On evolution, change, and beyond

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 56-72
Author(s):  
Víctor M. Longa
Keyword(s):  
Computational Power ◽  
Biological Phenomenon ◽  
Cognitive Evolution ◽  
Computational System ◽  
Language Origins ◽  
Target Article ◽  
Pluralistic Approach ◽  
Grammatical Change

Abstract This paper discusses Hubert Haider’s target-article “Grammar change: A case of Darwinian cognitive evolution”. I show why such an article is fascinating (and unconventional), although I will mainly concentrate on several disagreements with Haider and will suggest alternative views to those contended by this scholar. My discussion will highlight five main issues: (1) Haider assumes a purely Neo-Darwinian (i.e. genocentric) view of evolution and inheritance, lacking a more pluralistic approach; (2) Haider rejects the idea of language as a biological phenomenon, while at the same time he seems to assume several characteristics related to a biologically seated trait; (3) as opposed to Haider’s suggestion, the computational system does not need to be language-specific; (4) Haider’s divide between the procedural and declarative components of grammar is perhaps too strict regarding (grammatical) change; and (5) Haider considers that there is no scientific way of deciding the question of language origins and evolution and that complex grammars are too recent. However, I show that a language-like computational power (and perhaps complex grammars) already existed many thousands of years ago.

Studying mental states is not a research program for comparative cognition

2007 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 332-333 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara J. Shettleworth
Keyword(s):  
Cognitive Processes ◽  
Research Program ◽  
Comparative Cognition ◽  
Mental States ◽  
Existence Proof ◽  
Cognitive Evolution ◽  
Target Article ◽  
Human Uniqueness

AbstractThe title of the target article suggests an agenda for research on cognitive evolution that is doubly flawed. It implies that we can learn directly about animals' mental states, and its focus on human uniqueness impels a search for an existence proof rather than for understanding what components of given cognitive processes are shared among species and why.

scholarly journals Natural selection of visual symmetries

2002 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 422-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter A. van der Helm
Keyword(s):  
Natural Selection ◽  
Indirect Test ◽  
Cognitive Evolution ◽  
Selection Hypothesis ◽  
Traditional Definition ◽  
Target Article ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Selection Of

Implicitly, Wynn's target article starts from the transformational definition of symmetry. Unlike his suggestion, this traditional definition and the recent holographic definition are relevant to the discussion on the cognitive evolution of visual symmetries. These definitions reveal underlying properties and, thereby, they support the natural selection hypothesis. The holographic definition even agrees with an indirect test of this hypothesis.

Homology, neurogenetic imprecision, and lesional complexity

1999 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 573-574
Author(s):  
Ralph-Axel Müller
Keyword(s):  
Functional Imaging ◽  
Developmental Disorders ◽  
Single Case ◽  
Brain Lesion ◽  
Imaging Modalities ◽  
Cognitive Evolution ◽  
Final Point ◽  
Case Methodology ◽  
Target Article ◽  
Structural Brain

The two commentaries appear supportive of the target article. Ujhelyi's commentary can be complemented with recent evidence supporting continuity of language and cognitive evolution in hominids. Gow & Rodkin's caveats regarding “pathonormal inference” and the single-case methodology are discussed from a developmental neurobiological perspective. Early structural brain lesion and developmental disorders can serve as pathological models of normal neurofunctional variability resulting from neurodevelopmental imprecision. A final point concerns the advantages of integrating multiple structural and functional imaging modalities in neuropsychological studies.

Speech, vocal production learning, and the comparative method

2014 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 566-567
Author(s):  
Bjorn Merker
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Analysis ◽  
Phylogenetic Tree ◽  
Comparative Method ◽  
Early History ◽  
Cognitive Evolution ◽  
Vocal Production ◽  
Language Origins ◽  
History Of

AbstractThe faith that “comparative analysis of the behaviour of modern primates, in conjunction with an accurate phylogenetic tree of relatedness, has the power to chart the early history of human cognitive evolution” (Byrne 2000 p. 543) runs afoul of the fact that no other primate besides humans is capable of vocal production learning. This basic enabling adaptation for articulate speech bears crucially on the reconstruction of language origins.

scholarly journals Dissociation between regular and irregular in connectionist architectures: Two processes, but still no special linguistic rules

1999 ◽  
Vol 22 (6) ◽  
pp. 1045-1046
Author(s):  
Marco Zorzi ◽  
Gabriella Vigliocco
Keyword(s):  
Computational System ◽  
Binding Process ◽  
Target Article ◽  
Linguistic Rules ◽  
Dual Mechanism ◽  
Reading And Spelling

Dual-mechanism models of language maintain a distinction between a lexicon and a computational system of linguistic rules. In his target article, Clahsen provides support for such a distinction, presenting evidence from German inflections. He argues for a structured lexicon, going beyond the strict lexicon versus rules dichotomy. We agree with the author in assuming a dual mechanism; however, we argue that a next step must be taken, going beyond the notion of the computational system as specific rules applying to a linguistic domain. By assuming a richer lexicon, the computational system can be conceived as a more general binding process that applies to different linguistic levels: syntax, morphology, reading, and spelling.

LPCD framework: Analytical tool or psychological model?

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Danks
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Analytical Tool ◽  
Mathematical Framework ◽  
Bayesian Decision ◽  
Perceptual Decision Making ◽  
Psychological Model ◽  
Psychological Reality ◽  
Psychological Theories ◽  
Target Article ◽  
Bayesian Decision Making

AbstractThe target article uses a mathematical framework derived from Bayesian decision making to demonstrate suboptimal decision making but then attributes psychological reality to the framework components. Rahnev & Denison's (R&D) positive proposal thus risks ignoring plausible psychological theories that could implement complex perceptual decision making. We must be careful not to slide from success with an analytical tool to the reality of the tool components.

How Homo economicus lost her mind and how we can revive her

2018 ◽  
Vol 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter DeScioli
Keyword(s):  
Economic Thought ◽  
History Of Economic Thought ◽  
Homo Economicus ◽  
Economic Theories ◽  
Target Article ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Mind ◽  
And Behavior

AbstractThe target article by Boyer & Petersen (B&P) contributes a vital message: that people have folk economic theories that shape their thoughts and behavior in the marketplace. This message is all the more important because, in the history of economic thought, Homo economicus was increasingly stripped of mental capacities. Intuitive theories can help restore the mind of Homo economicus.

Inter-individual variation shapes the human microbiome

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily F. Wissel ◽  
Leigh K. Smith
Keyword(s):  
Individual Differences ◽  
Individual Variation ◽  
Human Microbiome ◽  
Individual Variability ◽  
Microbiota Composition ◽  
Target Article ◽  
Microbiome Research

Abstract The target article suggests inter-individual variability is a weakness of microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) research, but we discuss why it is actually a strength. We comment on how accounting for individual differences can help researchers systematically understand the observed variance in microbiota composition, interpret null findings, and potentially improve the efficacy of therapeutic treatments in future clinical microbiome research.

The sense of obligation is culturally modulated

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Bender
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Studies ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Human Populations ◽  
Cultural Group ◽  
Target Article ◽  
Sense Of Obligation ◽  
Cross Cultural Studies

Abstract Tomasello argues in the target article that, in generalizing the concrete obligations originating from interdependent collaboration to one's entire cultural group, humans become “ultra-cooperators.” But are all human populations cooperative in similar ways? Based on cross-cultural studies and my own fieldwork in Polynesia, I argue that cooperation varies along several dimensions, and that the underlying sense of obligation is culturally modulated.

How do memory modules differentially contribute to familiarity and recollection?

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olya Hakobyan ◽  
Sen Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Recognition Memory ◽  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Target Article ◽  
Memory Modules ◽  
Familiarity And Recollection ◽  
Memory Contents

Abstract We fully support dissociating the subjective experience from the memory contents in recognition memory, as Bastin et al. posit in the target article. However, having two generic memory modules with qualitatively different functions is not mandatory and is in fact inconsistent with experimental evidence. We propose that quantitative differences in the properties of the memory modules can account for the apparent dissociation of recollection and familiarity along anatomical lines.

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