What's so special about human tool use?
Evidence suggests homologies in parietofrontal circuits involved in object prehension among humans and monkeys. Likewise, tool use is known to induce functional reorganization of their visuotactile limb representations. Yet, humans are the only species for whom tool use is a defining and universal characteristic. Why? Comparative studies of chimpanzee tool use indicate that critical differences are likely to be found in mechanisms involved in causal reasoning rather than those implementing sensorimotor transformations. Available evidence implicates higher-level perceptual areas in these processes.
Johnson-Frey
Scott H
SH
Center for Cognitive Neuroscience, Dartmouth College and Department of Psychiatry, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 03755, USA. scott.h.johnson@dartmouth.edu
D000818:Animals; D003210:Concept Formation; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D000882:Haplorhini; D006801:Humans; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000502:physiology; D010296:Parietal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D011340:Problem Solving; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D014796:Visual Perception