V.S. Ramachandran (UC San Diego) argues that human mental uniqueness emerged from the fortuitous co-emergence of certain novel anatomical structures and functions and equally fortuitous synergistic interactions between them. These include structures involved in inter-sensory abstraction (IPL and its uniquely human subdivisions; supra-marginal gyrus and angular gyrus; certain frontal structures, Wernicke's area, etc.) and sensorimotor abstraction (mirror neurons). He contends that these were then adapted for higher-level abstractions such as metaphor. (#24986)

Biology/Life Sciences

1. 

   Confronting Climate Change: Avoiding the Unmanageable, Managing the Unavoidable with Rosina Bierbaum - 2017 Keeling Memorial Lecture
2. 

   Unlocking the Science Behind Atmospheric Rivers
3. 

   An Archaeological Perspective on Humans and Climate Change