Tag

Brain Expansion

All articles tagged with #brain expansion

science4 days ago•7 min saved

Two Evolutionary Shifts Underlie Humans' Strong Right-Handedness

Oxford researchers analyzed 2,025 individuals from 41 primate species using Bayesian models and found that a combination of upright walking (bipedalism) and larger brain size likely drove humans’ strong right-hand bias. Early hominins showed modest right-hand preferences, which intensified in Homo species, culminating in near-universal right-handedness in modern humans, while Homo floresiensis may have had a weaker bias; left-handedness persistence remains unexplained, suggesting a two-stage evolution—freeing the hands for tool use via walking upright, then brain expansion strengthening the bias.

via SciTechDaily|

#bipedalism #brain-expansion #handedness

science2 years ago•4 min saved

"Key Factor in Human Brain Expansion Identified Through Organoids Research"

A study led by Dr. Mareike Albert at the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden has identified a growth factor, epiregulin, as a crucial regulator for the expansion of the neocortex in humans. Using 3D brain organoids, the research team found that epiregulin promotes the division and expansion of stem cells in the developing human brain. The study also compared the effect of epiregulin in human and gorilla brain organoids, revealing that the amount of the growth factor may be the crucial regulator for inter-species differences in brain expansion. This research not only advances our understanding of human uniqueness but also highlights the importance of new technologies that offer ethical and non-invasive complements to animal research.

via Phys.org|

#brain-expansion #human-evolution #neocortex

science3 years ago•4 min saved

The Evolutionary Benefits of Hair Texture for Early Humans.

A team of scientists has discovered a connection between hair texture and the expansion of the human brain, dating back approximately 2 million years. By testing various wigs on a specially designed dummy exposed to solar radiation in a wind tunnel, researchers have unraveled a hidden connection between hair texture and the expansion of the human brain. The study sheds new insights about how human hair textures affect regulation of body temperature. The researchers concluded that tightly curled hair provided the best protection from the sun’s radiative heat while minimizing the need to sweat to stay cool.

via Ancient Origins|

#brain-expansion #hair-texture #heat-regulation