Human brains unlikely to evolve into a 'supermind' as price to pay would be too high

University of Warwick ^ | December 7, 2011

[decimon]

Human minds have hit an evolutionary "sweet spot" and - unlike computers - cannot continually get smarter without trade-offs elsewhere, according to research by the University of Warwick.

Researchers asked the question why we are not more intelligent than we are given the adaptive evolutionary process. Their conclusions show that you can have too much of a good thing when it comes to mental performance.

The evidence suggests that for every gain in cognitive functions, for example better memory, increased attention or improved intelligence, there is a price to pay elsewhere - meaning a highly-evolved "supermind" is the stuff of science fiction.

University of Warwick psychology researcher Thomas Hills and Ralph Hertwig of the University of Basel looked at a range of studies, including research into the use of drugs like Ritalan which help with attention, studies of people with autism as well as a study of the Ashkenazi Jewish population.

For instance, among individuals with enhanced cognitive abilities- such as savants, people with photographic memories, and even genetically segregated populations of individuals with above average IQ, these individuals often suffer from related disorders, such as autism, debilitating synaesthesia and neural disorders linked with enhanced brain growth.

[oncebitten]

I would argue that services like Google and the Internet in general have already created a “supermind” of sorts.

[allmendream]

In capitalism it is called “there is no such thing as a free lunch”.

In evolutionary biology it is called “antagonistic pleotropy”.

As you said “Like with engines, tuning for performance means sacrifices in reliability and service intervals”.

Also it is not the only thing in our “car” consuming energy.

The more energy the brain consumes the less there is for the musculature.

Larger brain size at birth means higher maternal mortality and infant mortality.

Besides, what is the selective pressure towards higher intellect. While people do mate assortively for high intelligence - producing high IQ kids usually - the less intelligent in our society ALSO mate assortively - and tend to have just as many (or more) children.

[camle]

“young frankenstein” comes to mind...

[frithguild]

looked at a range of studies, including [1] research into the use of drugs like Ritalan which help with attention, [2] studies of people with autism as well as [3] a study of the Ashkenazi Jewish population.

One of these things are different, One of these things are not like the rest...

[GOP Poet]

This is an interesting article as it brings up all sorts of issues. For instance. Not all people are gifted or evolved similarly. Thus there are also societal adjustment problems for those that may be more 'gifted' than others and as another poster and the article said there can be other areas that 'react' or function differently than the general population many times as an adaptive result.

The article mentions higher evolution as a society and race. Yet this is impossible with the exception of global evolution.

There are so many areas to explore here. Yet this article does touch on the fact that along with enhancement of one area often comes change in another. That right there is an important consideration.

[longtermmemmory]

considering how there are actual studies that show new neurons growing. This imperical analysis seems all bunk.

They “observed” abnormalities and extrapolated to the limits of a normal brain.

garbage.

[Bobalu]

The authors are simply not intelligent enough to understand the adaptability that a vastly more intelligent person would have.

It’s somewhat like our inability to create useful IQ tests to assess those who have extreme intelligence....who can create such a test? or grade it?

Besides, it probably is not genetics that will lead to further expansion of human intellect.... we may be moving beyond all that soon.

[montyspython]

[BradWesleyoftheInternet]

When these guys are able to build a human brain from scratch I might have more faith in their theories about what is and isn’t possible.

Its like me prognosticating on the limitations of inter-stellar space travel.

[steve8714]

He is built like a pro wrestler...Miss Elizabeth.

[Reagan is King]

What? I envisioned us looking like this in a few centuries:

[ConservativeDude]

I have had the privilege of knowing two people with photographic memories..... But neither of them could just let it go. “

I am thinking those two sentences are closely linked.....hmmmmmm....

[GOPJ]

"Everything that can be invented has been invented." -- Charles H. Duell, U.S. Commissioner of Patents, in 1899.

[ml/nj]

Judging by what I see, some brains have a long way to go.

Yesterday an old guy on line in front of me at the Post Office asked the clerk for ten five-cent stamps. The clerk tore them off, and the guy asked for ten more. So the clerk tore off ten more and said, "That will be one dollar."

The old guy said, "Is that all?"

ML/NJ

[GonzoGOP]

I am thinking those two sentences are closely linked

That was kinda the point. We always think of a photographic memory as an advantage. And in most cases it is. But there are situations where being able to forget is what keeps you sane. People with photographic memories don't have the choice of what to remember and what to forget. They remember it all. So they are forced to go through the worst experiences of their lives over and over again in perfect detail. So I don't find it hard to believe that at least in some cases it drives them round the bend.

[ConservativeDude]

By the way, last summer I read a fascinating book that deals with some of these issues.

It is called Moonwalking with Einstein.

Highly recommended.

[blueunicorn6]

Don’t I know it. What? What was this about? I have a huge brain. It’s embarassing to have all these women follow me around making comments like “Oh, I wonder what size hat he wears?” and “Big head....good in bed.”

[ConservativeDude]

I realize that...I just liked your paragraph, and the whole point. Found it sort of humorous, in a sick way: “people that are smarter than me are really cursed!”

By the way, you would really enjoy the book Moonwalking with Einstein.

[gura]

[RC51]

I disagree,

Just as famine and starvation are causeing North Korean’s to devolve in both physical stature as well as cranium & brain size, the abundant food supply generation after generation should improve all aspects of the modern human. We will be stronger, faster, larger & smarter.