Bigger Brain & Blood Flow Involved in Evolution of Human Intelligence

Australian researchers are challenging the long-held theory that human intelligence evolved from bigger brains alone. The researchers analyzed the size of two holes in the base of fossil skulls and found that while brain size increased about 350% during the course of human evolution, blood flow to the brain increased 600%. Research leader Dr. Roger Seymour explains, “We believe this is possibly related to the brain’s need to satisfy increasingly energetic connections between nerve cells that allowed the evolution of complex thinking and learning.” The finding suggest the human intelligence is not only dependent on brain size but also a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients from blood. This corresponds with present research that associates increased blood flow to the brain via exercise with improved cognition. Open Science, August 2016