15 - Evolution of Speech and Sound Flashcards
What are the issues associated with studying the evolution of language? (Evolution Cognitive)
- Voice and soft tissue does not fossilise
- No direct evidence available (prior to the invention of writing)
What did Darwin speculate about language? (Evolution Cognitive)
Evolved via natural selection as an adaptation
What is adaptation? (Evolution Cognitive)
A feature that evolves through the process of natural selection to enhance fitness through its current purpose
What is exaptation? (Evolution Cognitive)
A feature that is fitness enhancing, but did not originally arise for its current use (later co-opted for its current purpose)
What did Chomsky and Gould argue in regards to language? (Evolution Cognitive)
- Could not have evolved through direct natural selection
- By-product of selection for other abilities
- No genetic variation
- No selective advantages
What did Pinker and Bloom argue in regards to language and natural selection? (Evolution Cognitive)
- Natural selection is sufficient to explain langue development
- Complex design for a specific function
Who argued that human language evolved from sexual selection? (Evolution Cognitive)
Miller
What is sexual selection? (Evolution Cognitive)
- Female mate choice
- Male/male competition
What is an example of gene quality? (Evolution Cognitive)
Verbal skills
What characteristics suggest language requires a large cognitive capacity? (Evolution Cognitive)
- Ability to learn large numbers of symbols
- The ability to organise and embed a series of ideas
- Ability to learn via imitation
What does speech require? (Evolution Cognitive)
Specific articulatory and anatomical features
What part of the brain must be able to store lots of information in order to process language? (Evolution Cognitive)
The neocortex
What was the difference between the brain structure of neanderthals and humans? (Evolution Cognitive)
Neanderthals brain size reaches maximum, but was less sophisticated due to a smaller prefrontal cortex
What is the prefrontal cortex involved in? (Evolution Cognitive)
Decision making and planning
What is speech made of? (Evolution Cognitive)
Linear sequences of symbols that require the speaker to plan ahead
What does planning in speech increase? (Evolution Cognitive)
Increases fitness in non-linguistic tasks
What is the social brain hypothesis? (Evolution Cognitive)
Evolution of increased brain size is a result of selective pressures favouring individuals capable of dealing with complex social relations
What is the social contract hypothesis? (Evolution Cognitive)
A large brain evolved to facilitate symbolism (necessary to coordinate social contracts)
What is the scheherazade hypothesis? (Evolution Cognitive)
Verbal skills as an indicator of gene quality, selected via sexual selection
When have neurobiologists suggested monkeys brain neurons fire? (Evolution Cognitive)
- When the animal grasps food with its hand
- When it observes the experimental grasping food with their hand
Where are the monkeys neurons located in relation to food? (Evolution Cognitive)
Located in the F5 area of the premotor cortex and the homologue of the Brocas area
What is it that only humans have direct connections to? (Evolution Cognitive)
Only humans have direct connections to the laryngeal motor neurons that control the muscles in the larynx
What are the Brocas area and the Wernickles area used for? (Evolution Cognitive)
- Brocas = speech production
- Wernickles = speech perception
What is the idea of contrast control of air pressure? (Evolution Cognitive)
Air pressure in the trachea must remain constant, regardless of how full the lungs are
How is contrast control of air pressure achieved? (Evolution Cognitive)
- Muscles in the thorax and abdomen used
- Directly controlled by the thoracic region in the spinal cord
What does the hypoglossal nerve do? (Evolution Cognitive)
Controls the movement of the tongue, enabling humans to modify their voice
What is required to produces vowels? (Evolution Cognitive)
Two tube vocal tract (oral cavity and the pharynx)
Why can apes have limited sound production? (Evolution Cognitive)
Do not have a pharynx
