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Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science pp 1–5Cite as

Human Brain Evolution

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Definition

There have been significant changes in brain development, anatomy, and molecular biology over the course of human evolution.

Introduction

Modern humans are characterized by remarkable specializations of cognition, including a language that is rich in syntactic complexity and symbolic meaning, a nuanced understanding of the mental states of others, a strong motivation to share in pursuing joint goals, an ability to manufacture sophisticated tools, and an extraordinary capacity for cultural learning. What are the evolutionary changes in brain structure and molecular biology that underlie these cognitive faculties? A comprehensive understanding of human brain evolution requires data from multiple perspectives, incorporating information from fossils, archaeology, comparative neuroanatomy, and genetics.

Evolution of the brain in the human lineage

Compared to other primates and our earliest hominin ancestors, modern humans have very large brains. Weighing approximately 1,400 g on...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    Chet C. Sherwood

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  1. Chet C. Sherwood
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Correspondence to Chet C. Sherwood .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Oakland University, Rochester, MI, USA

    Todd K. Shackelford

  2. Rochester, MI, USA

    Viviana A. Weekes-Shackelford

Section Editor information

  1. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Nipissing University, North Bay, ON, Canada

    Steven Arnocky

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Sherwood, C.C. (2019). Human Brain Evolution. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_813-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_813-1

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