Metaplasticity: Extending cognition through the distant human past
Tjaark Siemssen
Journal of Archaeological Science February 13, 2026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2026.106503 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Key points | Argues that "Metaplasticity" denotes a dynamic, inseparable relationship between neural and cultural plasticity across multiple timescales, and proposes a theoretical synthesis between 4E approaches to cognition and a process ontological approach to evolution. The author contends that Middle Stone Age archaeology's bias toward macro-scale perspectives neglects the extended, embodied, enacted, and embedded properties of cognition in deep time, and that this synthesis can help navigate the aftermath of "behavioural modernity" abandonment while retaining the region's long-term archaeological perspectives. |
Abstract
In this paper, I examine Metaplasticity , one of the key tenets of Material Engagement Theory. Operating alongside material agency and enactive signification, Metaplasticity denotes the inseparable plasticity of material culture and the brain on several simultaneous timescales of human cognitive evolution, and conceptualises the mind as much more expansive than traditionally conceived. I explore the theoretical origins of Metaplasticity by assessing mind-matter dichotomies in the philosophy of mind and action, and its empirical origins by assessing its relationship to advances in the neurosciences. I relate it to similar concepts from the body of 4E approaches to cognition and explain its aims, conceptual nuances and distinctive characteristics. Against the context of the abandonment of 'behavioural modernity' in southern African archaeology, I then compare Metaplasticity to other archaeological models of cognition that propose a relational approach. I draw attention to a bias towards macro-scale perspectives that has dominated the archaeology of the Middle Stone Age (MSA), and comes at the expense of understanding the extended, embodied, enacted, and embedded properties of cognition in deep time. In order to merge macro-scale perspectives on human cognitive evolution with 4E approaches, I propose a theoretical synthesis between 4E perspectives to cognition, and a process ontological approach to evolution through the notion of Metaplasticity. I argue that this would be a productive step towards navigating the aftermath of modernity abandonment in MSA archaeology, whilst retain the unique long-term perspectives granted by the archaeological record and research context of this region. • Metaplasticity denotes a dynamic relationship between neural & cultural plasticity • The notion is compared to other relational models of cognition in archaeology • The influence of these relational models on the archaeology of the MSA is assessed • A synthesis between 4E approaches to cognition, and process ontologies is proposed