Cognitive Evolution: From single cells to the human mindSecond Edition

397 Pages·2022·28.919 MB·English

by  David B. Boles

When Cognitive Evolution first appeared, it immediately became a foundational text for all
cognitive neuroscience researchers. There remains nothing else like it in its scope as it
describes the evolution of the neural systems relevant to cognition from single organisms
to modern humans. The second edition of Cognitive Evolution is an essential read for
anyone who wants to be current in their understanding of cognitive evolution.
Arnold L. Glass, Professor of Psychology, Rutgers University, USA
Rich in detail, engagingly written and nicely illustrated, the book is an excellent resource
for upper-level undergraduates and graduate students in the cognitive sciences. It serves
as a reminder of how even simple cognitive tasks depend on a brain architecture and
circuitry of immense complexity with deep evolutionary roots.
Thurston C. Lacalli, Biology Department, University of Victoria, Canada

Cognitive Evolution
Cognitive Evolution provides an in-depth exploration of the natural history of cognition, from
the beginning of life on Earth to present-day humans. Drawing together evolutionary,
comparative, and neuroscience research, the book brings a unique cognitive perspective to
evolutionary psychology.
The second edition features the latest research and illustrations on emerging topics,
making it a true update of the field. After introducing evolution, Boles adopts an information
processing perspective – from inputs to outputs, with all the mental processes in between to
provide a systematic overview of the evolution of cognition, including its sensory, motoric,
perceptual, and cognitive components. The combination of evolutionary, comparative, and
neuroscience perspectives provides insights on topics like vision, handedness, tools and
planning, spatial perception, pattern recognition, memory, language, and consciousness.
Cognitive Evolution is a comprehensive, essential read for advanced undergraduate and
postgraduate students of cognitive and evolutionary psychology. Researchers will find it a
useful and insightful synthesis of the field, yet even the curious public will find in it much
that is surprising and enlightening.
David B. Boles is Professor Emeritus of Psychology, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.
He is a cognitive psychologist who has published widely on brain lateralization and
mental resources. He began reading extensively on comparative and artifact evidence of
cognition as a graduate student, leading to inclusion of evolutionary psychology content
in his subsequent courses. In 2001, he began teaching Comparative and Evolutionary
Approaches to Cognition, a course that transitioned into Cognitive Evolution a few years
later. This book is the product of his extensive, career-long preparations to introduce
students to important evolutionary topics.

Cognitive Evolution
From single cells to the human mind
Second Edition
David B. Boles
Cover image: Getty
Second edition published 2022
by Routledge
605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158
and by Routledge
4 Park Square, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN
Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group, an informa business
© 2022 David B. Boles
The right of David B. Boles to be identified as author of this work has been asserted in
accordance with sections 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilised in any form
or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including
photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without
permission in writing from the publishers.
Trademark notice: Product or corporate names may be trademarks or registered trademarks, and
are used only for identification and explanation without intent to infringe.
First edition published by Routledge 2019
Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
A catalog record has been requested for this book
ISBN: 978-0-367-68507-2 (hbk)
ISBN: 978-0-367-67955-2 (pbk)
ISBN: 978-1-003-13786-3 (ebk)
DOI: 10.4324/9781003137863
Typeset in Bembo
by MPS Limited, Dehradun
For Joan, Walter, and Madeline.
by Madeline Boles, age 6, published with permission

Contents
Introduction xi
Acknowledgments xiv
SECTION I
Introduction to evolution 1
1 Life begins 3
2 Life gets complicated 17
3 Vertebrates to early mammals 30
4 Later mammals through primates 43
5 Humans 65
SECTION II
Sensation and movement 93
6 The mechanical and chemical senses 95
7 Vision 114
8 The origins of motion 131
9 Bipedalism 144
SECTION III
Perception and cognition 161
10 Praxis and handedness 163
11 Tools and planning 180
12 Spatial perception 206