This chapter examines Active Inner Speech as a core executive mechanism in problem solving and analyzes its role in the formation of Problem-Oriented Neural Assets within the broader cognitive–neural framework of the book. Inner speech is defined as self-directed linguistic activity embedded in executive control, working memory, and sequential reasoning, rather than silent reading or verbal recall. The chapter situates inner speech within established models of working memory, particularly the phonological loop, and demonstrates how linguistic encoding provides a compressed, temporally ordered representation that sustains goal maintenance and reduces cognitive load during complex tasks. It further conceptualizes inner speech as the structural organizer of the “narrative line of problem solving,” enabling coherence across perception, planning, and review. Neuroscientific evidence is synthesized to show that inner speech recruits distributed language, auditory, prefrontal, and motor-preparatory networks, confirming its status as a measurable neural process. The chapter also integrates emotional valuation into this mechanism, arguing that affective modulation enhances memory consolidation and learning efficiency. Central to the chapter is the proposal that the coupling of inner auditory speech, internal motor simulation, and emotional engagement—especially when synchronized with Manual Practice (active handwriting)—produces durable SensemoKin mappings. These mappings function as the neural substrate for Problem-Oriented Neural Assets, distinguishing active, embodied problem solving from passive study and establishing inner speech as a foundational mechanism for the transition from novice performance to structured expertise.
Chapter 18