingly demanding more from the technical brain.
Emerging neuroscientific evidence indicates increased engagement of the social brain in managing technological complexity.

Purpose of the Study:

To propose a neurocognitive framework detailing the social brain's role in technology interaction.
To explore how the social brain facilitates technical content transmission and expert reliance.
To investigate the human tendency to anthropomorphize technologies.

Main Methods:

Development of a neurocognitive framework based on existing neuroscientific findings.
Analysis of the interplay between technical and social brain networks.
Examination of factors influencing network switching, such as perceptual cues and uncertainty.

Main Results:

The social brain plays a crucial role in transmitting making processes and leveraging human experts.
Humans engage with technologies, including machines, as if they possess intentionality.
Technological opacity triggers shifts between technical and social brain networks.

Conclusions:

A unified perspective on navigating complex technologies through the coevolution of technical and social cognition.
Adaptive strategies enable interaction with incomprehensible technologies.
Expertise modulates cognitive resource allocation and network engagement.