The technical-reasoning network is recruited when people observe others make or teach how to make tools: An fMRI study

iScience, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 28(2), P. 111870 - 111870

Published: Jan. 22, 2025

Language: Английский

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Blind alleys and fruitful pathways in the comparative study of cultural cognition

Physics of Life Reviews, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 43, P. 211 - 238

Published: Oct. 21, 2022

A mere few decades ago, culture was thought a unique human attribute. Evidence to the contrary accumulated through latter part of twentieth century and has exploded in present one, demonstrating transmission traditions social learning across all principal vertebrate taxa even invertebrates, notably insects. The scope is nevertheless highly distinctive. What makes our cultural capacities their cognitive underpinnings so different? In this article I argue that behavioural scientists' endeavours answer question, fruitful research pathways ensuing discoveries have come exist alongside popular, yet light current empirical evidence, questionable scenarios scientific blind alleys. particularly re-evaluate theories rely on centrality supposed uniquely capacity for imitative copying explaining distinctive massive cumulative evolution (CCE) species. most extreme versions perspective suffer logical incoherence severe limits testability. By contrast field generated range rigorous observational experimental methodologies revealed both long-term fidelity limited forms CCE non-human Attention now turns directly investigating scope, underlying cognition versus CCE, with broader approach factors additional transmission, role invention, innovation evolved motivational biases species studied.

Language: Английский

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Chimpanzees use social information to acquire a skill they fail to innovate

Nature Human Behaviour, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 8(5), P. 891 - 902

Published: March 6, 2024

Abstract Cumulative cultural evolution has been claimed to be a uniquely human phenomenon pivotal the biological success of our species. One plausible condition for cumulative emerge is individuals’ ability use social learning acquire know-how that they cannot easily innovate by themselves. It suggested chimpanzees may capable such learning, but this assertion remains largely untested. Here we show skill failed independently innovate. By teaching how solve sequential task (one chimpanzee in each two tested groups, n = 66) and using network-based diffusion analysis, found 14 naive learned operate puzzle box during preceding three months exposure all necessary materials. In conjunction, present evidence hypothesis sufficient new, complex after initial innovation.

Language: Английский

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Human cumulative culture and the exploitation of natural phenomena

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 377(1843)

Published: Dec. 13, 2021

Cumulative cultural evolution (CCE)-defined as the process by which beneficial modifications are culturally transmitted and progressively accumulated over time-has long been argued to underlie unparalleled diversity complexity of human culture. In this paper, I argue that not just any kind accumulation will give rise human-like Rather, suggest CCE depends on gradual exploitation natural phenomena, features our environment that, through laws physics, chemistry or biology, generate reliable effects can be exploited for a purpose. comprises two distinct processes: optimizing traits exploit given set phenomena (Type CCE) expanding we II CCE). most critical CCE, including its open-ended dynamic, stems from Type CCE. Throughout contrast processes discuss their respective socio-cognitive requirements. This article is part discussion meeting issue 'The emergence collective knowledge cumulative culture in animals, humans machines'.

Language: Английский

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Bringing cumulative technological culture beyond copying versus reasoning

Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 27(1), P. 30 - 42

Published: Oct. 22, 2022

Language: Английский

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Technical reasoning bolsters cumulative technological culture through convergent transformations

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 8(9)

Published: March 2, 2022

Understanding the evolution of human technology is key to solving mystery our origins. Current theories propose that evolved through accumulation modifications were mostly transmitted between individuals by blind copying and selective retention advantageous variations. An alternative account high-fidelity transmission in context cumulative technological culture supported technical reasoning, which a reconstruction mechanism allows converge optimal solutions. We tested these two competing hypotheses with microsociety experiment, participants had optimize physical system partial- degraded-information conditions. Our results indicated an improvement over generations, was accompanied increased understanding it. The solutions produced tended progressively generations. These findings show reasoning can bolster convergent transformations, highlights its role cultural technology.

Language: Английский

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To copy or not to copy? That is the question! From chimpanzees to the foundation of human technological culture

Physics of Life Reviews, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 45, P. 6 - 24

Published: March 6, 2023

A prerequisite for copying innovative behaviour faithfully is the capacity of observers' brains, regarded as 'hierarchically mechanistic minds', to overcome cognitive 'surprisal' (see 2.), by maximising evidence their internal models, through active inference. Unlike modern humans, chimpanzees and other great apes show considerable limitations in ability, or 'Zone Bounded Surprisal', surprisal induced unorthodox that rarely, therefore, copied precisely accurately. Most can copy adequately what within phenotypically habitual behavioural repertoire, which technology plays scant part. Widespread intra- intergenerational social transmission complex technological innovations not a hall-mark great-ape taxa. 3 Ma, precursors genus Homo made stone artefacts, stone-flaking likely was before 2 Ma. After time, early erectus has left traces innovations, though faithful these were rare 1 This owed cerebral infrastructure interconnected neuronal systems more limited than ours. Brains smaller size ours, ceased develop when attained full adult maturity mid-teen years, whereas its development continues until our mid-twenties nowadays. Pleistocene underwent remarkable evolutionary adaptation neurobiological propensities, aspects are discussed that, it proposed here, plausibly, fundamental copying, underpinned technologies, cumulative learning, culture. Here, responses an innovation important ensuring innovator's production it, because, themselves, minimal prerequisites needed encoding assimilating insufficient practical outcomes accumulate spread intergenerationally.

Language: Английский

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Cross-Species Comparisons of Human and Non-Human Culture

Oxford University Press eBooks, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Oct. 23, 2023

Abstract Studies that directly compare the behaviour of two or more species can identify important similarities and differences in psychological mechanisms underpin culture, social learning, innovation. This chapter focuses on phylogenetically closely related human children non-human primates to justify a comparative approach understanding culture. Methodological approaches are outlined, formative research is summarized. We provide an overview close convergence many behaviours, highlighting potential evolutionary foundations necessary toolkit underpinning Alongside this, illustrates equally valuable divergence between species, demonstrating cognition further illuminate our The challenges limitations acknowledged explored, future avenues effective proposed.

Language: Английский

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Shaping the physical world to our ends: The left PF technical-cognition area

Published: April 3, 2025

Our propensity to materiality, which consists in using, making, creating, and passing on technologies, has enabled us shape the physical world according our ends. To explain this proclivity, scientists have calibrated their lens either low-level skills such as motor cognition or high-level language social cognition. Yet, little been said about intermediate-level cognitive processes that are directly involved mastering is, technical We aim focus intermediate level for providing new insights into neurocognitive bases of human materiality. Here we show a technical-reasoning process might be specifically at work problem-solving situations. found via two distinct neuroimaging studies area PF (parietal F) within left parietal lobe is central reasoning both tool-use non-tool-use can along with social-cognitive resolve day-to-day interactions combine constraints. results demonstrate existence specific module brain dedicated supporting pillar allowing accumulation knowledge over generations. Intensifying research could nurture comprehensive framework missing fields interested how early modern humans interacting through technology, interaction shaped history culture.

Language: Английский

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Shaping the physical world to our ends through the left PF technical-cognition area

eLife, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 13

Published: April 17, 2025

Our propensity to materiality, which consists in using, making, creating, and passing on technologies, has enabled us shape the physical world according our ends. To explain this proclivity, scientists have calibrated their lens either low-level skills such as motor cognition or high-level language social cognition. Yet, little been said about intermediate-level cognitive processes that are directly involved mastering is, technical We aim focus intermediate level for providing new insights into neurocognitive bases of human materiality. Here, we show a technical-reasoning process might be specifically at work problem-solving situations. found via two distinct neuroimaging studies area PF (parietal F) within left parietal lobe is central reasoning both tool-use non-tool-use can along with social-cognitive resolve day-to-day interactions combine constraints. results demonstrate existence specific module brain dedicated supporting pillar allowing accumulation knowledge over generations. Intensifying research could nurture comprehensive framework missing fields interested how early modern humans interacting through technology, interaction shaped history culture.

Language: Английский

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