Evolution of primate cognition

Comparative analysis of the behavior of modern primates, in conjunction wit h an accurate phylogenetic tree of relatedness, has the power to chart the early history of human cognitive evolution. Adoptive cognitive changes alon g this path occurred, it is believed, in response to various forms of compl exity; to some extent, theories that relate particular challenges to cognit ive adaptations con also be tested against comparative data on primate ecol ogy and behavior. This paper explains the procedures by which data are empl oyed, and uses the best currently available evidence to derive a proposal f or some of the stages through which human cognition evolved, before the los t common ancestor with a nonhuman, and the reasons that cognitive adaptatio ns were favored in primate evolution.