An example of an analogy used by a scientist:
Pavlov's "central metaphor – the human nervous system as a central telephone switchboard – illuminated the crucial distinction between unconditional and conditional [conditioned] reflexes. According to Pavlov, inborn unconditional reflexes fixedly tied to a particular response (e.g., the viewing of food) to a specific response (e.g., salivation). Pavlov compared such reflexes to a set of direct, permanent telephone lines. Conditional reflexes (e.g., salivation in response to the ringing of a bell, previously associated with the viewing of food) could be acquired, lost, and reestablished. Pavlov likened conditional reflexes to flexible temporary connections between telephone users through a switchboard."
Ivan Pavlov (reported by Slava Gerovitch)
Gerovitch, S. (2002). From Newspeak to Cyberspeak. A history of Soviet cybernetics. MIT Press.
This is described in the extract as a metaphor, but it is presented here as an analogy with mapping across between features of the analogue and target concept.
Read examples of scientific analogies
Many examples of science analogies are listed in 'Creative comparisons: Making science familiar through language. An illustrative catalogue of figurative comparisons and analogies for science concepts'. Free Download.
