1. Cognition and the Evolution of the Human Brain

2. “Ontogeny Recapitulates Phylogeny”

3. Brain Functions
Brain Stem Cerebellum Cerebral Cortex Corpus Callosum Hippocampus Hypothalamus Thalamus

4. Evolution of the Brain Homo erectus Homo sapiens Basic Blueprint
Cerebral Cortex

5. Chimp vs. Human Brain
Chimp Brain Size
Altricial Birth
Tradeoff

6. Does Size Matter? Yes it Does !(Maybe? Somewhat?) Encephalization
Within Species Differences
Human Survival

7. Module Theory Special Purpose Programs “Modules”
Mechanisms or Neural Networks

8. Modules in Humans** Social and Ecological
Cheater Detection
Face Recognition
Mate Selection
Kin-recognition
Social Accounting
Predator Avoidance
Alliance Formation
**not necessarily completely/ uniquely human

9. Criticisms of Modularity Theory
Coordination of Activity
“Human” Modules
Lack of Explanation
Modules vs. Byproducts

10. What We Do Know General Intelligence Correlates Overall brain size?
Cortex Thickness
Speed of Performance
Other Correlates

11. Mirror Neurons
Observation Premotor Cortex Purpose(s) Deficiency

12. Categorization
Categorization- putting things into categories, or classifying
Ex: bluejays and robins and ducks
Natural and Typical
Ex: penguins and emus
Adaptive Advantages
Reaction
Prediction

13. Evidence for Hardwiring
SSSM: Experience Theory
Experiments with the Blind
Evidence for Hardwiring

14. Logic Ecological Validity Cheater Detection Experiment w/ 2yo
Limbic System

15. Memory
Consciousness
Experiment
Long-Term Memory
Infantile Amnesia

16. Memory Q. Why can’t we remember everything?
1. Energy Limitations
2. Size Limitations
Q. What did we evolve to be good at remembering?
Things
People
Important events
Threats
Pleasure
Resources

17. Rationality
Rationality: the ability to make judgments and choose courses of action when faced with uncertainty.
Limitations
Bounded Rationality
--Fast and Frugal Heuristics
“Rule of Thumb”

18. Education General Intelligence Education Social Intelligence Reading
Writing
Math

19. Education
Reading
Higher Math
High IQs
U.S. Education
Motivation

20. Humans vs. Apes (and all other creatures, basically)
What can we do that they can’t….
Generative Computation
Promiscuous Combination of Ideas
Use of Mental Symbols
Abstract Thought

21. However……. Cognitive Limitations Major Motivations One Adaptation
“Animal Smarts”

22. Brain vs. Computer Watson vs. Jeopardy Winners Energy Requirements
Meta-Knowledge.
“Feeling of Knowing”
The Winner…….

23. And Now, for the BAD News…
Shrinking Human Brain
Competing Theories:
Domestication
Population Density
Dumber
Efficiency
Reversing Trend