Fun Fact

“Perplex” comes from the Latin “perplexus,” combining “per-” (meaning “thoroughly”) and “plexus” (meaning “entangled or interwoven”). The word originally referred to something physically tangled or knotted, like a complex maze or labyrinth. In medieval monasteries, monks would create “perplexing gardens” – elaborate mazes designed to represent the complicated journey of spiritual enlightenment. The transition from physical to mental entanglement occurred during the Renaissance, when scholars began using the term to describe intellectual puzzles and philosophical conundrums. Interestingly, in early psychology, “perplexity” was studied as a distinct cognitive state different from confusion or uncertainty. The famous psychologist William James identified it as a crucial stage in learning, suggesting that being perplexed was necessary for intellectual growth. Today, neuroscientists study the “perplex response” in the brain, examining how neural pathways activate when we encounter something that challenges our understanding.