Stiffer Competition, Bigger Brain?
Social competition may help explain the tripling in size of the human brain over the past 2 million years.
That's the conclusion of a new study by a University of Missouri professor after examining 153 hominid skulls.
Professor David Geary found that ancient population growth led to increased social competition, a connection he linked to evolutionary increases in brain size.
He also looked at possible links between brain growth, climate change and ecological demands. But the links between competition and brain size were most consistent.
AP That's the conclusion of a new study by a University of Missouri professor after examining 153 hominid skulls.
Professor David Geary found that ancient population growth led to increased social competition, a connection he linked to evolutionary increases in brain size.
He also looked at possible links between brain growth, climate change and ecological demands. But the links between competition and brain size were most consistent.
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On Theme And Variations
A. From "Competition may be reason for bigger brain"
http://www.physorg.com/news164901829.html
- "The team found that social competition is the major cause of increased cranial capacity."
- "Our research tells us that competition, whether healthy or not, sets the stage for brain evolution."
B. About time for life sciences to assimilate, to internalize, the theme of brain evolution and its variations
"On The Origin And Tasks Of Brain Cells"
http://www.the-scientist.com/community/posts/list/180/122.page#2822
About time for life sciences to assimilate, to internalize, that it is culture that drives genetics, and that genes-genomes survive mainly by evolving their culture of manipulating-modifying-controling their environment.
"Scientists" might start further evolving their thinking by starting with search-surfing "Dov Henis : It is culture that drives genetics, not genetics that drives culture".
Suggesting,
Dov Henis
(Comments From The 22nd Century)
http://profiles.yahoo.com/blog/2SF3CJJM5OU6T27OC4MFQSDYEU
Origin Of Origins
http://www.the-scientist.com/community/posts/list/160/122.page#2753