Biologically intrinsic knowledge that we acquired through evolution. Each knowledge or skill of this type (e.g., ability to listen or facial recognition) are modular--different and unrelated processes. 

Johns Hopkins University

Knowledge can be divided into two categories: biologically primary and secondary knowledge.

Assumption 1: Division of Knowledge

Sweller, J. (2011). Cognitive load theory. In Psychology of learning and motivation (Vol. 55, pp. 37-76). Academic Press.

Cognitive Load Theory

Primary Knowledge

Non-intrinsic knowledge that must be learned. Humans can acquire this type of knowledge in general but do not have innate specific modular abilities of this type; for example, we have the neural structures that enable us to learn how to read or write, but we cannot read or write any specific language at birth. When learning this type of knowledge, humans acquire information from extrinsic information stores to integrate into their own (large) information store. 

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