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Brain Evolution and Cognition: Psychosis as Evolutionary Cost for Complexity and Cognitive Abilities in Humans

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Interdisciplinary Anthropology

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Abstract

Cognitive functions correlate with the organization and complexity of neural networks. During the evolution of mammalian brains, basic algorithms for neural computations have largely remained unchanged while between species comparisons reveal marked differences in the volume of neocortex. Accordingly, the specific cognitive functions found in humans need to be considered as the product of the iteration of basic cortical algorithms. In humans, one characteristic feature of cortical organization is the addition of strategically important areas that serve as nodes for additional interactions between phylogenetically conserved brain regions. These novel processing structures serve multimodal integration and the generation of metarepresentations. The novel cognitive functions that have emerged from this increase in complexity comprise multiperspectivity, creativity, language, and theory of mind. We propose that certain mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, are a consequence of this evolutionary trend towards complexity whereby the increasing prevalence of self-referential internal computations enhances the risk of specific disturbances in higher cognitive functions. These pathological phenomena of human cognition can thus be considered as specific side effects of the evolution of human capabilities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Deutschordenstr. 46, 60528, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Peter J. Uhlhaas & Wolf Singer

  2. Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Ruth-Moufang-Str. 1, 60438, Frankfurt am Main, Germany

    Wolf Singer

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  1. Peter J. Uhlhaas
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  2. Wolf Singer
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Correspondence to Peter J. Uhlhaas .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Philosophie, Universität Jena, Zwaetzengasse 9, Jena, 07743, Germany

    Wolfgang Welsch

  2. Abt. Neurophysiologie, MPI für Hirnforschung, Deutschordenstr. 46, Frankfurt/Main, 60528, Germany

    Wolf J. Singer

  3. Institut für Philosophie, Universität Jena, Zwaetzengasse 9, Jena, 07743, Germany

    André Wunder

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Uhlhaas, P.J., Singer, W. (2011). Brain Evolution and Cognition: Psychosis as Evolutionary Cost for Complexity and Cognitive Abilities in Humans. In: Welsch, W., Singer, W., Wunder, A. (eds) Interdisciplinary Anthropology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11668-1_1

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