Introducing the brain: general (Introduction)

by David Turell , Monday, March 14, 2022, 14:54 (983 days ago) @ dhw

New Study Changes Our Understanding of Human ... - Haaretz.com

DAVID: Broca's area was there long before language. I'll bet Erectus had it.

dhw: That was made clear by the article, and it therefore categorically refutes your earlier statements that the complexities of the frontal lobe are unique to sapiens. Now you are betting that this complexity was not unique to sapiens.

My point is simply erectus' brain had a degree of complexity lesser than sapiens. hbilis even less

Memory formation

DAVID: Because I believe in God who designs new organisms prepared for their future uses.

I know you do...So even in your theory, your God provided the mechanism for autonomous change, and he did not provide new cells thousands of years before they were needed. What could this mechanism be, if it is not cellular intelligence?

Brains before sapiens undoubtedly complexified using God-given instructions.

dhw: Or do you believe that 315,000 years ago he provided new cells with instructions on how to build centrally heated houses, write symphonies, invent nuclear weapons etc. (not to be opened for the next 314,000+ years)? As I see it, the only difference now between our theistic theories is that while accepting that your God gave cells an autonomous mechanism for complexification, you insist that he had to intervene personally when brains required new cells.

Our God-given cells came with the ability to conceptualize on our command. You have your neuron cell committees brilliantly doing their own designing. With no known natural source of designing intelligence.

multiple queen fire ant colony

QUOTE: …..the advantages of having multiple queens overrode the incompatibilities, and the genetic material repeatedly spread to other species from the one source species in which this new social form evolved.

DAVID: interesting new hybrid fire ant is old. Not true speciation.

dhw: I agree that it’s not true speciation, but it is still highly relevant to our discussion on the intelligent manner in which organisms discover and use new ways of improving their chances of survival.

DAVID: Certainly more queens are better.

dhw: It’s amazing what ants come up with – thereby not only proving how intelligent they are, but also illustrating the more general fact that speciation, life styles, econiches, natural wonders etc. are all geared to the same principle: improving chances of survival.

Agreed, survival is required.