Human brains 'took three million years to get to their present size'
HUMANS’ brains tripled in size over the past three million years more slowly than previously believed, researchers say.
They grew steadily, led by our progress in culture, language and tool-making, a study of 100 fossils revealed.
Dr Andrew Du of Chicago University said: “Existing species evolved larger brains, larger-brained species appeared and smaller-brained ones went extinct."
Our brains are three times the size of those of chimpanzees, our closest living relative.
First author Dr Du said: "Brain size is one of the most obvious traits that makes us human.
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"It's related to cultural complexity, language, tool making and all these other things that make us unique.
"The earliest hominins had brain sizes like chimpanzees – and they have increased dramatically since then. So it's important to understand how we got here."
Senior author professor of human origins Bernard Wood at George Washington University said it was similar to choosing to walk up a ramp rather than take the steps.
He said: "Think about the entrance to a building. You can reach the front door by walking up a ramp, or you can take the steps.
"The conventional wisdom was that our large brains had evolved because of a series of step-like increases each one making our ancestors smarter.
"Not surprisingly the reality is more complex – with no clear link between brain size and behaviour."
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