Brain Science #6: The First Idea

The First Idea: How Symbols, Language, And Intelligence Evolved from Our Primate Ancestors to Modern Humans, by Stanley I Greenspan, MD and Stuart G Shanker, D. PHIL. (2004) is a very ambitious book.

I wanted to talk about emotion, but I generally base the Brain Science Podcast on my current reading, which is why I chose this rather difficult book that touches on psychology, child development, evolution, and theories about the emergence of language and intelligence.

The basic premise, which is discussed in the podcast is that emotional signaling is the basis for the emergence of language and intellligence. Evidence supporting this hypothesis is discussed as is how the theory challenges long-standing theories about language and intelligence.

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