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Energetics and the evolution of human brain size

Author

Listed:
  • Ana Navarrete

    (Anthropological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190)

  • Carel P. van Schaik

    (Anthropological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190)

  • Karin Isler

    (Anthropological Institute and Museum, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190)

Abstract

Fat is a cognitive issue The brain is a costly organ to run in terms of energy supply, so how do humans accommodate brains that are so much larger than those of comparable primates without any apparent difficulty? A widely held explanation is the expensive-tissue hypothesis, which proposes a trade-off between brain size and the mass of other energetically expensive organs, especially the digestive tract. Now a survey of 100 mammal species reveals no such trade-off, refuting the idea that expensive tissues compete for energy. There is a negative correlation between the size of brains and the amount of stored energy in the form of adipose tissue, however. The authors propose that the increase in human brain size was facilitated by a combination of stabilization of energy inputs and a redirection of energy from locomotion, growth and reproduction.

Suggested Citation

  • Ana Navarrete & Carel P. van Schaik & Karin Isler, 2011. "Energetics and the evolution of human brain size," Nature, Nature, vol. 480(7375), pages 91-93, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:480:y:2011:i:7375:d:10.1038_nature10629
    DOI: 10.1038/nature10629
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    Cited by:

    1. Gifford, Adam, 2013. "Sociality, trust, kinship and cultural evolution," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 47(C), pages 218-227.
    2. Guo, Rongxing & Yang, Kaizhong & Liu, Yuhui, 2020. "Explaining the human and cultural puzzles: A new development theory✰," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).

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