THE DOPAMINERGIC MIND IN HUMAN EVOLUTION AND HISTORY
Previc teached at Eleanor Kolitz Academy in Sab Antontio, Texas. Previously had some interesting jobs involved with nuerology - he published numerous papers.
This is a very interesting book that people interested in neuromarketing is unlikely to come across. I only found it due to my interest in the dopamine system as a pleasure system and hence strongly implicated in decision-making (especially brand decisions).
Previc's hypothesis (very credible to me) is that it is the existence of the dopamine system that gave rise to human evolution in terms of intelligence.
He basis a lot of his hypothesis on antropolgy: the first humanlike remains having been found in the interior of Africa and the first signs of intelligence (i.e. the use of tools) being found on the shores of especially Southern Africa (70,000 - 80,000 years ago).
This increase in intelligence Provic ascibes to the evolving humans including shellfish in their diets - which causes more dopamine to be released.
This is an interesting read, and certainly an important part of the puzzle of the formation of human brains.
