Human newborns come into the world “incomplete,” more vulnerable at birth than other animal species.

Our “nature” is our ability to be shaped by our respective environments (e.g., our “nurture”).

The mechanism behind this is neuroplasticity: The young brain is malleable, shaped by early experiences.

The baby giraffe, weighing as much as 150 lbs, can stand and walk within the first hour of its life. The baby pig can start walking just minutes after birth. The baby iguana? Moments after hatching, it can leap into a full-out sprint to avoid predators.

The abilities of young animals can be awe-inspiring. How do the skills of the young human stack up?

If you've spent any time around human newborns, you'll be hugely underwhelmed. It's a lot of crying, a lot of diaper changes, and very little resemblance to the abilities of adult humans. They can barely lift their own heads, let alone walk.

Compared to other animals, human nature has some very humble beginnings.

But from this humble starting point eventually comes the incredible sophistication, talent, and mastery that defines the human condition. All human exceptionalism, in all of its richness and diversity, stems from the same modest starting point.

How do we get there? When we examine the question of human nature through the lens of neuroscience, a compelling picture emerges. It suggests that the often incredible abilities of adult humans are inextricably linked to this "incompleteness" at birth.

How does the developing brain ultimately take on these skills and abilities? And what can this neuroscientific perspective teach us about the essence of human nature?

Human Uniqueness in Our Development

The first thing to note is fairly obvious: Compared to newborns, who are all relatively similar, adult humans differ tremendously. We come to hold a range of incredibly specialized skills and aptitudes. Some become astronauts, while others become rappers, athletes, etc. Some speak Japanese, while others speak sign language, or English, or speak many languages. You get the idea.

This basic observation poses a difficult question: How can we ultimately come to take on........

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