ABSTRACT
This chapter outlines a broad, neurobiologically based, conceptual framework that, as a guide to the organization, collection, and analysis of data, seems necessary to improve understanding of brain evolution. Brains have evolved to be the most complicated of all living tissues. The paths along which mammalian brains have evolved may be estimated from study of the nervous systems of living mammals. Locomotor sequences typically involve repetitive actions and in most mammals are highly stylized and invariant in pattern. However, in newborn mammals cognitive processes are rudimentary and most of the niche transactions are relatively simple or generalized. Studies of the production and perception of vocal behavior and its role in communication in different mammals suggest that there are multiple interacting behavioral and mental determinants of specialized class of behaviors that deal with acoustic physical energies. The chapter attempts to show that the truth regarding brain evolution is still beyond the horizons of our vision.
