| Records |
| Author |
Cochet, H.; Byrne, R.W. |
| Title |
Evolutionary origins of human handedness: evaluating contrasting hypotheses |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2013 |
Publication |
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Abbreviated Journal |
Animal Cognition |
| Volume |
16 |
Issue |
4 |
Pages |
531-542 |
| Keywords |
Hand preference; Hemispheric specialization; Communicative gestures; Evolution of language; Nonhuman primates; Human children |
| Abstract |
Variation in methods and measures, resulting in past dispute over the existence of population handedness in nonhuman great apes, has impeded progress into the origins of human right-handedness and how it relates to the human hallmark of language. Pooling evidence from behavioral studies, neuroimaging and neuroanatomy, we evaluate data on manual and cerebral laterality in humans and other apes engaged in a range of manipulative tasks and in gestural communication. A simplistic human/animal partition is no longer tenable, and we review four (nonexclusive) possible drivers for the origin of population-level right-handedness: skilled manipulative activity, as in tool use; communicative gestures; organizational complexity of action, in particular hierarchical structure; and the role of intentionality in goal-directed action. Fully testing these hypotheses will require developmental and evolutionary evidence as well as modern neuroimaging data. |
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Springer-Verlag |
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English |
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| ISSN |
1435-9448 |
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no |
| Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
5691 |
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| Author |
Boyd, R.; Richerson, P.J. |
| Title |
Why Culture is Common, but Cultural Evolution is Rare |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
1996 |
Publication |
Proceedings of the British Academy |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc Br Acad |
| Volume |
88 |
Issue |
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Pages |
73-93 |
| Keywords |
cultural distributed evolution primates |
| Abstract |
If culture is defined as variation acquired and maintained by social learning, then culture is common in nature. However, cumulative cultural evolution resulting in behaviors that no individual could invent on their own is limited to humans, song birds, and perhaps chimpanzees. Circumstantial evidence suggests that cumulative cultural evolution requires the capacity for observational learning. Here, we analyze two models the evolution of psychological capacities that allow cumulative cultural evolution. Both models suggest that the conditions which allow the evolution of such capacities when rare are much more stringent than the conditions which allow the maintenance of the capacities when common. This result follows from the fact that the assumed benefit of the capacities, cumulative cultural adaptation, cannot occur when the capacities are rare. These results suggest why such capacities may be rare in nature. |
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Royal Society/British Academy |
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| Notes |
http://www.proc.britac.ac.uk/cgi-bin/somsid.cgi?page=summaries/pba88#boyd |
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no |
| Call Number |
Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
4195 |
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| Author |
Weissing, F.J. |
| Title |
Animal behaviour: Born leaders |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2011 |
Publication |
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Abbreviated Journal |
Nature |
| Volume |
474 |
Issue |
7351 |
Pages |
288-289 |
| Keywords |
* Animal behaviour * Evolution * Psychology |
| Abstract |
Social animals face a dilemma. To reap the benefits of group living, they have to stay together. However, individuals differ in their preferences as to where to go and what to do next. If all individuals follow their own preferences, group coherence is undermined, resulting in an outcome that is unfavourable for everyone. Neglecting one's own preferences and following a leader is one way to resolve this coordination problem. But what attributes make an individual a 'leader'? A modelling study by Johnstone and Manica1 illuminates this question. |
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Nature Publishing Group, a division of Macmillan Publishers Limited. All Rights Reserved. |
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0028-0836 |
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| Notes |
10.1038/474288a |
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no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
5396 |
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| Author |
Potts, R. |
| Title |
Variability selection in hominid evolution |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
1998 |
Publication |
Evolutionary Anthropology: Issues, News, and Reviews |
Abbreviated Journal |
Evol. Anthropol. |
| Volume |
7 |
Issue |
3 |
Pages |
81-96 |
| Keywords |
variability selection; hominids; environment; adaptation; natural selection; evolution |
| Abstract |
Variability selection (abbreviated as VS) is a process considered to link adaptive change to large degrees of environment variability. Its application to hominid evolution is based, in part, on the pronounced rise in environmental remodeling that took place over the past several million years. The VS hypothesis differs from prior views of hominid evolution, which stress the consistent selective effects associated with specific habitats or directional trends (e.g., woodland, savanna expansion, cooling). According to the VS hypothesis, wide fluctuations over time created a growing disparity in adaptive conditions. Inconsistency in selection eventually caused habitat-specific adaptations to be replaced by structures and behaviors responsive to complex environmental change. Key hominid adaptations, in fact, emerged during times of heightened variability. Early bipedality, encephalized brains, and complex human sociality appear to signify a sequence of VS adaptations—i.e., a ratcheting up of versatility and responsiveness to novel environments experienced over the past 6 million years. The adaptive results of VS cannot be extrapolated from selection within a single environmental shift or relatively stable habitat. If some complex traits indeed require disparities in adaptive setting (and relative fitness) in order to evolve, the VS idea counters the prevailing view that adaptive change necessitates long-term, directional consistency in selection. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc. |
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John Wiley & Sons, Inc. |
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Edition |
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| ISSN |
1520-6505 |
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no |
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Equine Behaviour @ team @ |
Serial |
5461 |
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| Author |
Preston, S.D.; de Waal, F.B.M. |
| Title |
Empathy: Its ultimate and proximate bases |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2002 |
Publication |
Behavioral and Brain Sciences |
Abbreviated Journal |
Behav Brain Sci |
| Volume |
25 |
Issue |
1 |
Pages |
1-20; discussion 20-71 |
| Keywords |
Adult; Animals; Child; Emotions/physiology; *Empathy; Evolution; Haplorhini; Helping Behavior; Humans; Mental Disorders/physiopathology/psychology; Morals; Personality Development; Phylogeny; Prefrontal Cortex/physiopathology; Socialization |
| Abstract |
There is disagreement in the literature about the exact nature of the phenomenon of empathy. There are emotional, cognitive, and conditioning views, applying in varying degrees across species. An adequate description of the ultimate and proximate mechanism can integrate these views. Proximately, the perception of an object's state activates the subject's corresponding representations, which in turn activate somatic and autonomic responses. This mechanism supports basic behaviors (e.g., alarm, social facilitation, vicariousness of emotions, mother-infant responsiveness, and the modeling of competitors and predators) that are crucial for the reproductive success of animals living in groups. The Perception-Action Model (PAM), together with an understanding of how representations change with experience, can explain the major empirical effects in the literature (similarity, familiarity, past experience, explicit teaching, and salience). It can also predict a variety of empathy disorders. The interaction between the PAM and prefrontal functioning can also explain different levels of empathy across species and age groups. This view can advance our evolutionary understanding of empathy beyond inclusive fitness and reciprocal altruism and can explain different levels of empathy across individuals, species, stages of development, and situations. |
| Address |
University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics, 2RCP-Neurology Clinic, Iowa City, IA 52242. stephanie-d-preston@uiowa.edu |
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English |
Summary Language |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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| ISSN |
0140-525X |
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| Notes |
PMID:12625087 |
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
181 |
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| Author |
Macphail, E.M. |
| Title |
Cognitive function in mammals: the evolutionary perspective |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
1996 |
Publication |
Brain research. Cognitive brain research |
Abbreviated Journal |
Brain Res Cogn Brain Res |
| Volume |
3 |
Issue |
3-4 |
Pages |
279-290 |
| Keywords |
Animals; Cognition/*physiology; Conditioning (Psychology)/*physiology; Evolution; Humans; Learning/*physiology; Task Performance and Analysis |
| Abstract |
The work of behavioural pharmacologists has concentrated on small animals, such as rodents and pigeons. The validity of extrapolation of their findings to humans depends upon the existence of parallels in both physiology and psychology between these animals and humans. This paper considers the question whether there are in fact substantial cognitive parallels between, first, different non-human groups of vertebrates and, second, non-humans and humans. Behavioural data from 'simple' tasks, such as habituation and conditioning, do not point to species differences among vertebrates. Using examples that concentrate on the performance of rodents and birds, it is argued that, similarly, data from more complex tasks (learning-set formation, transitive inference, and spatial memory serve as examples) reveal few if any cognitive differences amongst non-human vertebrates. This conclusion supports the notion that association formation may be the critical problem-solving process available to non-human animals; associative mechanisms are assumed to have evolved to detect causal links between events, and would therefore be relevant in all ecological niches. In agreement with this view, recent advances in comparative neurology show striking parallels in functional organisation of mammalian and avian telencephalon. Finally, it is argued that although the peculiarly human capacity for language marks a large cognitive contrast between humans and non-humans, there is good evidence-in particular, from work on implicit learning--that the learning mechanisms available to non--humans are present and do play an important role in human cognition. |
| Address |
Department of Psychology, University of York at Heslington, UK |
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English |
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Series Issue |
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Edition |
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| ISSN |
0926-6410 |
ISBN |
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Medium |
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Conference |
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| Notes |
PMID:8806029 |
Approved |
no |
| Call Number |
refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
603 |
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| Author |
Arnold, K.; Zuberbuhler, K. |
| Title |
Language evolution: semantic combinations in primate calls |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Nature |
Abbreviated Journal |
Nature |
| Volume |
441 |
Issue |
7091 |
Pages |
303 |
| Keywords |
Animal Migration; Animals; Eagles/physiology; *Evolution; Female; Haplorhini/*physiology; Male; Predatory Behavior; *Semantics; *Vocalization, Animal |
| Abstract |
Syntax sets human language apart from other natural communication systems, although its evolutionary origins are obscure. Here we show that free-ranging putty-nosed monkeys combine two vocalizations into different call sequences that are linked to specific external events, such as the presence of a predator and the imminent movement of the group. Our findings indicate that non-human primates can combine calls into higher-order sequences that have a particular meaning. |
| Address |
School of Psychology, University of St Andrews, St Andrews KY16 9JP, UK |
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English |
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Edition |
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| ISSN |
1476-4687 |
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Conference |
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| Notes |
PMID:16710411 |
Approved |
no |
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refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
354 |
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| Author |
Cameron, E.Z. |
| Title |
Facultative adjustment of mammalian sex ratios in support of the Trivers-Willard hypothesis: evidence for a mechanism |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2004 |
Publication |
Proceedings. Biological sciences / The Royal Society |
Abbreviated Journal |
Proc Biol Sci |
| Volume |
271 |
Issue |
1549 |
Pages |
1723-1728 |
| Keywords |
Age Factors; Animals; Body Constitution; *Evolution; Female; Glucose/metabolism/physiology; Litter Size; Male; Mammals/*physiology; *Models, Biological; Reproduction/physiology; Seasons; Sex Factors; *Sex Ratio; Time Factors |
| Abstract |
Evolutionary theory predicts that mothers of different condition should adjust the birth sex ratio of their offspring in relation to future reproductive benefits. Published studies addressing variation in mammalian sex ratios have produced surprisingly contradictory results. Explaining the source of such variation has been a challenge for sex-ratio theory, not least because no mechanism for sex-ratio adjustment is known. I conducted a meta-analysis of previous mammalian sex-ratio studies to determine if there are any overall patterns in sex-ratio variation. The contradictory nature of previous results was confirmed. However, studies that investigated indices of condition around conception show almost unanimous support for the prediction that mothers in good condition bias their litters towards sons. Recent research on the role of glucose in reproductive functioning have shown that excess glucose favours the development of male blastocysts, providing a potential mechanism for sex-ratio variation in relation to maternal condition around conception. Furthermore, many of the conflicting results from studies on sex-ratio adjustment would be explained if glucose levels in utero during early cell division contributed to the determination of offspring sex ratios. |
| Address |
Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa. ezcameron@zoology.up.ac.za |
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English |
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Edition |
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| ISSN |
0962-8452 |
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| Notes |
PMID:15306293 |
Approved |
no |
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refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
413 |
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| Author |
Mulcahy, N.J.; Call, J. |
| Title |
Apes save tools for future use |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2006 |
Publication |
Science (New York, N.Y.) |
Abbreviated Journal |
Science |
| Volume |
312 |
Issue |
5776 |
Pages |
1038-1040 |
| Keywords |
Animals; Association Learning; *Cognition; *Evolution; *Mental Processes; *Pan paniscus; Pan troglodytes; *Pongo pygmaeus |
| Abstract |
Planning for future needs, not just current ones, is one of the most formidable human cognitive achievements. Whether this skill is a uniquely human adaptation is a controversial issue. In a study we conducted, bonobos and orangutans selected, transported, and saved appropriate tools above baseline levels to use them 1 hour later (experiment 1). Experiment 2 extended these results to a 14-hour delay between collecting and using the tools. Experiment 3 showed that seeing the apparatus during tool selection was not necessary to succeed. These findings suggest that the precursor skills for planning for the future evolved in great apes before 14 million years ago, when all extant great ape species shared a common ancestor. |
| Address |
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany |
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English |
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Edition |
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| ISSN |
1095-9203 |
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| Notes |
PMID:16709782 |
Approved |
no |
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refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
466 |
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| Author |
Johnson, D.D.P.; Stopka, P.; Knights, S. |
| Title |
Sociology: The puzzle of human cooperation |
Type |
Journal Article |
| Year |
2003 |
Publication |
Nature |
Abbreviated Journal |
Nature |
| Volume |
421 |
Issue |
6926 |
Pages |
911-2; discussion 912 |
| Keywords |
Altruism; *Cooperative Behavior; Evolution; Humans; *Models, Biological; Punishment; Reward; Risk |
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| Address |
Olin Institute for Strategic Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. dominic@post.harvard.edu |
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English |
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0028-0836 |
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| Notes |
PMID:12606989 |
Approved |
no |
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refbase @ user @ |
Serial |
467 |
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