ScienceAugust 17, 2026

compositionality

kom-puh-zi-SHAN-uh-lee

Definition

The capacity to combine smaller, discrete units of cognition into complex, flexible structures to perform various tasks.

Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'componere', meaning 'to put together'. It entered English via the concept of composition, referring to the quality of being made up of distinct parts.

In the news

The article uses this term to explain how the brain reuses existing 'cognitive building blocks' to assemble different neural circuits for new behaviors. This flexibility allows the brain to generate a wide range of complex actions using a limited number of neurons.

Brain Circuits Adapt to Task Switching

Read the full article ↗

Mirage News

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