Mark
Posted on 12/07/2011 8:37:47 AM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...
Box of chocolates ping.
One thing for sure. A university is the last place a supermind would be found anyway... lol
Mark
Increase the density of brain cells while decreasing their energy usage, or graft technology into the brain.
these scientists must be democrats since they only believe in a limited brain. ie only one pie.
instead of, making more pie.
seems like a mere publish or perish whatever study.
ANY study done by ‘psychologists’ is suspect from the gitgo. It’s like frikkin’ voodoo.
They broke the mold at Adam and Eve. Duh.
Every animal has “evolved” to it’s “sweet spot”. It may be because they were created that way. Just a thought...
Liberalism is bliss ... at least in concept.
Like with engines, tuning for performance means sacrifices in reliability and service intervals.
The monsters of the ID!
AHHHHHHHHH!!!!
“Honey West” was hot.
I was wondering about the inverse.
Given Obama’s displayed cretinism, should he not be built like a pro wrestler and have perfect health? (No insult intended to pro wrestlers, all of whom have done a lot more work and dedication to their jobs than has our Cretin-in-Chief. I respect them, I do not respect him.)
Given his mental handicap(s), it seems as if he’s been dealt a double bad blow.
And I cannot think of one who deserves it more.
It's been pretty much downhill since.
—Like with engines, tuning for performance means sacrifices in reliability and service intervals.—
To use the same analogy, I was told by someone here that the reason car engined last so long nowadays is that all engines are the equivalent of what, in the 60’s we called “blueprinted”.
IOW, man was designed as a very high performance container for our souls and the design can not be improved upon. Or at least it was designed so it could not be improved upon.
I sometimes wonder how the four chamber heart came about and what a stroke of genius. ;-)
Simply put: The brain is a receptacle, then a processor and finally a delivery system.
It has a limited life cycle - not dependent upon what is deposited - but what is useful to its host’s survival - the physical body.
Early man had to process far more information for survival than modern man. So no, the brain is not evolving - it is adjusting.
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