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The human brain processes information for decision-making using one of two routes: an intuitive system and a rational system (Epstein, 1994; popularized by Kahneman, 2011 as System 1 and System 2, respectively). The intuitive system is quick, impulsive, and operates with minimal effort, relying on emotions or habits to provide cues for what to do next, while the rational system is logical, analytical, deliberate, and methodical. Research in neuropsychology suggests that the brain can only use...
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How the mind works.

M S Gazzaniga1

  • 1Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755-3547, USA.

Trends in Cognitive Sciences
|January 20, 2011
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

This book explores the science of language, arguing that language is an instinct, a biological adaptation shaped by natural selection. It delves into the cognitive and evolutionary aspects of human language acquisition and use.

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Area of Science:

  • Linguistics
  • Evolutionary Psychology
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Human language is a complex cognitive ability.
  • Understanding language origins and evolution is a key scientific challenge.
  • Steven Pinker's work synthesizes research from various fields.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a comprehensive theory of language as a biological instinct.
  • To explain the evolutionary pressures that shaped human language.
  • To explore the cognitive mechanisms underlying language acquisition and processing.

Main Methods:

  • Synthesizing evidence from linguistics, psychology, evolutionary biology, and genetics.
  • Analyzing data on child language acquisition, creolization, and language disorders.
  • Applying principles of evolutionary theory to linguistic phenomena.

Main Results:

  • Language is a universal human trait, not a cultural invention.
  • The human brain possesses specialized modules for language.
  • Grammar is an innate component of human cognition, shaped by natural selection.

Conclusions:

  • Language is a biological adaptation, akin to a bird's wing.
  • Understanding language requires an evolutionary and cognitive perspective.
  • Pinker's "The Language Instinct" provides a foundational text in the science of language.