Debate Continues Over Shrinking Human Brains and Rising Intelligence
Recent studies suggest that human brain size has decreased by approximately 10% since the Holocene epoch began around 11,700 years ago, despite evidence indicating that IQ scores have risen over the past century. Experts debate whether this shrinkage is a global trend or a result of biased datasets. Anthropologists like Jeremy DeSilva and Maciej Henneberg argue that brain size is weakly correlated with intelligence, citing Albert Einstein’s small but highly folded brain as proof. Proposed reasons for shrinkage include the shift to agriculture, which reduced the need for physical strength and favored smaller bodies, as well as climate warming. However, some researchers, such as Brian Villmoare, find no significant evidence of brain change after modern humans emerged. John Hawks adds nuance, noting that recent increases in brain size in industrializing nations may be linked to improved nutrition. The article highlights that while average brain volume may have declined, this does not necessarily imply a decrease in cognitive ability, challenging the assumption that bigger brains equate to higher intelligence.
Wire timeline
Debate Continues Over Shrinking Human Brains and Rising Intelligence
Recent studies suggest that human brain size has decreased by approximately 10% since the Holocene epoch began around 11,700 years ago, despite evidence indicating that IQ scores have risen over the past century. Experts debate whether this shrinkage is a global trend or a result of biased datasets. Anthropologists like Jeremy DeSilva and Maciej Henneberg argue that brain size is weakly correlated with intelligence, citing Albert Einstein’s small but highly folded brain as proof. Proposed reasons for shrinkage include the shift to agriculture, which reduced the need for physical strength and favored smaller bodies, as well as climate warming. However, some researchers, such as Brian Villmoare, find no significant evidence of brain change after modern humans emerged. John Hawks adds nuance, noting that recent increases in brain size in industrializing nations may be linked to improved nutrition. The article highlights that while average brain volume may have declined, this does not necessarily imply a decrease in cognitive ability, challenging the assumption that bigger brains equate to higher intelligence.
Latest from Live Science