title: The uniqueness of human learning.
abstract: It is proposed that humans are capable of a unique type of learning. All other animals are limited to contiguous learning (not more than 60 seconds separating the two events). Only humans are capable of "separated" or scientific learning (learning a connection between two or more events separated by more than 60 seconds). Science itself is a generalized type of non-contiguous learning. It is also proposed that humans' capacity for separated learning is dependent upon the unique ability to hypothesize (to propose a connection or relationship between two or more events separated by time). As a result of separated learning, humans are the only animals capable of "separated foresight" (anticipating which events are likely to occur more than one minute into the future).
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D004285:Dogs; D006801:Humans; D007323:Instinct; D007360:Intelligence; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D013997:Time Factors