The process of collecting relevant notes for the Zettelkasten method of note taking and processing them into permanent 'zettels' (notes) mimics how the brain makes connections.

The zettelkasten is an external representation of the gnarly interconnected mess that is my brain. The two are fairly similar in shape though, and is designed to be connected via concept (see One Page Designs) rather than a top-down imposed structure.

It's about increasing the retrieval ability of knowledge rather than organizing it into an aesthetically pleasing but functionally ineffective structure. Zettelkasten surprises with new ideas.