Evolution of the Human Brain in Study Skills

To effectively understand learning techniques, it is essential to know our brain. It is one of the most complex organs in the human body, and its development takes much longer than that of other organs. Although the brain is present in almost all animals, not just humans, its structure and development differ considerably from our own. Our brain has evolved over millions of years to reach its current complexity. Knowing the evolutionary process of our brain was not an easy task; we must keep in mind that this organ is composed of soft tissue, which does not fossilize like bones. Instead, it rots and eventually disappears without leaving useful traces for science. In this lesson, we invite you to learn the details of the evolutionary process of the brain and how it has been studied.

Paleoneurology

Paleoneurology is the science dedicated to the study of the brain, focusing specifically on the analysis of its structure in past epochs. This science determined that in order to know the degree of evolution of a brain, it was necessary to evaluate its cranial capacity, which is the amount of brain volume that the subject in question possessed. Factors such as the level of blood irrigation and the morphology of the brain have allowed us to know the most advanced species of millions of years ago.

Ardipithecus ramidus

One of the most remote known ancestors is Ardipithecus, a being with markedly ape-like features and a skull similar in size to that of chimpanzees. Figures show that while the size of the cranial cavity of chimpanzees varies between 280 and 500 cm³, that of Ardipithecus was approximately 350 cm³. Despite its primitive development, Ardipithecus had evolutionary traits, since it lived collectively and was bipedal.

Australopithecus afarensis

This species, although more advanced than Ardipithecus, still had very primitive features. Its cranial capacity did not exceed 500 cm³, which is in the chimpanzee range. However, evidence has been found of a higher degree of complexity compared to its ancestor, such as the presence of air cavities intended to protect the encephalon. As expected, their cognitive abilities were limited, including abilities to reason, remember, communicate and plan.

Homo habilis

For Homo habilis, we have more information than for its predecessors. Their cranial capacity, up to 640 cm³, allowed the development of more complex skills, reflected in the construction of rudimentary working tools. This fact is important, since the creation of tools, however basic they may be, implies a process of analysis, planning and coordination, which in Homo habilis represents signs of evolution.

Homo erectus

Homo erectus was an advanced species that mastered fire and used it to their advantage. In addition, they carried out survival activities, such as hunting, in groups. They had a more developed frontal lobe, as well as occipital, temporal and parietal lobes. Their cranial capacity ranged between 800 and 1000 cm³.

Homo neanderthalensis

The Neanderthals were a fairly advanced species, of which we have much information due to their relative temporal proximity to our species. It is known that they coexisted with modern humans for centuries. Their cranial capacity of up to 1900 cm³ allowed them to develop a more complex language for communication.

Homo sapiens

Finally, we come to our species. Centuries of evolution allowed Homo sapiens to develop both their biological traits and their cognitive and communicative abilities. A significant advance of Homo sapiens was the development of art, for which there is no previous data in previous species. We developed more advanced cognitive functions that allowed us to reason and abstract. The cranial capacity of Homo sapiens ranges between 1300 and 1800 cm³.