Evolution of neural basis of tool use

Question 1

examples of tool use in non humans

Answer 1

chimps use stones to crack nuts, termite fishing (using stick to get ants out of holes), dolphins carry sponges to use to forage fish that are difficult to locate

Question 2

what are necessary cognitive processes for tool use

Answer 2

ability to observe objects properties and what we can do with them, understand the physicality of objects, semantic knowledge of object

Question 3

what is apraxia

Answer 3

loss of knowledge of how to use tools. Ideomotor apraxia = inability to imitate or mimic how tools are used. Ideational = inability to perform sequence of action to successfully use a tool

Question 4

what are brain areas involved in tool use in humans

Answer 4

parietal lobe, frontal lobe, key circuit between inferior parietal lobe, supramarginal gyrus, medial temporal gyrus and premotor cortex

Question 5

brain areas involved in tool use in non-human primates

Answer 5

prefrontal cortex, SMA, premotor cortex, intraparietal sulcus, inferior temporal cortex, basal ganglia, cerebellum

Question 6

what happened to the parietal cortex over evolution (tool use)

Answer 6

greater expansion compared to other ammales. Evidence = enlarger parietal bone in humans reflect a change in size and shape. Expansion of the IPL, IPS, and SPL (important for visou-spatial integration)

Question 7

what is neuro archaeology

Answer 7

combines insight from archeological record with modern neuro techniques such as imaging

Question 8

what were the results and takeaway of the oldowan and acheulean tool making study

Answer 8

Brain activity specifically associated with acheulian tools activated : supramarginal gyrus, ventral premotor area, inferior frontal gyrus (area 45). Having expertise showed more activity in supramarginal gyrus.

Question 9

what is the role of the supramarginal gyrus

Answer 9

important for greater sensorimotor control, dexterity, coordination for bimanual tasks

Question 10

do non-human primate have handedness

Answer 10

for unimodal tasks have no preference, for bimanual tasks → right hand preference.

Question 11

what is the importance of bimanual coordinated action

Answer 11

may have driven the evolution of hemispheric lateralization and right handedness. Right handedness means Left-hemisphere specialization for motor skills → Possibly related to language as well

Question 12

describe how language is left lateralized (size differences)

Answer 12

anatomical asymmetries → broca’s area larger in left than in right + more complex neurons in left.

Question 13

are there anatomical asymmetries in chimps

Answer 13

chimps have same pattern of left hemispheric asymmetries in wernicke’s, no conclusive data about broca’s

Question 14

what is the homo loquens hypothesis

Answer 14

suggests Brian lateralization for language drove the evolution of lateralization for handedness. Issues : doesn’t explain how human primates may have a lateralized system of communication even though they don’t have language

Question 15

describe the relationship between right handed gestures and vocal sounds

Answer 15

right handed gestures are enhanced when accompanied by vocal sounds, also more likely to use right hand when gesturing when also vocalizing → possible connection

Question 16

what is the homo faber hypothesis

Answer 16

suggests Evolution of manual skills provided a pre-adaptation to language. Evidence = areas involved in language production are also involved in processing non-verbal actions
, ***mirror neurons, hierarchically structured actions

Question 17

describe the mirror neurons in broca’s

Answer 17

functional role of Broca’s area in imitation and action understanding, mirror neurons create link between actor and observer like between sender and receiver

Question 18

how is broca’s related to hierarchically organised structures

Answer 18

parallel between development of tool use (object combination) and language structure (word combination). Broca’s area and R homologue underlie capacity to select and nest action segments in behaviours that have hierarchical structure

Question 19

what was an important part of evolution for tool use (superior longitudinal fasciculus)

Answer 19

reorganization of SLF, became right lateralized, connect parietal to inferior frontal gyrus