computational complexity and the evolution of homo sapiens

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Computational complexity and the evolution of Homo sapiens John F Hoffecker Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research University of Colorado at Boulder American Anthropological Association Washington DC • December 2014

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Page 1: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

Computational complexity and the

evolution of Homo sapiens

John F Hoffecker

Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research

University of Colorado at Boulder

American Anthropological Association

Washington DC • December 2014

Page 2: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

HYPOTHESIS:

Homo sapiens is characterized by a faculty for

performing computations with symbols (words and

numbers) in the brain on a more complex level than

other forms of Homo.

The appearance of the modern human anatomy in the

fossil record reflects an increase in computational

complexity related to epigenetic changes in the timing

and pattern of early brain growth.

Page 3: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

www.ks.uiuc.edu/Research/magsense/ms.html

computation in modern humans

sundaycomicsdebt.blogspot.com/2010/09/

Page 4: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

“A complex train of thought can no more be carried on

without the aid of words, whether spoken or silent, than a

long calculation without the use of figures or algebra”

Charles Darwin (1871: 57–58)

“. . . the material structures of language both reflect,

and then systematically transform, our thinking and

reasoning about the world”

Andy Clark (2011: 59)

language as cognitive scaffolding

words & numbers = “material symbols”

Page 5: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

“. . . the fundamental purpose of brains is to produce future”

Daniel C. Dennett (1991: 177)

kangaratmurdersoc.wordpress.com/2010/12/13/

“material symbols” of

language allow

computation about

objects and events

outside immediate

spatial and temporal

setting of individual

Page 6: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

VOCALIZATIONS (WORDS AND NUMBERS)

SYNAPTIC CONNECTIONS (NEURONAL INFORMATION)

CODONS/BASE PAIR TRIPLETS (GENETIC INFORMATION)

Page 7: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

how is complexity measured?

Simon (1962) proposed a

hierarchical measure of complex

systems

Page 8: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

Chomsky (2006: 129)

syntactic language as computation

LEVEL 1

LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3

Page 9: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

www.seawolfkayak.com/sb-workshops

gatesofthearctic.areaparks.com/

modern humans also perform

computations through visual-

tactile coordination of the

hands with material objects

as with the products of the

computations that underlie

syntactic language, artifacts and

features may exhibit a complex

hierarchical structure and

potentially infinite variations

Page 10: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

LEVEL 1

LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3

Conard 2009: 248, fig. 1

Page 11: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

LEVEL 1

LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3

Page 12: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

adapted from Sato 2009: 33

Udehe snare (Russian Far East)

LEVEL 1

LEVEL 2

LEVEL 3

Page 13: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

VOCALIZATIONS (WORDS AND NUMBERS)

SYNAPTIC CONNECTIONS (NEURONAL INFORMATION)

CODONS/BASE PAIR TRIPLETS (GENETIC INFORMATION)

Page 14: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

alarm calls: matching sound and meaning

evolutionary roots of language in Homo

http://www.daviddarling.info/childrens_encyclopedia/Speak_Chimpanzee_Chapter2

http://open.jorum.ac.uk/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/964/Items/SD226_2_section4

Page 15: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

KNM-ER 1470: ~1.9 million years old

1470 endocast: reorganization of frontal lobe (third inferior

frontal convolution, Broca’s area) (Tobias 1987; Holloway 1995;

Falk et al. 2000)

Page 16: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

early Homo expansion into less productive habitat ~2 mya

Page 17: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

Dominguez-Rodrigo et al. 2010: 322, fig. 6

FLK Zinj main

excavation

(Leakey 1971)

Page 18: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

Beekman and Lew

(2007) addressed

problem of “when

does it pay to

dance?”

● dancing beneficial

when it allows

colony to focus on

high-quality patches

ecological modeling & information-center foraging strategy:

honeybee colony foraging

Page 19: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

Primary kin

Primary kin

Hill et al. 2011: 1288, fig. 2

Page 20: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

Lieberman 2011:

505, fig. 12.9

Page 21: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

Lalueza-Fox et al. 2011: 251, table 1

Page 22: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

Lalueza-Fox et al. 2011: 251, table 1

Page 23: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens
Page 24: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

“social brain hypothesis” (Dunbar 1996, 1998)

Page 25: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

H. sapiens in sub-Saharan

Africa 200–75 ka

(1367–1510 cm3)

1250–1299 cm3

adapted from Lieberman 2011: 566, fig. 13.12a

Page 26: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

Homo sapiens

(Jebel Irhoud, Morocco)

~160,000 years old

Smith et al. 2007: figs. 1 & fig. 2

Coqueugniot et al. 2004:

299–300, figs. 1 & 2

Homo erectus

(Modjokerto, Java)

~1.8 million years old

1.0–1.5 years old:

brain volume = 72–84%

Page 27: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

Gunz et al. 2011: fig. 5

Page 28: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens
Page 29: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

archaeology of the social brain

Clark 1993: 155, fig. 1 Bouzouggar et al. 2007:

9967, fig. 3

Page 30: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens

VOCALIZATIONS (WORDS AND NUMBERS)

SYNAPTIC CONNECTIONS (NEURONAL INFORMATION)

CODONS/BASE PAIR TRIPLETS (GENETIC INFORMATION)

NEW FORMS OF INFORMATION: WRITING etc.

Page 31: Computational Complexity and the Evolution of Homo Sapiens