The Playing Field

Sport and Culture Through the Lens of Science

Steven Kotler is the author of West of Jesus: Surfing, Science and the Origins of Belief. His magazine writing has appeared in more than 31 publications. See full bio

March 29, 2008,

Comments on "Why Humans Have Such Big Brains"

Why Humans Have Such Big Brains

By Steven Kotler on March 29, 2008 in The Playing Field

What does the passing of a basketball have to do with the evolution of the human brain? Read More

BB and the final four

Submitted by Dr. Ron Gerughty on March 29, 2008 - 9:24am.

Steven:

Nice post; but, didn't our prehistoric ancestors develop greater brain capacity much earlier than their spear throwing prowess? Hunting, especially the spear variety, came much later on the evolutionary scale and even then accounted only for an estimated 20 percent of the dietary consumption, with the remainder being made up of gathering. Are there not other reasons for the increased size and capacity?

BB and the final four

Submitted by SK on March 29, 2008 - 11:34am.

BB,

I think the original brain adaptation (that allowed for thinking into the future) was random. I think the added meat consumption (and 20 percent is a lot of protein considering the confines of a veggie diet) was driver for sexual selection. I also think that language development played a part, ascertain basic skills like storytelling and joke telling also require this kind of well-timed foresight. I think these things ended up working together and playing off each other. But you bring up a very good point about when this took place in evolution and the only thing I can think of is to send Dr. Calvin a note and see what he thinks....