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[quote]
ScienceDaily (June 5, 2009) — Increasing population density, rather than boosts in human brain power, appears to have catalysed the emergence of modern human behaviour, according to a new study by UCL (University College London) scientists published in the journal Science.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090604144324.htm
[quote]
There are theories that aspects of our intelligence as a species are shared on levels as yet undiscovered by science. Perhaps like a psychic web of thought. Pure sci-fi of course but if it were true perhaps the higher the density of people the more accelerated the sharing would be.

I can't remember where I read about it now but it was interesting reading. It had a name too...
[quote]
Rival said:
ScienceDaily (June 5, 2009) — Increasing population density, rather than boosts in human brain power, appears to have catalysed the emergence of modern human behaviour, according to a new study by UCL (University College London) scientists published in the journal Science.


http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090604144324.htm[/quote]

To put another spin on this how do they know that the increased interaction of those higher population densities was not the catalyst for a sudden increase in brain power?

I mean they are saying that our brains may not haven changed at all but it seems more likely that our brain would have evolved more rapidly in response to the increased stimulus.

I think the two may go hand in hand actually.
[quote]
Rips said:
I can't remember where I read about it now but it was interesting reading. It had a name too...


Oh man it just came to me, Rupert Sheldrake. The guy who created the theory of morphic resonance.
[quote]
Rival said:
Rips said:
I can't remember where I read about it now but it was interesting reading. It had a name too...


Oh man it just came to me, Rupert Sheldrake. The guy who created the theory of morphic resonance.


Yes! I just did a bit of a catch up and then ended up reading this...

http://www.skepdic.com/monkey.html

Which does sound like a bit of a myth but its interesting how the above study prodives some support for these alternative views.

I'd probably sooner support the idea that knowledge can be genticaly encoded and transferred between generations than anything else though.