BS 168 is an interview with psychologist Cecilia Heyes from Oxford University in the UK. We talk about her fascinating book "Cognitive Gadgets: The Cultural Evolution of Thinking." Our focus is on exploring the evidence that several cognitive skills that appear to be unique to humans are learned from other people rather than being inherited genetically as is often assumed.

Her proposal that language is a cognitive gadget NOT a cognitive instinct is controversial and has very important implications.

Cognitive Gadgets is written for an academic audience, but this interview makes the key ideas assessable to everyone.

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Links and References:

• Cognitive Gadgets: The Cultural Evolution of Thinking by Cecilia Heyes

• Hsu, H J, and Bishop, DV (2014) Sequence-specific procedural learning deficits in children with specific language impairment. Developmental Science, 17(3), 352-365.

• Christiansen, M H, and Chater, N. (2008) Language as shaped by the brain. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 31(5),489-509. 

• Christiansen, M H, and Chater, N. (2016) Creating Language: Integrating Evolution, Acquisition, and Processing. MIT Press.

• Oostenbroek J, Slaughter, V, et. Al. (2016). Comprehensive longitudinal study challenges the existence of neonatal imitation in humans. Current Biology 26(10), 1334-1338.

• Tomblin, J B, Shribirg, L , Murray, J, Patil, S, and Williams, C. (2004). Speech and Language characteristics associated with a 7/13 translocation involving FOXP2. American Journal of Medical Genetics, Part B, Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 130, 97-?,

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