Encephalization, or the increase in brain size relative to body size, is crucial in understanding human evolution, but the mechanisms behind this growth are still debated. New research by a team at the University of Oxford analyzed fossils dating back 7 million years, uncovering that brain size growth occurred within individual species rather than uniformly across all hominins. The study found that the largest increases in brain size happened in more recent human ancestors, highlighting the role of diverse selective pressures in shaping this evolutionary trait.
Encephalization is the increase in brain size relative to body size, a key aspect of human evolution, but its exact process remains enigmatic.
New research reveals that brain size increased within single species lineages, with the fastest expansion occurring in recent human ancestors.
The study challenges the idea of a single, uniform evolutionary process by highlighting varying selective pressures affecting brain growth in hominins.
Researchers used advanced computer models to analyze the evolution of hominin brains, indicating that growth was driven by multiple factors, not a single cause.
Collection
[
|
...
]