Evolving Brains, Evolving Minds: What Sets Us Apart

What Sets Us Apart

As the human brain expanded, grew a neocortex, and reorganized itself in the process of evolution, Homo Sapiens Sapiens emerged a more complex social animal which was fit for its increasingly complex social environment. Several functions of our brains separate us from the ancestral chimpanzee.

We now experience intense consciousness. Erlich (410) states our brains evolved to maintain continuously alert and aware of our surroundings during our waking hours. We stow memories and plan for the future. We think about who we are and analyze our self importance, fretting about the moment that we will cease to exist. Although some primates are self aware and can recognize themselves in the mirror, it is doubtful that they contemplate their social situation ( Chet 429.) Most humans are social memories, social plans, and social worries.

Another adaptive trait that humans specialize in is following another human’s gaze. This becomes important to us now in social settings. Following a leader’s gaze to locate a predator may not be as useful today for modern humans as following the gaze of your classmates so that you spot the professor before you say something mean about her/him. In a trial using two year old human children and chimpanzees, many of the human children followed and return the gaze of the interviewer with much more consistency.

It is necessary for human beings to have a sense of the theory of the mind. The acquirement of a theory of the mind enables humans to understand unobservable mental state ( Ehrlich 435). In a social situation one must be at least try to become aware of the mental states of the people around you . This is very important in becoming a respected member of the community.

Language of course is the miraculous adaptation that has allowed us to share knowledge and create meaning.

As our word began to take on complex meaning, our brain began to grow.

Erlich, Paul R. Evolving Brains, Evolving Minds.

Sherwood, C., Subiaul, F., & Zawidzki, T. (2008, April). A natural history of the human mind: tracing evolutionary changes in brain and cognition. Journal of Anatomy, 212(4), 426-454. Retrieved September 9, 2009, doi:10.1111/j.1469-7580.2008.00868.x