Human tool-making capacities reflect increased information-processing capacities: continuity resides in the eyes of the beholder

Behav Brain Sci. 2012 Aug;35(4):225-6. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X11002007. Epub 2012 Jun 15.

Abstract

Chimpanzee/human technological differences are vast, reflect multiple interacting behavioral processes, and may result from the increased information-processing and hierarchical mental constructional capacities of the human brain. Therefore, advanced social, technical, and communicative capacities probably evolved together in concert with increasing brain size. Interpretations of these evolutionary and species differences as continuities or discontinuities reflect differing scientific perspectives.

Publication types

  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cognition*
  • Humans
  • Psychomotor Performance*
  • Technology*
  • Tool Use Behavior*