EAGE Student E-Lecture: Cognition and Seismic Interpretation, by Gaynor Paton

Seismic Interpretation involves high level cognitive processes in order to understand the information that is contained within the seismic data. In this E-Lecture, Gaynor Paton looks at the cognitive processes involved in converting data into understanding, and how we can work in a manner that maximises our cognitive abilities. Working in a way that is cognitively intuitive will reduce the effects of cognitive overload and give us more insight into the subsurface.

[gurdiac]

Excellent Gaynor! Thank you. I have been looking at the same things in the context of gesocience in general and the teaching and assessment of geoscience. In this respect I have discovered Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning, which describes the various cognitive levels we should be addressing through our training programs. I found that very useful. I am also reminded of the work on cognitive biases in seismic interpretation by Claire Bond, which reinforces that fact that we need to be very aware of context and not fall for our cognitive biases (using the limbic system without applying the neocortex - systems 1 vs systems 2 thinking)! I also like to add "Wisdom" above understanding, which in my view is the knowledge of what works and what doesn't, which comes from experience.

[IlyaT]

Great lecture! Thank you very much for it. Would be good to have a list of reference in comments if possible.