What is cognitive play?

Cognitive Neuroscience: What role does the amygdala play in developing a conscience?

• Answer:

  This is an interesting question that asks one to think about conscience in mechanical terms involving the combined functions of memory, emotion, and action.  Let's assume "conscience" is an informal name for a kind of mental activity, one that involves "thinking" as well as "feeling" and "action", and that these activities are supported by the functions of particular brain structures. The amygdala is a multi-directional coordination center that creates a functional relationship between emotionally salient memories, current situations, and physical action.  It has to be considered "intelligent" (in the informal sense) rather than merely reactive, in that it responds to "thinking" activity in cortical parts of the brain.  Since it is hooked to memory both for recall and creating, it is part of learning and development. So you could say it is a means for humans to respond to emotionally salient situations that they have learned about.  That sounds like something that would be required for a "conscience" to be developed.