Francisco Aboitiz Libri

Exploring the biological evolution of brains and the development of conscious behavior, this work traces the history of life and the emergence of humanity. It delves into the complexities of how our cognitive abilities evolved and concludes with intriguing speculations about the future of our species.

Focusing on the evolution of the human brain and the origins of speech and language, this book presents a detailed exploration of the brain's language-specific networks and functions. It emphasizes the phonological loop's role in enhancing vocal memory and creating a shared semantic space essential for modern language. The second part delves into the neuroanatomy of non-human species, such as monkeys and vocal-learning birds, and discusses the ecological and social factors influencing the evolution of speech in early humans. This interdisciplinary work targets scholars across various fields.

"In addition to asking what attention actually is, decomposing and analyzing its varieties or revealing its neurobiological mechanisms, a full-fledged theory of attention must consider its workings in the context of motivated, goal-directed and environmentally constrained organisms. The essays compiled in this volume are aimed at making a contribution towards this end. Specifically, the main conclusion that can be drawn is that fundamental links exist between attention and two key processes that are crucial for adapted conduct: goal-directed behavior and cognitive control. Importantly, both the mechanisms underlying these processes, and the actual relations that exist between them, can and must be explored at multiple levels, including neurodynamical, neurochemical, evolutionary and clinical. The reader will find here an invitation to explore these numerous connections, through a selection of contributions that range from basic mechanisms of attention at the neuronal level to developmental aspects of cognitive control and its impairments."--Jacket.

The vertebrate brain is the most complex structure known, raising questions about its origins. How could such complexity arise from simple multicellular animals? This problem has been central to evolutionary biology since its inception. Darwin proposed natural selection as a mechanism for species transformation, including human origins, yet he sometimes expressed doubts about the emergence of highly complex structures. This debate continues both in scientific circles and beyond, with the resurgence of the intelligent design argument, which echoes Paley’s assertion that complex objects imply a conscious designer. Modern proponents, such as creationists, have adapted this argument, suggesting that the complexity of the human genome indicates design rather than random evolution. For instance, a top computer scientist from Celera Genomics noted that the genome's complexity suggested a form of intelligence, distancing the idea from traditional religious interpretations. This volume aims to explore the origins and evolution of the vertebrate brain, tracing a path from the simplest nervous system elements observed in nature to the intricate neuronal networks of the mammalian cerebral cortex, thereby establishing a continuity in brain development.