Evolutionary Cognitive Neuroscience [Hardcover]

Steven Platek (Editor), Todd Shackelford (Editor), Julian Keenan (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Cognitive Neuroscience | Publication Date: October 27, 2006

Since Darwin we have known that evolution has shaped all organisms and that biological organs--including the brain and the highly crafted animal nervous system--are subject to the pressures of natural and sexual selection. It is only relatively recently, however, that the cognitive neurosciences have begun to apply evolutionary theory and methods to the study of brain and behavior. This landmark reference documents and defines the emerging field of evolutionary cognitive neuroscience. Chapters by leading researchers demonstrate the power of the evolutionary perspective to yield new data, theory, and insights on the evolution and functional modularity of the brain.Evolutionary cognitive neuroscience covers all areas of cognitive neuroscience, from nonhuman brain-behavior relationships to human cognition and consciousness, and each section of Evolutionary Cognitive Neuroscience addresses a different adaptive problem. After an introductory section that outlines the basic tenets of both theory and methodology of an evolutionarily informed cognitive neuroscience, the book treats neuroanatomy from ontogenetic and phylogenetic perspectives and explores reproduction and kin recognition, spatial cognition and language, and self-awareness and social cognition. Notable findings include a theory to explain the extended ontogenetic and brain development periods of big-brained organisms, fMRI research on the neural correlates of romantic attraction, an evolutionary view of sex differences in spatial cognition, a theory of language evolution that draws on recent research on mirror neurons, and evidence for a rudimentary theory of mind in nonhuman primates. A final section discusses the ethical implications of evolutionary cognitive neuroscience and the future of the field.Contributors:C. Davison Ankney, Simon Baron-Cohen, S. Marc Breedlove, William Christiana, Michael Corballis, Robin I. M. Dunbar, Russell Fernald, Helen Fisher, Jonathan Flombaum, Farah Focquaert, Steven J. C. Gaulin, Aaron Goetz, Kevin Guise, Ruben C. Gur, William D. Hopkins, Farzin Irani, Julian Paul Keenan, Michael Kimberly, Stephen Kosslyn, Sarah L. Levin, Lori Marino, David Newlin, Ivan S. Panyavin, Shilpa Patel, Webb Phillips, Steven M. Platek, David Andrew Puts, Katie Rodak, J. Philippe Rushton, Laurie Santos, Todd K. Shackelford, Kyra Singh, Sean T. Stevens, Valerie Stone, Jaime W. Thomson, Gina Volshteyn, Paul Root Wolpe

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Platek, Keenan, and Shackelford are leaders of the new generation of social and evolutionary neuroscientists. They have assembled a valuable collection of papers which integrate this blossoming field. Their book should be on the desk of any serious student of cognition and the brain who wants a thorough review of the empirical literature seen through a Darwinian lens." Simon Baron-Cohen, Professor of Developmental Psychopathology, University of Cambridge

About the Author

Todd K. Shackelford is Director of the Evolutionary Psychology Laboratory and Associate Professor of Psychology at Florida Atlantic University.

Steven M. Platek is Associate Professor of Psychology at Georgia Gwinnett College.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 620 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press; 1 edition (October 27, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262162415
• ISBN-13: 978-0262162418
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #138,901 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars diverse topics for an exciting science, August 3, 2007

By 

W Boudville (Terra, Sol 3) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Evolutionary Cognitive Neuroscience (Hardcover)

It is an exciting time in neuroscience. As the realisation dawned in recent years that evolutionary ideas can be fruitfully applied to the brains of various species. Along with the experimental tools that enable the testing of useful models of the brain.

The book's diversity of papers reflects accurately the intellectual ferment. One example might be the rise of evolutionary game theory. Standard game theory arose with von Neumman and others, and was originally only applied to human subjects. But a chapter on SPFit delves into how players evolve in geological time, optimising their reproductive odds. Thus the promise is to see how behaviour can be explained in the context of playing a long game.

Another very topical issue in the book is mirror neurons. Covered all too briefly here, given the amount of research that is ongoing. If there will ever be another edition of this book, perhaps more space could be allocated to it?