School of War Ep 247: Nicholas Wright on the Brain Science of War
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Nov 11, 2025 Nicholas Wright, a neuroscientist and author of 'Warhead,' delves into how neuroscience shapes wartime behavior. He discusses the brain’s architecture relevant to military tactics and the importance of mental models. The conversation covers enhancing military training through AI and realistic simulations, and how understanding fear can explain historical events like the fall of France in 1940. Wright also explores the relationship between AI and human cognition, emphasizing how technology will influence our decision-making and identity.
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Brains Use Generative Predictive Models
- Brains run on generative models that predict sensory input and update via prediction errors.
- Those models let us imagine, plan, and navigate future situations rather than passively record the past.
The Brain Is An Orchestra From Reflex To Reflection
- Different brain regions form an orchestra linking sensation to action, from brainstem reflexes to frontal metacognition.
- Metacognition (thinking about thinking) is crucial for reflection, confidence assessment, and wiser leadership decisions.
London Cab Drivers Rewire Their Brains
- London black cab drivers who pass the Knowledge develop structural changes in the hippocampus.
- Learning complex navigation rewires the brain and demonstrates human neural plasticity.
