Cognitive Evolution

Cognitive Evolution provides an in-depth exploration of the history and development of cognition, from the beginning of life on Earth to present-day humans. Drawing together evolutionary and comparative research, this book presents a unique perspective on the evolution of human cognition. Adopting an information processing perspective – that is, from inputs to outputs, with all the mental processes in between, Boles provides a systematic overview of the evolutionary development of cognition and of its sensation, movement, and perception components. The book is supported by long-established evolutionary theories and backed up by a wealth of recent research from the growing field of cognitive evolution and cognitive neuroscience to provide a comprehensive text on the subject. Cognitive Evolution is an essential read for advanced undergraduates and postgraduate students of cognitive and evolutionary psychology. Introduction To Evolution -- Life Begins -- Life Gets Complicated -- Vertebrates To Early Mammals -- Later Mammals Through Primates -- Humans -- Sensation And Movement -- The Mechanical And Chemical Senses -- Vision -- The Origins Of Motion -- Bipedalism -- Perception And Cognition -- Praxis And Handedness -- Tools And Planning -- Spatial Perception -- Pattern Recognition -- Memory -- Language -- Consciousness -- A Summary In Nine Firsts -- Glossary -- References -- Index. David B. Boles. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.