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Early Evolution of Human Memory

Great Apes, Tool-making, and Cognition

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  • © 2017

Overview

Authors:
  1. Héctor M. Manrique

    1. University of Zaragoza , Puertomingalvo, Spain

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  2. Michael J. Walker

    1. Biology, Murcia University Biology, Murcia, Spain

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  • Provides a critique of received wisdom through a multidisciplinary consideration of empirical experiments, neuroscientific findings, and archeological records

  • Highlights the part played by the development of memory in the evolution of tool-making and tool-use by early humans, which it contrasts with the situation in great apes

  • Addresses the matter with critical analysis rather than comfortable self-fulfilling accommodative argument

  • Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras

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Table of contents (5 chapters)

  1. Front Matter

    Pages i-xv
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  2. What This Book Is About

    • Héctor M. Manrique, Michael J. Walker
    Pages 1-10

  3. Tool-Use by Great Apes in the Wild

    • Héctor M. Manrique, Michael J. Walker
    Pages 11-19

  4. Great Apes, Tools , and Cognition

    • Héctor M. Manrique, Michael J. Walker
    Pages 21-60

  5. Early Tool-Making and the Evolution of Human Memory Systems in the Brain

    • Héctor M. Manrique, Michael J. Walker
    Pages 61-120

  6. Concluding Remarks

    • Héctor M. Manrique, Michael J. Walker
    Pages 121-129

  7. Back Matter

    Pages 131-150
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Keywords

About this book

This work examines the cognitive capacity of great apes in order to better understand early man and the importance of memory in the evolutionary process. It synthesizes research from comparative cognition, neuroscience, primatology as well as lithic archaeology, reviewing findings on the cognitive ability of great apes to recognize the physical properties of an object and then determine the most effective way in which to manipulate it as a tool to achieve a specific goal. The authors argue that apes (Hominoidea) lack the human cognitive ability of imagining how to blend reality, which requires drawing on memory in order to envisage alternative future situations, and thereby modifying behavior determined by procedural memory. This book reviews neuroscientific findings on short-term working memory, long-term procedural memory, prospective memory, and imaginative forward thinking in relation to manual behavior. Since the manipulation of objects by Hominoidea in the wild (particularly in order to obtain food) is regarded as underlying the evolution of behavior in early Hominids, contrasts are highlighted between the former and the latter, especially the cognitive implications of ancient stone-tool preparation. 

Authors and Affiliations

  • University of Zaragoza , Puertomingalvo, Spain

    Héctor M. Manrique

  • Biology, Murcia University Biology, Murcia, Spain

    Michael J. Walker

About the authors

Michael J. Walker is Honorific Emeritus Professor in the Department of Zoology & Physical Anthropology at University of Murcia, Spain


Héctor M. Manrique is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology & Sociology at University of Zaragoza, Spain


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