Evolution and Development of Cooperative Neurons

Abstract

Abstract This chapter reviews similarities and differences in the structure and function of neocortical pyramidal cells across species as a source of evidence on the evolution of context-sensitive cooperative neurons. These comparisons are related to those revealed by cross-species comparisons of cognitive capabilities that depend on cooperative context-sensitivity. These cross-species neurophysiological and psychological comparisons are in broad agreement but are presented as early forays into largely unexplored territory. It shows how comparisons of the postnatal development of apical structure and function with the development of cognitive capabilities that depend on context-sensitive cooperation are also in good agreement, so invite much further investigation. Evidence for context-sensitive cooperative cells is shown to correspond with the neuroconstructivist perspective on cognitive development. It argues that, as linguistic capabilities are so highly context-sensitive, they may arise from distinctively human apical functions, and reviews evidence to support this claim.