1.10 - Communication and Language II

Question 1

purpose of auditory communicating

Answer 1

used to identify and localise

Question 2

example of auditory inter-species communication

Answer 2

female crickets respond to species-specific songs (allows identification of species in poor-visibility environment)

Question 3

how are crickets specialised to auditory communication?

Answer 3

cricket ears have eardrum which sound can reach by 2 routes (length of tube tuned to species-specific frequency)

Question 4

example of species that communicate via odour

Answer 4

honeybees have rich pheromone-based communication

Question 5

how are honey bees specialised to odour-based communication?

Answer 5

specialised odour receptors and micro glomeruli tuned to important pheromones

Question 6

summary of simple communication

Answer 6

based on highly tuned sensory systems that are specific and inflexible

Question 7

syntax and semantics of human language

Answer 7

rules that oversee word order to provide meaning

Question 8

what is human language capable of? (referring)

Answer 8

recursive logic

Question 9

how is human language universal?

Answer 9

any human can learn language during infancy

Question 10

how does learning language in humans differ from reading/writing

Answer 10

learning language is innate, doesnt require specific and focused training

Question 11

cognitive requirements of human language (3)

Answer 11

1. ability to learn lots of words
2. ability to plan and organise thoughts
3. vocal imitation

Question 12

physiological requirements of human language (2)

Answer 12

1. ability to produce sounds
2. ability to control breathing

Question 13

brain area in monkeys that neurons fire when animal performs or observes an action

Answer 13

homologous area to Broca’s area

Question 14

role of Broca’s area

Answer 14

production of speech

Question 15

role of Wernicke’s area

Answer 15

perception of speech

Question 16

how does prefrontal cortex to neocortex ratio differ in humans compared to monkeys?

Answer 16

higher ratio

Question 17

role of thorax and Abdomen for control of intonation in language

Answer 17

air pressure to trachea must be constant regardless of how full the lungs are

Question 18

physiological specialisations in modern humans compared to primates (2)

Answer 18

1. larger thoracic vertebral canal allowing better control of air pressure to trachea
2. larger hypoglossal nerve canal allowing complex tongue articulation

Question 19

why is the hypoglossal nerve canal enlarged in modern humans and neanderthals?

Answer 19

control of complex tongue articulation

Question 20

physical differences in modern humans and neanderthals compared to primates and early hominids (3)

Answer 20

1. larger thoracic vertebral canal
2. enlarged hypoglossal nerve canal
3. descended larynx