From Objects to Ideas: The Universal Algorithm Behind Human Knowledge

How the Brain Uses the Same Trick for Coffee Cups, Calculus, and Culture

Every time you learn something new—whether it’s the shape of a stapler, the rules of grammar, or the principles of democracy—your brain is using the same underlying process. The Thousand Brains Theory reveals that all knowledge is stored in reference frames, and thinking is a form of movement through these mental maps. This universal algorithm is the secret to human adaptability.



This flexibility allows us to transfer skills, create new ideas, and solve problems in ways no other species can. Whether you’re mastering a new language or inventing a technology, your brain’s columns are building, updating, and navigating conceptual maps. The more we understand this process, the better we can teach, learn, and innovate.

The Thousand Brains Theory doesn’t just explain intelligence—it celebrates the endless creativity and potential of the human mind.