Semiotic Evolution of Toolmaking: the Role of Symbols for Work towards Delayed Reward
Tools depend on mental models that mediate their construction by way of motor acts. Given that tools are signs of semiotic behavior, the semiotic characterization of Neolithic weapon production has the potential to elucidate the broad cognitive processes underlying the origins of tool-making. Spa...
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| Главные авторы: | , , |
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| Формат: | article |
| Язык: | eng |
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| Online-ссылка: | https://repositorio.ufrn.br/jspui/handle/123456789/23271 |
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| Итог: | Tools depend on mental models that mediate their construction by way of
motor acts. Given that tools are signs of semiotic behavior, the semiotic
characterization of Neolithic weapon production has the potential to elucidate the
broad cognitive processes underlying the origins of tool-making. Spatio-temporal corelation
is the defining property of indexes, while laws characterize symbols. Stones
picked and thrown at a prey or predator can instantaneously index fight and social
rank, but carefully manufactured stone weapons, which require elaborate and tiring
work over extended periods of time, require by necessity the symbolic association of
complex motor habits with anticipatory images of successful tool use, i.e. specific
classes of effects such as prey chase, kill, transportation, preparation, sharing and
eating. Reward-related symbolization during tool manufacture would allow for active
mnemonic traces in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus to engage limbic circuits
related to emotion and reward seeking. This would provide the motivation required
for work towards a distant goal, leading to the sustained and repetitive activation of
motor cortex and striatum. Additional symbolization at the level of gestures, postures,
vocalizations, sand drawing and wall painting were the likely waking motivators of
Neolithic weapon making, in addition to dreams depicting the hunting act and the
associated symbols. We propose that Neolithic tool-making would have been
impossible without symbolization. |
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