We know that the cognitive capacities that most characterize us are theoretically constructs, that is, non-observational concepts that do not have a concrete existence similar to the physical entities that lend themselves to sensitive observation.
We do not know what their origin may be, because we do not know what they are or how they are formed. On the other hand, we know that there are innately a series of rational cognitive capacities (perception, attention, memory ...) and emotional (fear, anger, sadness and joy / happiness ... ..); along with the evolutionary development of the brain that basically focuses on two fundamental characteristics: the neuronal increase promoted by the Hox or regulatory genes (heterochronies) without increasing their density and the great increase in the connectivity and ease of transmission of information (massive myelination) ). These characteristics offer enormous potential for processing external information, but without which such enhancement would lose its purpose (cognitive-behavioral niches).
The question I propose results from the union of both concepts: psychological (constructs) and neurological (neuronal structuring dependent on external information and the specific creation of it in human niches).
The process would be a continuous cognitive coevolution, producing the emergencies of new cognitive capacities. It would be the result of new functionalities created by the union of other less developed cognitive capacities. All this favored by the greater evolutionary neurological potential created within human niches (Specific natural selection).
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Undeniably, human evolution comes from innate (innate) neurobiological internal capacities to process external information, or, in other words, from the interaction between neuronal mechanisms and environmental patterns and patterns.
Humans are goal oriented and new environments create new processing needs to which biological systems must adapt.
Core knowledge in cognitive systems presumably exists to allow information processing as soon as from birth. However, brain plasticity may allow for new or more specific processing. I'm thinking of the theory of neural recycling proposed by Dehaene to explain the “mailbox” brain area (see Deheane's work) which recently emerged in the human brain to process written information. The neurons used for reading - a cultural activity that is not innately implemented in the brain - were initially dedicated to the processing of visual forms.
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Thierry
I agree with your comments. In this context, writing (like language) can be considered as the cognitive emergence resulting from the functional union of other less elaborate cognitive functions. Which, with a specific environmental influence (human niches), can coevolve at more complex and effective levels of behavior. From their functional union appears the new cognitive emergency.
In this process it is always necessary to start with those cognitive capacities that do have an innate character, and that with their own development and union with one another would develop the complex human cognitive world. Naturally, with the adequate neurological evolution (neuroplasticity) that would enhance the development of innate and functional union with each other.
In your opinion, what would be the human cognitive capacities in the past and present?
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