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Neural evolution as the key to major transitions in cognitive evolution

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 November 2025

Colin Klein Open the ORCID record for Colin Klein [Opens in a new window] ,
Andrew B. Barron  and
Marta Halina
Colin Klein*
Affiliation:
School of Philosophy, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia cvklein@gmail.com
Andrew B. Barron
Affiliation:
School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, NSW, Australia andrew.barron@mq.edu.au
Marta Halina
Affiliation:
Department of History and Philosophy of Science, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK mh801@cam.ac.uk
*
*Corresponding author.
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Abstract

The target article identifies non-cognitive traits co-occurring with major transitions in complex cognition. We argue that observed trait associations are really the phenomenon to be explained, and propose that changes in the nervous system are the explanatory driver for transitional events. Changes in neural architecture uniquely enable organisms to utilise complex and specialised traits, and thus, explain their linked nature.

Information

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Information
Behavioral and Brain Sciences , Volume 48 , 2025 , e90
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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References

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