The Language of Programming: A Cognitive Perspective

Evelina Fedorenko; Anna Ivanova; Riva Dhamala; Marina Umaschi Bers

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2019.04.010

The Language of Programming: A Cognitive Perspective

Trends Cogn Sci. 2019 Jul;23(7):525-528. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2019.04.010. Epub 2019 May 29.

Authors

Evelina Fedorenko¹, Anna Ivanova², Riva Dhamala³, Marina Umaschi Bers⁴

Affiliations

¹ Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; McGovern Insitute for Brain Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA; Psychiatry Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. Electronic address: evelina9@mit.edu.
² Brain and Cognitive Sciences Department, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
³ Eliot-Pearson Deparmtent of Child Study and Human Development, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA.
⁴ Eliot-Pearson Deparmtent of Child Study and Human Development, Tufts University, Medford, MA, USA. Electronic address: Marina.Bers@tufts.edu.

PMID: 31153775
DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2019.04.010

Abstract

Computer programming is becoming essential across fields. Traditionally grouped with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, programming also bears parallels to natural languages. These parallels may translate into overlapping processing mechanisms. Investigating the cognitive basis of programming is important for understanding the human mind and could transform education practices.

Keywords: cognitive architecture; computer programming; education policy; language processing.

Publication types

Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
Review

MeSH terms

Cognition*
Humans
Language*
Natural Language Processing
Software*