PSYC 307 Lecture Notes - Lecture 7: Neocortex, Imitative Learning, Cerebral Cortex
Document Summary
Most relevant for complex info such as culture info. Tends to become bigger than other parts of the brain. Volume of neocortex / volume of the rest of the brain w/o neocortex. Associate with the variable we are interested in. Clear association between neocortex ratio and group size. Human has the largest ratio among primate species. We learn culture info through social learning. Model discover skills and model passes it on. Build on tops on the social brain hypothesis. Introduce social learning as an integrated part of our neural evolution. Advantages to learn from model instead of by trials and errors. Social learning more effective because larger group has more models, and more experienced teacher that can teach you cultural info. Increase group size -- increase group complexity -- select the ability to deal with social complexity -- larger brain size needed. Better at thinking more complex way about relationship, social relationship, worlds around us.
