Central Hypotheses

The investigation focuses on function rather than on structure.  More specifically we are looking at the evolution of information processing in vertebrates.

1. All vertebrates (with single-focus lens eyes) have an ‘internal language’ to control action and to utilize perception for controlling action.
2. All such vertebrates use the ‘inner language’ to imitate perceived action
3. all such vertebrates use the ‘inner language for repeating, i.e. to utilize past experience (memory) in regard to present action
4. All such vertebrates use the ‘inner language for predicting and planning
5. The ‘inner language’ evolved to handle more complexity
6. The ‘inner language’ evolved to handle social interaction, cooperation, and finally human language communication

Method

Since we are not looking at large persistent structural elements such as bones, the method of investigating fossil records is not pertinent.  We are also not looking at biochemical structural elements such as DNA.  Rather we are looking at functional elements that can account for observed and conjectured behaviour.  In other words, we are investigating information processing requirements for types of behaviour such as imitation, chasing prey, and remembering and then repeating behaviour sequences.

 To investigate information processing requirements we utilize simulation and computational competence to suggest that the ‘actual’ information processing is likely to have some level of equivalence to the method of information processing that is capable of producing essential characteristics of the behaviour under investigation.

We also utilize analysis for negative results.  We can show that certain methods of information processing are inherently inadequate to generate the behaviour under consideration.

Behaviours under investigation

We have chosen types of behaviour that involve whole-body physical actions.  We conjecture that the essential characteristics of these types of behaviours are common throughout the evolution of the vertebrates.  (The list, and the behaviour specifications are open to change.)  Those behaviours that are present at various stages of evolution must be based on meeting the information processing requirements, and thus show that the information processing functionality must have been available.

1. simple learning and adaptation
2. learning based on imitation
3. prediction and planning required for picking up food or chasing prey
4. generating novel action sequences for searching, playing, and experimentation