The Cortex
Lectures

In his upcoming talk, "The Evolutionary Roots of Mind" , Prof. Anindya Sinha will explore how complex social dynamics drove the evolution of advanced cognition in primates. Drawing on over three decades of research with bonnet macaques, he will examine their remarkable ability to evaluate relationships, form mental representations, and develop a rudimentary sense of self. Challenging traditional, language-centric definitions of consciousness, this lecture will delve into the philosophical and empirical questions surrounding primate ethology, and will offer a profound look into the conscious decision-making and unique, lived experiences of more-than-human lifeworlds.

Anindya Sinha is Professor of Coexistence Studies at TDU and Professor of Animal Behaviour and Cognition at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Bangalore. His research over more than three decades has focused on the behavioural ecology, cognitive ethology, and evolutionary biology of nonhuman primates, and his current work extends into human–nonhuman relations and more-than-human lifeworlds. He was part of the team that reported a new primate species — the Arunachal macaque — from northeastern India, and his writing has shaped how the field thinks about the structure and evolution of the nonhuman primate mind.