Evolution and humans: brain plasticity ; learning to read (Evolution)

by David Turell , Thursday, October 04, 2018, 14:50 (2240 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: This explains why we developed complex spoken language perhaps 50,000 years ago and written and read language only 5,000 years ago. We had to develop the connections in different functioning parts of our brains. It means our brains had to be designed with plasticity in anticipation of the requirements the addition of language would bring. I see God the designer at work. We still haven't found written records for the Aztecs, but knotted cords of a partially deciphered code.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg23931972-600-we-thought-the-incas-couldnt-write-...

TONY: Both these networks have always existed, these networks are able to build a correlation between sight and sound in less than 5 years, yet we are expected to believe that this took 45k years to develop? I find that highly suspicious. I would wager money that circumstance, not biology, prevented writing from being developed. Small communities with a strong oral tradition would have little need for it, honestly, and necessity is the mother of invention.

dhw: I agree. The brain’s plasticity was always there, and it is not new connections that enabled humans to invent reading and writing, but the invention of reading and writing that demanded new connections. However, David generally seems to think his God changes brains and bodies in advance of requirements instead of in response to them.

No! God gave the brain the plasticity in advance to respond exactly as the article describes. Clever design.