title: Co-evolution of human consciousness and language (revisited).
abstract: This article discusses the view that human consciousness may share aspects of "animal awareness" with other species, but has its unique form because humans possess language. Two ingredients of a theory of the evolution of human consciousness are offered: the view that a précis of intended activity is necessarily formed in the brain of a human that communicates in a human way; and the notion that such a précis underwrites the uniquely human aspect of consciousness.
authors.affiliation: Computer Science Department and USC Brain Project, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-2520, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arbib
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001364:Awareness / Q000502:physiology; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D003142:Communication; D003243:Consciousness / Q000502:physiology; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013569:Synapses / Q000502:physiology
keywords: Human consciousness; blind sight; co-evolutionary process; language; neurology; schemas; social cooperation