Logo image
Brain evolution and human neuropsychology: the inferential brain hypothesis
Journal article   Open access

Brain evolution and human neuropsychology: the inferential brain hypothesis

Timothy R Koscik and Daniel Tranel
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society, Vol.18(3), pp.394-401
05/2012
DOI: 10.1017/S1355617712000264
PMCID: PMC3619048
PMID: 22459075
url
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/3619048View
Open Access

Abstract

Collaboration between human neuropsychology and comparative neuroscience has generated invaluable contributions to our understanding of human brain evolution and function. Further cross-talk between these disciplines has the potential to continue to revolutionize these fields. Modern neuroimaging methods could be applied in a comparative context, yielding exciting new data with the potential of providing insight into brain evolution. Conversely, incorporating an evolutionary base into the theoretical perspectives from which we approach human neuropsychology could lead to novel hypotheses and testable predictions. In the spirit of these objectives, we present here a new theoretical proposal, the Inferential Brain Hypothesis, whereby the human brain is thought to be characterized by a shift from perceptual processing to inferential computation, particularly within the social realm. This shift is believed to be a driving force for the evolution of the large human cortex. (JINS, 2012, 18, 394-401).
Biological Evolution Mental Processes - physiology Animals Neuropsychology Brain - physiology Humans

Details

Metrics

Logo image