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In her talk 'Cultivating Instinct' at RubyConfTH 2023, Katrina Owen explores the concept of expertise through the lens of perceptual learning and intuition in programming. She delves into how experiences shape our ability to make swift judgments, particularly in complex fields like programming, where expertise isn’t easily articulated.

**Key Points Discussed:**  
- **The Nature of Synesthesia:**  Katrina begins with a personal anecdote about meeting neuroscientist Dr. Ramachandran, known for his work on synesthesia, to illustrate how unique cognitive experiences can enhance perception. For instance, she shares how an Australian opera singer leveraged her synesthesia to distinguish her baby's needs based on sound.  
- **Expertise Beyond Explicit Knowledge:**  The discussion transitions to how expertise often lies in an intuitive grasp of underlying principles rather than just factual knowledge. Examples include terrain analysts who can deduce bacterial infections from aerial photographs based on subtle clues.  
- **Training Intuition in Various Fields:**  Katrina shares insights from Philip Kellman's research on perceptual training, which showcases how skills can be refined through exposure and practice. Programs for training pilots and middle school students in recognizing important information demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach.  
- **Application to Programming:**  She draws parallels with programming, emphasizing how experienced programmers notice systemic issues that less experienced ones might overlook. Detailed examples from her time at GitHub highlight the critical role of intuitive problem-solving in programming.  
- **The Importance of Perceptual Learning:**  Katrina argues that traditional education often neglects training the automatic brain, which can process chaotic signals. She suggests techniques for training that enhance perceptual skills and enable programmers to filter relevant data effectively.  
- **Strategies for Improvement:**  The talk concludes with the need for comprehensive training methods in programming to help novice developers more quickly recognize and leverage skills for meaningful challenges, rather than getting bogged down in technical details.

**Conclusions:**  
Owen highlights that expertise in programming, much like other fields, can be cultivated through refined perceptual learning and experience. By focusing on patterns and signals within chaotic environments, programmers can accelerate their learning curve and improve their problem-solving abilities.

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