15 - Evolution of Speech and Sound

Question 1

What are the issues associated with studying the evolution of language? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 1

• Voice and soft tissue does not fossilise

- No direct evidence available (prior to the invention of writing)

Question 2

What did Darwin speculate about language? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 2

Evolved via natural selection as an adaptation

Question 3

What is adaptation? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 3

A feature that evolves through the process of natural selection to enhance fitness through its current purpose

Question 4

What is exaptation? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 4

A feature that is fitness enhancing, but did not originally arise for its current use (later co-opted for its current purpose)

Question 5

What did Chomsky and Gould argue in regards to language? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 5

• Could not have evolved through direct natural selection
• By-product of selection for other abilities
• No genetic variation
• No selective advantages

Question 6

What did Pinker and Bloom argue in regards to language and natural selection? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 6

• Natural selection is sufficient to explain langue development
• Complex design for a specific function

Question 7

Who argued that human language evolved from sexual selection? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 7

Miller

Question 8

What is sexual selection? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 8

• Female mate choice

- Male/male competition

Question 9

What is an example of gene quality? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 9

Verbal skills

Question 10

What characteristics suggest language requires a large cognitive capacity? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 10

• Ability to learn large numbers of symbols
• The ability to organise and embed a series of ideas
• Ability to learn via imitation

Question 11

What does speech require? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 11

Specific articulatory and anatomical features

Question 12

What part of the brain must be able to store lots of information in order to process language? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 12

The neocortex

Question 13

What was the difference between the brain structure of neanderthals and humans? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 13

Neanderthals brain size reaches maximum, but was less sophisticated due to a smaller prefrontal cortex

Question 14

What is the prefrontal cortex involved in? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 14

Decision making and planning

Question 15

What is speech made of? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 15

Linear sequences of symbols that require the speaker to plan ahead

Question 16

What does planning in speech increase? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 16

Increases fitness in non-linguistic tasks

Question 17

What is the social brain hypothesis? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 17

Evolution of increased brain size is a result of selective pressures favouring individuals capable of dealing with complex social relations

Question 18

What is the social contract hypothesis? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 18

A large brain evolved to facilitate symbolism (necessary to coordinate social contracts)

Question 19

What is the scheherazade hypothesis? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 19

Verbal skills as an indicator of gene quality, selected via sexual selection

Question 20

When have neurobiologists suggested monkeys brain neurons fire? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 20

• When the animal grasps food with its hand

- When it observes the experimental grasping food with their hand

Question 21

Where are the monkeys neurons located in relation to food? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 21

Located in the F5 area of the premotor cortex and the homologue of the Brocas area

Question 22

What is it that only humans have direct connections to? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 22

Only humans have direct connections to the laryngeal motor neurons that control the muscles in the larynx

Question 23

What are the Brocas area and the Wernickles area used for? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 23

• Brocas = speech production

- Wernickles = speech perception

Question 24

What is the idea of contrast control of air pressure? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 24

Air pressure in the trachea must remain constant, regardless of how full the lungs are

Question 25

How is contrast control of air pressure achieved? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 25

• Muscles in the thorax and abdomen used

- Directly controlled by the thoracic region in the spinal cord

Question 26

What does the hypoglossal nerve do? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 26

Controls the movement of the tongue, enabling humans to modify their voice

Question 27

What is required to produces vowels? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 27

Two tube vocal tract (oral cavity and the pharynx)

Question 28

Why can apes have limited sound production? (Evolution Cognitive)

Answer 28

Do not have a pharynx