humans and all of these other animals are hominoids we are eight I want to
are hominoids we are eight I want to
are hominoids we are eight I want to understand why humans they so strangely
understand why humans they so strangely
understand why humans they so strangely phrase I also want to understand why
phrase I also want to understand why
phrase I also want to understand why humans need as you do more generally why
humans need as you do more generally why
humans need as you do more generally why can we be deceived by what we see
can we be deceived by what we see
can we be deceived by what we see why did different people see different
why did different people see different
why did different people see different things sometimes can evolutionary
things sometimes can evolutionary
things sometimes can evolutionary studies inform us about why you see
studies inform us about why you see
studies inform us about why you see illusions and to understanding the
illusions and to understanding the
illusions and to understanding the perception of illusions inform us about
perception of illusions inform us about
perception of illusions inform us about the peculiarities of the human brain in
the peculiarities of the human brain in
the peculiarities of the human brain in the words of the ethology Niko Tinbergen
the words of the ethology Niko Tinbergen
the words of the ethology Niko Tinbergen why do these animals behave what they do
why do these animals behave what they do
why do these animals behave what they do I would like to introduce evolutionary
I would like to introduce evolutionary
I would like to introduce evolutionary neuroscience and approach to
neuroscience and approach to
neuroscience and approach to understanding human evolutionary
understanding human evolutionary
understanding human evolutionary neuroscience is based on a reciprocal
neuroscience is based on a reciprocal
neuroscience is based on a reciprocal relationship between neuroscience and
relationship between neuroscience and
relationship between neuroscience and evolutionary biology evolutionary
evolutionary biology evolutionary
evolutionary biology evolutionary neuroscience might sound like something
neuroscience might sound like something
neuroscience might sound like something new but it’s always been a part of
new but it’s always been a part of
new but it’s always been a part of neuroscience we have long thought we can
neuroscience we have long thought we can
neuroscience we have long thought we can learn about our own brains
learn about our own brains
learn about our own brains by studying the brains of other animals
by studying the brains of other animals
by studying the brains of other animals neuroscience has long appreciated that
neuroscience has long appreciated that
neuroscience has long appreciated that the brain along with the rest of the
the brain along with the rest of the
the brain along with the rest of the nervous system isn’t an entirely
nervous system isn’t an entirely
nervous system isn’t an entirely biological entity the humans share with
biological entity the humans share with
biological entity the humans share with other species
other species
other species physical neural structures have direct
physical neural structures have direct
physical neural structures have direct correspondences the process is called
correspondences the process is called
correspondences the process is called behaviors this has been recognized to
behaviors this has been recognized to
behaviors this has been recognized to the extent that early on studies seeking
the extent that early on studies seeking
the extent that early on studies seeking to understand our nervous systems
to understand our nervous systems
to understand our nervous systems however light on animals as models
however light on animals as models
however light on animals as models evolutionary neuroscience and provided
evolutionary neuroscience and provided
evolutionary neuroscience and provided an up-to-date biological framework for
an up-to-date biological framework for
an up-to-date biological framework for understanding brains and behavior
understanding brains and behavior
understanding brains and behavior a key aspect of evolutionary
a key aspect of evolutionary
a key aspect of evolutionary neuroscience is to bridge the findings
neuroscience is to bridge the findings
neuroscience is to bridge the findings of translate
of translate
of translate research by using information from
research by using information from
research by using information from evolutionary constructions here are some
evolutionary constructions here are some
evolutionary constructions here are some images of a structure in primate brains
images of a structure in primate brains
images of a structure in primate brains called the LGN lateral geniculate
called the LGN lateral geniculate
called the LGN lateral geniculate nucleus it is the first place in the
nucleus it is the first place in the
nucleus it is the first place in the brain most visual information from the
brain most visual information from the
brain most visual information from the eyes stops before moving on for
eyes stops before moving on for
eyes stops before moving on for processing in the cerebral cortex I
processing in the cerebral cortex I
processing in the cerebral cortex I mentioned a lot of these and once notice
mentioned a lot of these and once notice
mentioned a lot of these and once notice that although I had learned in anatomy
that although I had learned in anatomy
that although I had learned in anatomy class that these structures had six
class that these structures had six
class that these structures had six layers I found that the number of layers
layers I found that the number of layers
layers I found that the number of layers was not consistent across species I was
was not consistent across species I was
was not consistent across species I was very surprised because I thought the
very surprised because I thought the
very surprised because I thought the macaque visual system was structured and
macaque visual system was structured and
macaque visual system was structured and function just like our own because not
function just like our own because not
function just like our own because not much not much had changed except for the
much not much had changed except for the
much not much had changed except for the size of the structures since the time of
size of the structures since the time of
size of the structures since the time of our most recent common ancestor with
our most recent common ancestor with
our most recent common ancestor with macaques 30 million years ago
macaques 30 million years ago
macaques 30 million years ago both macaques and humans have six lgn
both macaques and humans have six lgn
both macaques and humans have six lgn layers but IPM it shows this similarity
layers but IPM it shows this similarity
layers but IPM it shows this similarity may not be as simple as it seems this is
may not be as simple as it seems this is
may not be as simple as it seems this is a phylogenetic tree of some species of
a phylogenetic tree of some species of
a phylogenetic tree of some species of primates a sort of family tree showing
primates a sort of family tree showing
primates a sort of family tree showing how the species are related to each
how the species are related to each
how the species are related to each other
other
other phylogenetic trees are used to
phylogenetic trees are used to
phylogenetic trees are used to understand how traits evolve in a group
understand how traits evolve in a group
understand how traits evolve in a group of related species if they share a
of related species if they share a
of related species if they share a feature the simplest explanation is that
feature the simplest explanation is that
feature the simplest explanation is that had arisen from a common ancestor and is
had arisen from a common ancestor and is
had arisen from a common ancestor and is thus and such really equivalent in all
thus and such really equivalent in all
thus and such really equivalent in all those species it would be a shared right
those species it would be a shared right
those species it would be a shared right feature but if the feature pops up all
feature but if the feature pops up all
feature but if the feature pops up all over the place
over the place
over the place it must have arisen due to different
it must have arisen due to different
it must have arisen due to different evolutionary events and may be a little
evolutionary events and may be a little
evolutionary events and may be a little bit different every time
bit different every time
bit different every time many species just as closely related to
many species just as closely related to
many species just as closely related to humans as macaques and even some which
humans as macaques and even some which
humans as macaques and even some which are even more closely related to us than
are even more closely related to us than
are even more closely related to us than in the tacks are how differently shaped
in the tacks are how differently shaped
in the tacks are how differently shaped algae and to be fair we cannot be sure
algae and to be fair we cannot be sure
algae and to be fair we cannot be sure what the functional significance of this
what the functional significance of this
what the functional significance of this is however it is an important reminder
is however it is an important reminder
is however it is an important reminder that make my frames have evolved just as
that make my frames have evolved just as
that make my frames have evolved just as much as ours have since the time of our
much as ours have since the time of our
much as ours have since the time of our shared most recent comment
shared most recent comment
shared most recent comment and no single species can serve as
and no single species can serve as
and no single species can serve as simple prototype for understanding human
simple prototype for understanding human
simple prototype for understanding human brains and behaviors to really
brains and behaviors to really
brains and behaviors to really understand humans understanding other
understand humans understanding other
understand humans understanding other species helps but an evolutionary and
species helps but an evolutionary and
species helps but an evolutionary and phylogenetic approach must always be
phylogenetic approach must always be
phylogenetic approach must always be taken I’ve always been interested in
taken I’ve always been interested in
taken I’ve always been interested in human specific behaviors how when and
human specific behaviors how when and
human specific behaviors how when and why they arose these include things like
why they arose these include things like
why they arose these include things like art tool making the burial of corpses
art tool making the burial of corpses
art tool making the burial of corpses language and complex social behaviors
language and complex social behaviors
language and complex social behaviors human specific behaviors define us human
human specific behaviors define us human
human specific behaviors define us human specific behaviors occur across all
specific behaviors occur across all
specific behaviors occur across all cultures human specific behaviors also
cultures human specific behaviors also
cultures human specific behaviors also are what sense apart from other species
are what sense apart from other species
are what sense apart from other species of course there are a lot of human
of course there are a lot of human
of course there are a lot of human behaviors invented every day 25 years
behaviors invented every day 25 years
behaviors invented every day 25 years ago it was texting 11 years ago tweeting
ago it was texting 11 years ago tweeting
ago it was texting 11 years ago tweeting with the vended no other species can do
with the vended no other species can do
with the vended no other species can do these things but the ones I’m most
these things but the ones I’m most
these things but the ones I’m most interested in really define us out of
interested in really define us out of
interested in really define us out of species these sorts of behaviors show up
species these sorts of behaviors show up
species these sorts of behaviors show up in the hominin archaeological record and
in the hominin archaeological record and
in the hominin archaeological record and are associated with fossils of the
are associated with fossils of the
are associated with fossils of the earliest skeletons that look like our
earliest skeletons that look like our
earliest skeletons that look like our own they start to appear in earlier
own they start to appear in earlier
own they start to appear in earlier forms even in hominid species that are
forms even in hominid species that are
forms even in hominid species that are more closely related humans than to any
more closely related humans than to any
more closely related humans than to any other living animals but are no longer
other living animals but are no longer
other living animals but are no longer around today human specific behaviors
around today human specific behaviors
around today human specific behaviors tend not to have much of a course bond
tend not to have much of a course bond
tend not to have much of a course bond as an animal kingdom they can be really
as an animal kingdom they can be really
as an animal kingdom they can be really hard to define even they post some
hard to define even they post some
hard to define even they post some really hard questions what we do know is
really hard questions what we do know is
really hard questions what we do know is that our brains are three to four times
that our brains are three to four times
that our brains are three to four times as big as the brains of other ace so
as big as the brains of other ace so
as big as the brains of other ace so sometime between the time for most
sometime between the time for most
sometime between the time for most recent common ancestor with tips around
recent common ancestor with tips around
recent common ancestor with tips around seven million years ago brains got
seven million years ago brains got
seven million years ago brains got bigger we have also evidence documents
bigger we have also evidence documents
bigger we have also evidence documents in brain size over the past seven
in brain size over the past seven
in brain size over the past seven million years we can make much better
million years we can make much better
million years we can make much better estimates about the sizes of also
estimates about the sizes of also
estimates about the sizes of also hominids brains and about any other
hominids brains and about any other
hominids brains and about any other aspect of brains or behaviors in the
aspect of brains or behaviors in the
aspect of brains or behaviors in the human
human
human canary record but let’s get back to the
canary record but let’s get back to the
canary record but let’s get back to the visual system a lot of people study the
visual system a lot of people study the
visual system a lot of people study the visual system in a lot of species
visual system in a lot of species
visual system in a lot of species because it’s both dominant and most
because it’s both dominant and most
because it’s both dominant and most studied sensory system in humans it is
studied sensory system in humans it is
studied sensory system in humans it is really relatively easy to identify
really relatively easy to identify
really relatively easy to identify histologically and aspects of it may be
histologically and aspects of it may be
histologically and aspects of it may be detectable in fossils like these in
detectable in fossils like these in
detectable in fossils like these in particular a brain region called the
particular a brain region called the
particular a brain region called the primary visual area is the first place
primary visual area is the first place
primary visual area is the first place in the cerebral cortex most information
in the cerebral cortex most information
in the cerebral cortex most information goes after having that stopped in the
goes after having that stopped in the
goes after having that stopped in the lateral geniculate nucleus it is the
lateral geniculate nucleus it is the
lateral geniculate nucleus it is the biggest brain region and it aches its
biggest brain region and it aches its
biggest brain region and it aches its extent is marked by a fold in the brain
extent is marked by a fold in the brain
extent is marked by a fold in the brain called in the lunate sulcus as you’ll
called in the lunate sulcus as you’ll
called in the lunate sulcus as you’ll see in the orangutan brain on the left
see in the orangutan brain on the left
see in the orangutan brain on the left the lunate sulcus has been the focus of
the lunate sulcus has been the focus of
the lunate sulcus has been the focus of a nine-year-old debate about false
a nine-year-old debate about false
a nine-year-old debate about false hominins such as this fossil an
hominins such as this fossil an
hominins such as this fossil an Australopithecus africanus child
Australopithecus africanus child
Australopithecus africanus child I studied the visual system to get some
I studied the visual system to get some
I studied the visual system to get some basic idea about how our human minds
basic idea about how our human minds
basic idea about how our human minds work we can start with understanding the
work we can start with understanding the
work we can start with understanding the visual system and perhaps then try to
visual system and perhaps then try to
visual system and perhaps then try to understand the rest of the brain
illusions reveal quirks in the visual
illusions reveal quirks in the visual system that enable us to understand how
system that enable us to understand how
system that enable us to understand how it works
it works
it works we do not see in a photographic way we
we do not see in a photographic way we
we do not see in a photographic way we are constrained by the features of our
are constrained by the features of our
are constrained by the features of our cognition human brains and behaviors are
cognition human brains and behaviors are
cognition human brains and behaviors are full of surprises and an evolutionary
full of surprises and an evolutionary
full of surprises and an evolutionary framework is what might be needed to
framework is what might be needed to
framework is what might be needed to crack that code these quirks also remind
crack that code these quirks also remind
crack that code these quirks also remind us that our brains were not designed by
us that our brains were not designed by
us that our brains were not designed by engineers simply for accuracy or even
engineers simply for accuracy or even
engineers simply for accuracy or even for efficiency they’re not everything is
for efficiency they’re not everything is
for efficiency they’re not everything is happy or to make us healthy or to help
happy or to make us healthy or to help
happy or to make us healthy or to help us know the correct answer brains are a
us know the correct answer brains are a
us know the correct answer brains are a product of reproductive success and the
product of reproductive success and the
product of reproductive success and the way they perform is influenced by the
way they perform is influenced by the
way they perform is influenced by the evolutionary history of our species some
evolutionary history of our species some
evolutionary history of our species some features of human cognition like
features of human cognition like
features of human cognition like language seem to sense apart from other
language seem to sense apart from other
language seem to sense apart from other species however illusory perception is
species however illusory perception is
species however illusory perception is something
something
something share with a lot of other species as
share with a lot of other species as
share with a lot of other species as well within our species their
well within our species their
well within our species their differences and how different people
differences and how different people
differences and how different people perceive things and allusions reveal
perceive things and allusions reveal
perceive things and allusions reveal these five solutions their causes are
these five solutions their causes are
these five solutions their causes are cases where external features cause
cases where external features cause
cases where external features cause objects of identical size to appear to
objects of identical size to appear to
objects of identical size to appear to have different sizes like this one first
have different sizes like this one first
have different sizes like this one first identified the muller-lyer in this
identified the muller-lyer in this
identified the muller-lyer in this figure the context influenced how long
figure the context influenced how long
figure the context influenced how long the line seemed rows up to each other
the line seemed rows up to each other
the line seemed rows up to each other the illusion is that the arrowheads make
the illusion is that the arrowheads make
the illusion is that the arrowheads make the line appear shorter the tale makes
the line appear shorter the tale makes
the line appear shorter the tale makes it appear longer the strength of the
it appear longer the strength of the
it appear longer the strength of the mule or life illusion actually differs
mule or life illusion actually differs
mule or life illusion actually differs between individuals more generally
between individuals more generally
between individuals more generally people differ introduces susceptibility
people differ introduces susceptibility
people differ introduces susceptibility to all spider lesions illusion strength
to all spider lesions illusion strength
to all spider lesions illusion strength is higher in people with a smaller size
is higher in people with a smaller size
is higher in people with a smaller size primary visual cortex so as I mentioned
primary visual cortex so as I mentioned
primary visual cortex so as I mentioned non-human species also perceive
non-human species also perceive
non-human species also perceive illusions demonstrating that similar
illusions demonstrating that similar
illusions demonstrating that similar cognitive processes are at work in their
cognitive processes are at work in their
cognitive processes are at work in their brains as well however there are also
brains as well however there are also
brains as well however there are also species differences in the perception of
species differences in the perception of
species differences in the perception of illusions and the strength of sign
illusions and the strength of sign
illusions and the strength of sign delusion such as Mueller Liars
delusion such as Mueller Liars
delusion such as Mueller Liars unfortunately most of what we know about
unfortunately most of what we know about
unfortunately most of what we know about the behavior has been limited to a few
the behavior has been limited to a few
the behavior has been limited to a few model species just that species vary in
model species just that species vary in
model species just that species vary in susceptibility to illusions they also
susceptibility to illusions they also
susceptibility to illusions they also vary in the sizes of their visual areas
vary in the sizes of their visual areas
vary in the sizes of their visual areas with larger Villiers visual areas
with larger Villiers visual areas
with larger Villiers visual areas containing more neurons
across primate species visual acuity is
across primate species visual acuity is related to the size of the visual cortex
related to the size of the visual cortex
related to the size of the visual cortex so having bigger v1 with more neurons in
so having bigger v1 with more neurons in
so having bigger v1 with more neurons in it could allow for a more detailed
it could allow for a more detailed
it could allow for a more detailed representation of visual images which
representation of visual images which
representation of visual images which are processed in the brain a model based
are processed in the brain a model based
are processed in the brain a model based on the work of else suggests that having
on the work of else suggests that having
on the work of else suggests that having more neurons to cover the perception of
more neurons to cover the perception of
more neurons to cover the perception of an object means the person be perceived
an object means the person be perceived
an object means the person be perceived in more detail Aleutians could result
in more detail Aleutians could result
in more detail Aleutians could result when there are fewer neurons to cover
when there are fewer neurons to cover
when there are fewer neurons to cover the perception of an image an illusion
the perception of an image an illusion
the perception of an image an illusion is perhaps a more neuron economical way
is perhaps a more neuron economical way
is perhaps a more neuron economical way of perceiving the world however note
of perceiving the world however note
of perceiving the world however note that illusions are not merely economical
that illusions are not merely economical
that illusions are not merely economical trade-offs they can be better at
trade-offs they can be better at
trade-offs they can be better at summarizing information about what we
summarizing information about what we
summarizing information about what we see and directing appropriate behavior
see and directing appropriate behavior
see and directing appropriate behavior that is illusions to be an advantage and
that is illusions to be an advantage and
that is illusions to be an advantage and it could even be an event of having
it could even be an event of having
it could even be an event of having fewer neurons so this might be another
fewer neurons so this might be another
fewer neurons so this might be another way in which evolution and neuroscience
way in which evolution and neuroscience
way in which evolution and neuroscience can potentially inform each other’s
can potentially inform each other’s
can potentially inform each other’s fields a trend within species may give a
fields a trend within species may give a
fields a trend within species may give a hint to a trend across species
hint to a trend across species
hint to a trend across species if the similar mechanism is that place
this framework suggests have sensory
this framework suggests have sensory perception may influence or constrain
perception may influence or constrain
perception may influence or constrain the size of sensory regions and could
the size of sensory regions and could
the size of sensory regions and could even result in differences in the
even result in differences in the
even result in differences in the modular organization of cognition so
modular organization of cognition so
modular organization of cognition so it’s not quite clear why humans have
it’s not quite clear why humans have
it’s not quite clear why humans have such big brains and whether brain size
such big brains and whether brain size
such big brains and whether brain size can explain human specific behaviors
can explain human specific behaviors
can explain human specific behaviors we’re now in an era of big data we’re in
we’re now in an era of big data we’re in
we’re now in an era of big data we’re in a better position than ever before to
a better position than ever before to
a better position than ever before to use comparative methods to help uncover
use comparative methods to help uncover
use comparative methods to help uncover the origin and adaptive basis for
the origin and adaptive basis for
the origin and adaptive basis for behaviors cognitive abilities and
behaviors cognitive abilities and
behaviors cognitive abilities and features of the brain take for example
features of the brain take for example
features of the brain take for example this phylogenetic trees reconstructed
this phylogenetic trees reconstructed
this phylogenetic trees reconstructed from the genetic data of 301 primate
from the genetic data of 301 primate
from the genetic data of 301 primate species and showing how they are related
species and showing how they are related
species and showing how they are related to each other
to each other
to each other here are 301 species of interest which
here are 301 species of interest which
here are 301 species of interest which can be studied to help us understand why
can be studied to help us understand why
can be studied to help us understand why and how we behave as we do but we are
and how we behave as we do but we are
and how we behave as we do but we are still faced with the problem of very
still faced with the problem of very
still faced with the problem of very little data about the neuroanatomy and
little data about the neuroanatomy and
little data about the neuroanatomy and behaviors which can be compared across
behaviors which can be compared across
behaviors which can be compared across species we lack data from Jeff Serena’s
tarsiers most of the new world monkeys
tarsiers most of the new world monkeys except for one species of capuchin
most of the old world monkeys expect
most of the old world monkeys expect except for one species a baboon and a
except for one species a baboon and a
except for one species a baboon and a species of macaque and most of the age
species of macaque and most of the age
species of macaque and most of the age except for chimps and ourselves so this
except for chimps and ourselves so this
except for chimps and ourselves so this brings us back to an earlier point to
brings us back to an earlier point to
brings us back to an earlier point to increase the reliability of the
increase the reliability of the
increase the reliability of the framework which I’ve described that of
framework which I’ve described that of
framework which I’ve described that of evolutionary neuroscience and best
evolutionary neuroscience and best
evolutionary neuroscience and best extrapolate findings across these it
extrapolate findings across these it
extrapolate findings across these it helps to know more about the
helps to know more about the
helps to know more about the evolutionary history of illusory
evolutionary history of illusory
evolutionary history of illusory perception we can have a better idea of
perception we can have a better idea of
perception we can have a better idea of what is going on in our own hands by
what is going on in our own hands by
what is going on in our own hands by studying the diversity of species which
studying the diversity of species which
studying the diversity of species which still have today these are all species
still have today these are all species
still have today these are all species of interest and relevant when
of interest and relevant when
of interest and relevant when understanding the origin of the human
understanding the origin of the human
understanding the origin of the human mind the more we can learn about them
mind the more we can learn about them
mind the more we can learn about them the more we can understand about
the more we can understand about
the more we can understand about ourselves why do we behave the way we do
”
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