Tag

Evolutionary Neuroscience

All articles tagged with #evolutionary neuroscience

science1 year ago•4 min saved

"Unveiling the Evolution of Human Bipedalism: Clues from Ancient Ape Skulls"

A recent study using 3D CT scans of the 6-million-year-old ape, Lufengpithecus, reveals a connection between its semicircular canals and locomotor behavior, suggesting a three-step evolution of human bipedalism from ancestral arboreal and terrestrial movements. The research indicates that early apes, including human ancestors, shared locomotion methods that were precursors to bipedalism, marking a significant advancement in understanding the locomotive evolution of humans and apes.

via Neuroscience News|

#bipedalism #evolutionary-neuroscience #human-evolution

evolutionary-neuroscience2 years ago•6 min saved

Modern Dog Breeds Have Bigger Brains Due to Urbanization

Modern dog breeds, genetically farther from wolves, have relatively larger brain sizes compared to ancient breeds, likely influenced by urbanization and a more complex social environment. Despite domestication generally leading to a decrease in brain size, researchers found that the more a dog breed is genetically distant from wolves, the larger its relative brain size becomes. The increase in brain size is not related to the specific roles or life history characteristics of the breeds. This study provides new insight into the rapid evolution and diversity within the dog species, possibly due to their adaptation to human environments and social complexity.

via Neuroscience News|

#brain-size #dogs #domestication