Before the Brain: Proto-Cognition as the Evolutionary Bedrock of Cognitive Constructivism
Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) August 12, 2026 DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.18823529 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that proto-cognition—primitive world-building, memory, and decision-making seen in honeybees, slime molds, plants, and microorganisms—is the evolutionary foundation of cognitive constructivism, so cognition should be viewed as a continuum from bacteria to humans rather than a trait requiring large brains. |
Abstract
Cognitive constructivism holds that cognition is not a passive mirroring of the world but an active process of constructing internal models of reality. This paper explores proto-cognition—the earliest manifestations of cognitive processes in organisms lacking complex nervous systems—as the evolutionary foundation of that constructivist principle. Drawing on a comparative constructivist perspective, which distinguishes immediate sensory input from stored traces and anticipatory cues, we argue that even the simplest life forms engage in primitive “world-building” behaviors.[1] From honeybees communicating abstract spatial information to slime molds solving mazes, simple organisms demonstrate environmental modeling, memory, and decision-making capacities once thought to require large brains. We review evidence across animals, plants, and microorganisms to reveal a deep continuity: the basic construction of a subjective world is a universal strategy of life, differing only in degree between bacteria and humans. Recognizing proto-cognition enriches cognitive constructivism by extending its scope down the evolutionary ladder. It underscores that cognition’s essence lies in actively structuring reality at all levels of complexity, and it challenges anthropocentric benchmarks that traditionally separated “intelligent” minds from mere biological reaction. We conclude that cognition should be viewed as a continuum emerging from life’s earliest adaptive responses, and we suggest integrating proto-cognitive phenomena into a multi-level constructivist theory of mind.[2] [1] Piaget, J. (1954). The Construction of Reality in the Child. Basic Books. (Foundational text on Constructivism). [2] Maturana, H. R., & Varela, F. J. (1987). The Tree of Knowledge: The Biological Roots of Human Understanding. Shambhala Publications. (Foundational text on Enactivism/Embodied Cognition, strongly supporting the "active process" and "world-building" theme).