Encephalization

Encephalization refers to the tendency for a species toward larger brains through evolutionary time.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Anthropological studies indicate that bipedalism preceded encephalization in the human evolutionary lineage after divergence from the chimpanzee lineage. Compared to the chimpanzee brain, the human brain is larger and certain brain regions have been particularly altered during human evolution{{ref|compchimp}}. Most brain growth of chimpanzees happens before birth while most human brain growth happens after birth (see: Heterochrony).

Related Topics:
Anthropological - Bipedalism - Chimpanzee - Heterochrony

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 2004, Dennis Bramble and Daniel Lieberman proposed that early Homo were scavengers that used stone tools to harvest meat off carcasses and to open bones. They proposed that humans specialized in long-distance running to compete with other scavengers in reaching carcasses{{ref|running}}. It has been suggested that such an adaptation ensured a food supply that made large brains possible.

Related Topics:
Homo - Brains

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

More encephalized species tend to have longer spinal shock duration.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~