The Lopsided Ape: Evolution of the Generative Mind

by Michael C. Corballis

What is it that allows human beings to think the way we do? What enables us to communicate with one another through the use of speech? Is the difference between Homo sapiens and other apes simply a matter of degree or are we unique and discontinuous from other species? Michael C. Corballis argues that this century-old debate lies in the fact that humans are the only primates that are predominantly right-handed, a sign of the specialization of the left hemisphere of the brain for language. He attributes humans' unique abilities to a biological mechanism in the left hemisphere of the brain called a "generative learning device" or GAD. The GAD, Corballis contends, enables us to generate a limitless number of forms and meanings from a few parsed elements, providing the basis for language and manufacture as well as mathematics, reasoning, art, music, and play. Surveying the current views of evolution using evidence from archeology, linguistics, neurology, and genetics, Corballis
takes us on a fascinating tour of the origins and implications of the structure of the human brain accounting for the dominance of humanity over all species.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Psychology, Neuroscience

384 pages, Paperback

First published June 20, 1991

Reviews

[Ian Pitchford · Rating 4 out of 5]

An account by one of the leading researchers on the importance of the differential development of the brain's left hemisphere in the development of distinctively human cognitive abilities, including language and reasoning.

[Riversue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some very interesting theories and a little bit of dated material.

[Nina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting science with touches of humor ("The waggle dance thus falls far short of anything resembling human language. Of course, one possible reason for this is that bees do not have anything very interesting to say."). The author cites the laterality of the brain as being the distinguishing feature between humans and all other life. He describes physical structures and research and experiments, but says little about consciousness other than to note that we may be the only animals "to be aware that we are aware." (However, animals can't tell us if they are aware they are aware). I was hoping for more on the origins of consciousness, it was still pretty good reading.