Engraved stone dating back 30,000 years found in China. Incisions imply possibility of counting or recording?

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 195 pts

They had the similar potential, but development of neuronal connections is dependent on learning and usage. Since they weren't subject to nearly the same level of stimuli during their development, their intellectual capa

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 0 pts

Yes, that's true as well. I'm sure there was a lot of B vitamin deficiency back then, along with other essential nutrients. Not only are we using our brains more today, we know how to use it more efficiently.

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 2 pts

Perhaps in the language center, due to their development of language from scratch. However, they were never exposed to differential calculus, the variety and extent of modern music and art, genetics, multiple languages,

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 1 pts

And our knowledge of *how* to use our brains is much more developed now. The more we learn, the faster we learn. It's an interesting time to be a human! Not that other times weren't, but we are at the transitional period

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 9 pts

Right, the structure of their brains would be drastically different. They would have more acute senses and abilities in certain aspects, but they would be far behind in many other aspects. But don't sell yourself short.

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 0 pts

They would be less able to interpret art, music, science, multiple languages, etc. They would have never been exposed to any of the things we are, which would mean that there would be no neural connections in the brain r

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 10 pts

As an instructor, I somewhat agree. However, that is also due to the same limitations I am speaking to. The people that have been exposed to math and science as children are much easier to teach than those who lacked tha

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 8 pts

Then how about you explain yourself scientifically? How would one with no experience in various actions like art and science have the same amount of neural connections in brain regions associated with those stimuli? If y

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 18 pts

http://www.cabdirect.org/abstracts/19702901163.html;jsessionid=0DA37D2A6D678829DDF11723465C6A47?gitCommit=4.13.11-15-g9672536 http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Models_of_synaptic_plasticity http://psycnet.apa.org/jou

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 7 pts

Yes, this is similar to what I am speaking to. We can see it today in rural communities with lower nutrition and lack of education. Their brains are much less likely to be able to learn new concepts as adults, and the st

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 3 pts

Sure, and I conceded that point. However, their nutrition was definitely not at the level we are at. This would lead to long lasting changes in the ability of their brain to learn. We can see this today in isolated commu

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 7 pts

That was more of a sarcastic comment than a scientific one. Quickly is a relative term. I know most people would be screwed if they needed to live the way humans did back then. However, I also know many academically inte

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 3 pts

What specific points?!? Jesus, why is nobody giving me specifics?

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 4 pts

Agreed. I was speaking to our definition of intelligence in modern society.

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 4 pts

Analysis of bones from ancient societies like the Mayans and Egyptians show anemia and malnutrition. Is it so much of a stretch to assume other ancient cultures shared this trait? http://news.discovery.com/history/mayan

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 1 pts

Social Darwinist lens? You have no idea where my thoughts are arising from. Basing your argument of an inference of my motivations for thoughts, shows that you are the one allowing bias to cloud your judgement.

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 3 pts

Then [here](http://www.uic.edu/classes/osci/osci590/6_1Paleopathology%20Disease%20in%20the%20Past.htm) is a better paper talking about the other periods. [Here](http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1071659/) is o

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 1 pts

My thoughts are coming from basic logic. The amount of nutrition our brains need to run at optimal efficiency for what we currently know, is very hard to achieve. The amino acids, antioxidants, and vitamins necessary to

Comment · Wed, December 26, 2012 · 3 pts

That is what I thought, but did you not read the responses? I had to edit it due to a bunch of people jumping in saying it was incorrect or asking for sources. Nutrition and brain stimulation at specific times in adolesc

Comment · Thu, December 27, 2012 · 1 pts

Yes, I completely agree. My statement was more of an addition with regards to an adult in that time period compared to one in ours. The regions of the brain associated with various activities like survival and problem so

Comment · Thu, December 27, 2012 · 2 pts

Thanks for the specific response. Perhaps I am understating the amount of neuronal activity that survival activities instigate. However, I was more speaking to the type of intelligence that modern societies value. We als

Comment · Thu, December 27, 2012 · 1 pts

True. I was not speaking to averages. We have access to it now, so we have the ability for that stimulation. That does not mean that everyone will be exposed. My point was more that the ability for a human brain to devel