Evolution's neurological progression

[nucleardream]

What kind of impact has evolution had on the human brain in the last, say 100,000 years? Did it ever follow a linear progression? Thanks in advance! -nd

[heathfield]

Apparently not linear, according to this article.

[nucleardream]

The correlation between brain size and intelligence isn't so much what I was asking as is what the evolution in cognitive growth the brain has experienced in the recent past.

The brain is a fascinating complexity and I wonder to what neurological extent has it changed (if any) since the inauguration of the current human species.

I understand current thought alludes to species evolving in "leaps," as if a species "jumps" to a higher plateau of biological and psychological advancement and basically stays there until the next leap.

I may have just answered my own question...any other thoughts?

[Peter Pedant]

Is nt this the core topic in courses like physical anthropology, and human evoution

such as the answer is not a few lines but more like a term of lecctures ?

The problem is limited: Homo sapiens sapiens can't change too much without becoming another species.

100 000 y in human evolution is not a long period (pleistocene) I thought we were the same 100 000 y ago - four generation in 100 y which means 4000 generations which I thought was peanuts in terms of evolution

[nucleardream]

a good response... you're 3rd paragraph hit the answer succinctly. So no, evolution has had no significant impact on the brain in at least the last 100,000 yrs. This, I was not sure of ... thanks!

[Ice-Maiden]

This seems an immensely complex issue for this time of the early morning!

[Ice-Maiden]

Oops - how can Meredith's answer be timed at 1.54....????

[Ice-Maiden]

It's only 1.35........

[meredith101]

i'm wondering if you mean to use the word 'neurological'?

[Peter Pedant]

The problem with human evolution is that it would be nice is
A gave way to B which evolved into Austrolpithecus and then into Man (H Sapiens)

The fossil record doesnt bear this out - I think 100 000 we were co-exisitng with neandethals

Raymond Dart prof of anat in Witswatersrand was big in this - he desribed the Taung Child 1928 - australopithecus.
They apparently went back to him just before his death around 1960 and said did you find in your strata parallel species or changing one into the other ?
and he said apparently even in 1928 it was obvious they were co-existing but they thought no-one would believe them.....

[Peter Pedant]

god no wonder you are confused:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hominidae

seems to written by someone in the know, and the overall message seems to be - we dont have the first idea !