Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-29T16:29:43.007Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Evolution of the reasoning hominid brain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 June 2003

Herman T. Epstein
Affiliation:
Marine Biological Laboratory, Woods Hole, MA 02543 [email protected] www.brainstages.net

Abstract

Cognition is readily seen to be connected to evolution through plots of the ratio of cranial capacity to body size of hominids which show two regions of sharply increasing ratios beginning at 2.5 and 0.5 million years ago – precisely the critical times inferred by the author from his study of tools. A similar correlation exists between current human brain growth spurts and the onsets of the Piagetian stages of reasoning development. The first goal of the author's target article is stated to be “to make a case for the relevance of archeological contributions to studies of the evolution of cognition” (sect. 1, Introduction). His analysis focuses on spatial cognition.

Type
Brief Report
Copyright
© 2002 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)