Learning & Cognition Klix, Friedhart. (2001). The Evolution of Cognition. Structural Learning & Intelligence Systems, 14, By Clare Bielecki, Nicole Shokralla, and Nicole Paine For Dr. Mills ’ Psyc 452 class, Fall, 2007

Cognition Cognition can be understood once we consider how our evolution has equipped us with tools to learn different things in different ways How has evolution equipped us? –In the Pleistocene Age higher species able to adjust to temperature and environmental changes - which passed on their higher cognitive abilities

How Did Our Minds Survive? Through groups working together –Required communication: sounds, gestures, and language Development of tools Expanding greater living spaces Further strategies for life had to be incorporated which meant a need for higher cognition

Miocene Era Brain volume increases from 350 cm3 to 1500 cm3 - which shows cognitive evolution Adapted mechanisms for walking upright Development of Tools –Methods of making them –Technological advancements –Advances in problem solving

Increases in Cognitive Abilities Learning Sensory Experiences –Committing landmarks to memory –CNS now capable of memory encoding –Adaptation of realizing an imagined goal Social Advancements –Group cohesion –Adapted new mechanisms for sound recognition

Learning Communication: –Prior to language development, sounds and gestures become associated with objects (discrimination learning) Development of Language: –Cro-Magnons attached physical properties to sounds to characterize objects (i.e. “scrape” for cutting)

Language Three Modes: –(1) Properties of object identified and compared using adjectives –(2) Characterized different functions of objects using verbs –(3) Explained sequence of particular action

Brain & Learning Broca’s Area: –Language processing, speech production, and comprehension Wernicke’s Area: –Specialized language skills, understanding and comprehension of spoken language

Conclusion Homo-erectus survived out of these eras; showed cognitive abilities to adapt to environment and use group dynamics to learn a language using verbs and adjectives to describe objects Brain growth is proof of developing higher learning adaptations and cognitive abilities

Critical Review Interesting Points: –During the Miocene Era, the brain volume of primates increased from 350 cm3 to cm3 –The progression of language (sounds/gestures to verbs/adjectives) –Homo-erectus likely had the same type of language as one with Broca's aphasia Critiques: –Too in-depth about Broca’s and Wernicke's areas of the brain then necessary –More research statistics and findings –Discussed of learning written language on top of evolved spoken language would have enhanced argument

References Klix, Friedhart. (2001). The Evolution of Cognition. Structural Learning & Intelligence Systems, 14,