Brain size riddle solved as humans exceed evolutionary trend
A study in Nature Ecology & Evolution reveals that the largest animals may not have proportionally bigger brains. Humans defy this trend, evolving exceptionally large brains compared to other mammals. The research clarifies brain-body size relationships, challenging previous assumptions.
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A study published in Nature Ecology & Evolution by researchers at the University of Reading and Durham University has revealed that the largest animals do not necessarily have proportionally bigger brains, with humans defying this trend. The research, based on data from around 1,500 species, clarifies the relationship between brain and body size evolution. Contrary to previous beliefs, the study shows that brain size relative to body size is not linear but follows a curve, indicating that very large animals have smaller brains than expected. Humans have evolved exceptionally large brains compared to other mammals, with Homo sapiens evolving more than 20 times faster than other species. The study also identifies other species, such as primates, rodents, and carnivores, that have shown rapid changes in brain size over time. The findings suggest a general phenomenon across mammals and birds, indicating a limit to brain size in the largest animals possibly due to maintenance costs. The research sheds light on the complexity of brain-body mass relationships and challenges long-held assumptions in brain evolution.
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