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I really like this analogy that Michelle used to translate input/output. In terms of the brain and behavior, an input can come in the form of physical or mental influence; these influences convince us towards some direction but inevitably it is our own experiences that convince us of the validity of certain ideas and beliefs. I think this is a reason why people have difficulty understanding or being able to believe ideas they have no previous experience with. Without a proper motivation to understand the opposing viewpoint, the input of the idea might perhaps get directed towards the output reaction to disregard the idea. This is stretching the ideas about input and output a bit, but I think it makes sense that the brain, with all its complex input and output connections, also forms familiar connections that are hard to break away from sometimes. People are habitual beings; it often becomes easier to associate familiarity with comfort, and comfort with goodness and wellbeing. In other words, maybe the whole idea of input/output boxes is a good way to demonstrate why it can often be harder to form new ideas or new output reactions to new ideas.