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FRAGMENT FROM NATURE for this and next weekend deals with the challenging topic of the evolution of language. One paper creates a linguistic computer model that reveals grammatical clues; the other looks at comparative anatomy and genetics. Leaving no fossil clues, reconstructing this is difficult. Linguistic deficits in patients, comparative anatomy, and genetic studies provide clues to the evolution of language. View in LinkedIn

The splendid Spanish tortilla. View in LinkedIn

THE INVENTORY. “Up to ~40 supermassive black holes (SMBHs) of >10(9) M⊙ have been observed till date, which are believed to power the optically bright quasars (>10(47) erg s−1) observed at z > 5.” https://lnkd.in/dHcpNrnR View in LinkedIn

UNRESOLVED. “The connection between the rapid growth of the first supermassive black holes and the fast chemical evolution of the host galaxy is one of the most puzzling issues for theoretical models.” https://lnkd.in/dHcpNrnR View in LinkedIn

STRUCTURAL PRECURSORS. “Homologues to both Broca’s and Wernicke’s areas have been identified in nonhuman primate brains. Exactly what function they play in other species is not currently known, but an evolutionary perspective would predict that they likely process information in ways that would be useful to language.” https://lnkd.in/dvz_XvBp View in LinkedIn

12 BN YEAR OLD STRUCTURES. “In addition, the interstellar medium of the galaxies hosting these black holes are observed to be chemically mature systems, with metallicities (Z > Z⊙) and dust masses (>10(8) M⊙) similar to that of more evolved, local galaxies.” https://lnkd.in/dHcpNrnR View in LinkedIn

MULTIFUNCTIONAL. “Language processing does not appear to be highly compartmentalized into unique circuits independent of those serving other behavioral functions but instead depends heavily on the integration of a large number of abilities that are processed in widely dispersed circuits across the brain.” https://lnkd.in/dvz_XvBp View in LinkedIn

ANCIENT GIANT BLACK HOLES. “Observations of the most luminous quasars at redshift z > 6 reveal the existence of numerous supermasssive black holes (>19(9)M⊙) already in place about 12 billion years ago.” https://lnkd.in/dHcpNrnR View in LinkedIn

EXAPTATION OF CIRCUITS. “Even if language evolved to use circuits not originally linguistic in function, these hijacked circuits would likely also represent modifications of nonhuman-specific circuitry. Thus, studying brain and behavior in nonhuman primates is actually central to understanding human language evolution.” https://lnkd.in/dvz_XvBp View in LinkedIn