CronoDAS comments on Brain shrinkage in humans over past ~20 000 years - what did we lose? - Less Wrong

15 Post author: Dmytry 18 February 2012 10:17PM

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Comment author: CronoDAS 22 February 2012 07:17:47PM 2 points [-]

Could less interpersonal violence mean less need for some mental capacities?

It's certainly lessened the need to, for example, be able to see a punch coming and avoid it...

I wonder how much driving cars affects the brain? There does seem to be evidence that the brain's structure changes depending on the demands that are placed on it, and driving a car is a rather unusual cognitive task compared to what people would have been doing in the Paleolithic...

Comment author: NancyLebovitz 22 February 2012 08:10:12PM 0 points [-]

Not just seeing a punch coming in the literal sense, but making strategic choices about odds and allies.