BRAIN EVOLUTION

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BRAIN EVOLUTION

• BY Amanda Haas
• Karen Reitz

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MR. PLES

• Member of Australopithecus africanus clan, dating
  2.6 million years ago
• braincase that held 515 cubic centimeters- same
  as largest male chimp
• our braincase can hold 1200 cubic centimeters
• shows how our brains doubled in size in just 2
  million years

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Australopithecus africanus
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CHIMPS AND US

• Similar communication brain structures -
  gestures, verbal sounds
• Language area of brains similar
• Sign language
• Chimps can understand commands like a 2 and 1/2
  year old

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TYPES OF THROWING

• Spear throwing
• Rock throwing
• Hammering
• Hunting

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EFFECTS OF THROWING

• Required timing accuracy
• Bigger- faster- better
• Moving target- more sophisticated
• Overarm throwing style- simple (motor mechanisms)
• Memory developed

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THROWING

• Led to carrying bag
• Led to language
• Bigger brains for throwing led to human
  intelligence and language
• Led to timing skills for today (sports such as
  tennis and basketball)
• Learned skills for music and grammar

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Intelligence

• Cleverness, Foresight, Creativity, Ability to
  Predict
• Musical Skills
• Learn what to eat (after Ice Age - eat grass or
  animals that eat grass)
• Sharing food

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REFERENCES

• Bowman, Lee. Controversy expands over evolution
  and brain size. Online Available
  http//www.nando.net/newsroom/ntn/health/061298/he
  alth7_19043_noframes.html, January 29, 1999.
• Chimps Like Us/ Were like Chimps. Online
  Available http//www.geocities.com/RainForest/Vine
  s/4451/ChimpsLikeUs.html, February 5, 1999.

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References

• Calvin, William. A Stones Throw and its Launch
  Window. Online Available http//williamcalvin.
  com/1980s/1983JTheoretBiol.htm, February 5, 1999.
• Calvin, William. The Emergence of Intelligence.
  Online Available http//weber.u.washington.edu/
  wcalvin/1990s/1998SciAmer.htm, February 5, 1999.

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REFERENCES

• Falk, Dean. Hominid Brain Evolution Looks Can
  Be Deceiving. Online Available
  http//cas.bellarmine.edu/tietjen/images/hominid_b
  rain_evolution2.htm, January 29, 1999.