Why did humans surpass all other primates? Are our brains so different? Part 2
ABSTRACT The second part of this review is an attempt to explain why only Homo sapiens developed language. It should be remarked that this review is based on the opinion of a clinical neurologist and does not intend to go beyond an overview of this complex topic. The progressive development of langu...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento
2024-04-01
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| Series: | Dementia & Neuropsychologia |
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1980-57642024000100208&lng=en&tlng=en |
| _version_ | 1827281195119935488 |
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| author | Ricardo Nitrini |
| author_facet | Ricardo Nitrini |
| author_sort | Ricardo Nitrini |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT The second part of this review is an attempt to explain why only Homo sapiens developed language. It should be remarked that this review is based on the opinion of a clinical neurologist and does not intend to go beyond an overview of this complex topic. The progressive development of language was probably due to the expansion of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and its networks. PFC is the largest area of the human cerebral cortex and is much more expanded in humans than in other primates. To achieve language, several other functions should have been attained, including abstraction, reasoning, expanded working memory, and executive functions. All these functions are strongly related to PFC and language had a profound retroactive impact on them all. Language and culture produce anatomic and physiological modifications in the brain. Learning to read is presented as an example of how culture modifies the brain. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:56:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-25b75f31196a41de8e103e6b07171c8f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1980-5764 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T08:56:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | Associação Neurologia Cognitiva e do Comportamento |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Dementia & Neuropsychologia |
| spelling | doaj.art-25b75f31196a41de8e103e6b07171c8f2024-04-16T07:40:48ZengAssociação Neurologia Cognitiva e do ComportamentoDementia & Neuropsychologia1980-57642024-04-011810.1590/1980-5764-dn-2024-0087p2Why did humans surpass all other primates? Are our brains so different? Part 2Ricardo Nitrinihttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5721-1525ABSTRACT The second part of this review is an attempt to explain why only Homo sapiens developed language. It should be remarked that this review is based on the opinion of a clinical neurologist and does not intend to go beyond an overview of this complex topic. The progressive development of language was probably due to the expansion of the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and its networks. PFC is the largest area of the human cerebral cortex and is much more expanded in humans than in other primates. To achieve language, several other functions should have been attained, including abstraction, reasoning, expanded working memory, and executive functions. All these functions are strongly related to PFC and language had a profound retroactive impact on them all. Language and culture produce anatomic and physiological modifications in the brain. Learning to read is presented as an example of how culture modifies the brain.http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1980-57642024000100208&lng=en&tlng=enPrimatesBrainLanguageHigher Nervous ActivityPrefrontal CortexCultureReading |
| spellingShingle | Ricardo Nitrini Why did humans surpass all other primates? Are our brains so different? Part 2 Dementia & Neuropsychologia Primates Brain Language Higher Nervous Activity Prefrontal Cortex Culture Reading |
| title | Why did humans surpass all other primates? Are our brains so different? Part 2 |
| title_full | Why did humans surpass all other primates? Are our brains so different? Part 2 |
| title_fullStr | Why did humans surpass all other primates? Are our brains so different? Part 2 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Why did humans surpass all other primates? Are our brains so different? Part 2 |
| title_short | Why did humans surpass all other primates? Are our brains so different? Part 2 |
| title_sort | why did humans surpass all other primates are our brains so different part 2 |
| topic | Primates Brain Language Higher Nervous Activity Prefrontal Cortex Culture Reading |
| url | http://www.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1980-57642024000100208&lng=en&tlng=en |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ricardonitrini whydidhumanssurpassallotherprimatesareourbrainssodifferentpart2 |