PBI 141 Lecture Notes - Bipedalism, Psych, Classical Conditioning
12 Dec 2013
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Document Summary
The brain is an information processing machine designed by natural selection to solve adaptive problems faced by our evolutionary ancestors. Freed the hands leading to increased communication between members. Possibly helped in the selection of a mate. Led to the evolution of ballistic movements. Sequence of movements that can"t be stopped once they are initiated. Also might have been an impetus to the development of language. Definition: evolved cognitive structures of the mind that provided solutions to adaptive problems. The human mind can be viewed as a collection of adaptive problems to solve problems faced by our evolutionary ancestors: narrow focus. Each mechanism evolved in answer to only one well-defined problem. Activation of epms: activated by environmental stimuli or cues that recurred with sufficient frequency to constitute an adaptive problem. Sensory input from all senses activate epms: signals the particular problem at hand and this cue will activate the epm. Input activates behaviour: works on an if-then basis.
