A History of the Human Brain

February 15, 2021
Size isn't everything when it comes to our brain (which weighs about three pounds and accounts for two-percent of our total body weight). Complexity (architecture, neurocircuitry, neuron compactness) and adaptability are more important. In fact, human brains have been shrinking for the past 10,000 to 20,000 years, perhaps because we are becoming a more ""domesticated"" species. Effectively utilizing evolutionary biology and anthropology, MD and science journalist Stetka tracks the origin and development of the human brain and forecasts its possible future. Our brain's evolution was driven by diet, increasing social interactions, tool-making, control of fire, bipedalism, and creativity. An omnivorous diet facilitated adaptation to diverse habitats and climates, and carnivorism helped expand our energy-greedy brain. As our species became increasingly creative and resourceful, our longevity extended. Social behavior and processing emotions (fear, pleasure, love, grief) increased our chances for survival. Yet humans possess a penchant for aggression, and we still struggle with conflicting impulses for violence and goodwill. Stetka ends on a somber note, ""Our brains are so adept at exploiting the planet that we've left it a mess.

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