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Cooking as a potential explanation for the evolution of the disproportionately large human brain.
Introduction
The disproportionately big human brain is a conundrum – it is larger than would be expected for a primate of our size, and it is a very energetically expensive organ. Since human basal metabolic rate (BMR) is not elevated to match such a big brain, the extra energy needed to sustain it suggests a dietary explanation. Feeding the large brain would likely require a shift to a high-quality diet: one comprised of energy-rich, easily digestible foods. This hypothesis is supported by a number of anatomical features: smaller teeth, jaws, stomachs, and a shorter large intestine. Two key elements of human subsistence – cooking and meat eating – have been proposed as a possible means of achieving this high-quality diet.
Encephalization and Trade-Off Theories
The human line has experienced a remarkable increase in brain size...
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References
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Voytyuk, M. (2017). Brain Evolution Resulting from Cooking. In: Shackelford, T., Weekes-Shackelford, V. (eds) Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2951-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2951-2
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Latest
Brain Evolution Resulting from Cooking- Published:
- 21 June 2017
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2951-2
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Original
Brain Evolution Resulting from Cooking- Published:
- 20 September 2016
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16999-6_2951-1