School of Psychology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Qld 4072, Australia.
Behav Brain Sci. 2012 Aug;35(4):232-3. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X11001932. Epub 2012 Jun 15.
Human life history incorporates childhood, a lengthy post-weaning period of dependency. This species-specific period provides an opportunity for extensive learning and for sophisticated cultural behaviors to develop, including crucial tool use skills. Although I agree that no individual cognitive trait singularly differentiates humans from other animals, I suggest here that without childhood, the traits that are key to human tool use would not emerge.
人类的生命史包括童年和漫长的离乳后依赖期。这个特定于物种的时期为广泛的学习和复杂的文化行为的发展提供了机会，包括关键的工具使用技能。尽管我同意没有任何单一的认知特征能将人类与其他动物区分开来，但我在这里建议，如果没有童年，人类工具使用的关键特征就不会出现。
