Modern Humans: Cognition & Brain Evolution Flashcards
What drove the evolution of our bigger brains?
-Social Brain Hypothesis
- Ecological Intelligence Hypothesis
Social Brain Hypothesis
Stipulates that increased complexity in social groups has resulted in larger brains and more advanced cognitive abilities in primates (memory, recognizing individuals, establishing relationships
Ecological Intelligence Hypothesis
Suggest how cognitive mapping and extractive foraging techniques used by primates to find high-quality foods demanded increased cognitive compacity.
What is the difference between Ecological and Social Brain Hypothesis?
Ecological hypothesis argue that the cognitive demands of their environment have need for increase in relative brain size, while the social brain hypothesis argues that social complexity is the main drive for brain size evolution
Expensive Tissue Hypothesis
Theorizes that the metabolic requirement of relatively large brains is offset by a corresponding reduction of the other tissues, such as gut size.
-consumes 20% of the body’s overall energy budget but basal metabolic rate is not higher than expected
-because of smaller gut size, humans are required to eat a higher quality diet (fruit, animal protein, etc.)
Life History Theory
Explains natural selection and other evolutionary forces shape organisms to optimize their survival and reproduction.
- Humans are much less developed at birth (21 months of gestation, but only 9 of those spent in the womb)
- Very long childhood:
*brain growth & development occurs while immersed in culture
*critical for social learning and cognitive development (theory of mind, empathy, language acquisition)
Culture
Uniquely complex in humans
Language
Grammar, creativity, abstract expression
-possible trade-offs: chimps have better short-term memory (for example, the numbers test), but humans have better long-term and associative memory
