ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Programming and Metaprogramming in the Human Biocomputer

Okay, so you know how sometimes you play games with your friends, and you have to follow a set of rules to play the game? Well, that's sort of like programming. Programming is when you give instructions to a computer so it can do something for you.

But did you know that our brains are sort of like computers too? It's true! Our brains are very good at processing information and making decisions based on what we know. That's why we can do things like ride a bike or read a book – we've learned how to do those things by programming our brains with the steps we need to follow.

And that's where metaprogramming comes in. Metaprogramming is like programming, but instead of telling our brains what to do, we're changing the way our brains work. It's sort of like upgrading your computer with new software that makes it faster or better at doing something.

For example, let's say you want to get better at playing soccer. You might start practicing more often and learning new skills to help you play better. Over time, your brain will start to figure out the best way to move your body and control the ball to score goals. That's metaprogramming – your brain is changing the way it works to help you become a better soccer player.

Metaprogramming can also be used to improve things like memory and problem-solving skills. By practicing and learning new things, we can teach our brains to work more efficiently and effectively. So just like a computer, our brains can be programmed and upgraded to work even better than before!