Last time, we talked about the possibility of alien lifeforms having Limbic Intelligence under
the Triune Brain model due to the limbic system dominating their brain instead of the Neocortex
as is the case with us, humans. If you haven’t seen the previous videos, check them out, the link
is in the description below. We saw that diverse forms of alien intelligence could be possible,
simply by allowing that extraterrestrial brains may be dominated by reptilian or limbic, rather
than neocortical, components. But even if aliens on other worlds are predominantly neocortical,
there is no guarantee that their minds will be equivalent to ours. So today, we will dive into
the minds of alien beings who possess brains comprised primarily of neocortical material!
Reptilian creatures first appeared during the Mesozoic era,
a period in our planet’s history marked by a very mild, warm, uniform climate on a global
scale. Mammals didn’t take over until after when the weather turned from reasonably ideal
to not so ideal. So, we can imagine a world that is perpetually wild and rough,
varying widely from hot to cold and dry to wet without respite. On such a planet, there might be
a significant advantage in developing homeothermy far sooner than organisms did here on Earth.
If warm-bloodedness arrived early enough, perhaps even predating the rise of cold-blooded
or reptilian creatures, then the rapid unfolding of biological evolution could leave the reptilian
component of the brain relatively small and insignificant. Aliens on other worlds
may have only a few traces of the R-complex, along with a few insufficient traces of
the limbic system giving them a brain comprised primarily of neocortical material.
These aliens would think far differently from humans, even though they share with
us a large neocortical component. The ancient drives of aggression, dominance,
and impulsive hierarchical organization might be completely foreign to them. So, they may have
great difficulty comprehending the significance of our many cultural rituals and our religious and
political institutions. To them, our emotionality would appear primitive and even barbaric.
For these aliens, using logical reasoning and deductions to make any type of decision would
be the only way to live their lives. Advancing the fields of mathematics and physics would be
of utmost importance in societies such as these. Perhaps things such as religion or the belief in
a higher power may be foreign and primitive concepts to them. Using objective scientific
methods to advance their race might be the only possibility for such creatures as they may lack
the emotional and aggressive drives caused by the limbic and reptilian structures, respectively.
This means that such creatures would be extremely technologically advanced in all areas of life. So,
when it comes to their army and weapons technology, they would easily be far
superior to us humans today. Their technology to us would seem to come straight out of the
realm of science fiction! This may make these aliens far superior to any other alien race
with a different tripartite neurosystem. So, if these aliens share the Neocortex, a large part of
their brain with us humans, is it possible for us to evolve and be exactly like this someday?
According to authors Doris and David Jonas,
while intelligence arises because lifeforms must adapt to their environment,
it will continue to evolve only so long as the adaptation is not perfect. So, higher intellect
leads either to greater survivability or to superior control of the environment,
either of which in turn leads to a decrease in the need to develop still greater intelligence.
In the last 30 million years of terrestrial history, the neocortex of mammals has enlarged
from a mere wisp to a massive structure dominating the human cranial cavity. The authors hypothesized
that this trend will continue because human society is not yet perfectly adapted to the
technological environment it has created. The ability to comprehend and analyze
increasingly complex and abstract problems is of greater selective value than ever before.
The impulsive emotional reactions radiated by the limbic system appear maladaptive in
a society in which rationality is the hallmark of success. And the ritualistic and aggressive
behaviors caused by the reptilian brain seem incompatible with a healthy, undogmatic,
liberal culture on a small planet with limited resources and finite territories.
So, it is not unreasonable to assume that the neocortex may continue to enlarge
over time in the future human generations.
Perhaps it will eventually grow to replace most or all of the cognitive and behavioral functions
presently assumed by other brain systems. The resulting intelligence,
which David and Doris feel may be in store for humanity, may be what we call Homo Neocorticus.
Like the ancient alien homeotherms described in this video, extraterrestrials whose culture
is highly technologically oriented like ours may undergo similar evolution, slowly casting
off their primitive drives one by one as they become highly rational and unflappable thinkers.
However, it may well be that the timescales in such projections are all wrong. For example,
millions of years were required even for the abnormally rapid expansion of the human neocortex,
whereas social and technical changes require time periods on the order of tens,
hundreds, or thousands of years.
However, it is unlikely that the ultimate evolution of Homo neocorticus
or its extraterrestrial counterpart is impossible. The very rapidity of
technological processes may permit a kind of artificial evolution to an equivalent state.
Advanced genetic engineering, for example, could make the design and development of altered humans
with reduced or restricted limbic and reptilian brain components possible.
Moreover, artificial biological brain components or bioengineered modules could be used to replace
ancient brain sections with more advanced neocortex-like structures.
Then there is the possibility of Homo bionicus, with its snap-on input monitors, plug-in memory
modules, and subcutaneous microcomputer logic circuits. Each of these are reasonable models
of conceivable alien intelligence with whom we may someday have to learn to deal.
And that brings us to the end of this video. If you enjoyed it, do leave a like, share,
and subscribe to our channel if you haven’t subscribed yet! Also,
let us know your thoughts on whether humans would ever evolve to such a level
in the comments down below! Until then, we’ll see you in the next one!