The Emergence of Language: a Review of Ljiljana Progovac (2019); A Critical Introduction to Language Evolution: Current Controversies and Future Prospects

Manoochehri, Majid

doi:10.1007/s40806-020-00258-6

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Up to date, it is not clear to what extent non-humans can perform this process. But considering the fact that some higher cognitive functions that need complex hierarchical chunking do not exist in non-humans (e.g., language, see Manoochehri, 2020b ; Progovac, 2019 ) or only exist in highly restricted forms (e.g., music, see Manoochehri, 2020c ), it is tempting to propose that there is a significant inefficiency in performing complex hierarchical chunking in non-human animals (see also Conway and Christiansen, 2001 ). In this regard, Conway and Christiansen (2001) suggested that limitations in complex hierarchical chunking may help explain why non-human primates lack human-like language.…”

Section: Memory Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Up to the magical number seven: An evolutionary perspective on the capacity of short term memory

Manoochehri¹

2021

Heliyon

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Working memory and its components are among the most determinant factors in human cognition. However, in spite of their critical importance, many aspects of their evolution remain underinvestigated. The present study is devoted to reviewing the literature of memory studies from an evolutionary, comparative perspective, focusing particularly on short term memory capacity. The findings suggest the limited capacity to be the common attribute of different species of birds and mammals. Moreover, the results imply an increasing trend of capacity from our non-human ancestors to modern humans. The present evidence shows that non-human mammals and birds, regardless of their limitations, are capable of performing memory strategies, although there seem to be some differences between their ability and that of humans in terms of flexibility and efficiency. These findings have several implications relevant to the psychology of memory and cognition, and are likely to explain differences between higher cognitive abilities of humans and non-humans. The adaptive benefits of the limited capacity and the reasons for the growing trend found in the present study are broadly discussed.

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Section: Memory Strategiesmentioning

confidence: 99%