Brain and body size increaseĭuring this time period early humans spread around the globe, encountering many new environments on different continents. Brain size increases slowlyĭuring this time period, early humans began to walk upright and make simple tools. The modern human brain is the largest and most complex of any living primate.

Over the course of human evolution, brain size tripled. That was a big advantage to early humans in their social interactions and encounters with unfamiliar habitats. Large, complex brains can process and store a lot of information. Hurlbert, Smithsonian Institution)Īs early humans faced new environmental challenges and evolved bigger bodies, they evolved larger and more complex brains.

Science, Religion, Evolution and Creationism: PrimerĮndocasts of Homo erectus (left) and Homo sapiens (right) illustrate rapid increase in brain size.

Members Thoughts on Science, Religion & Human Origins (video).

Teaching Evolution through Human Examples.

Digital Archive of Ungulate and Carnivore Dentition.

Adventures in the Rift Valley: Interactive.

Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History The Smithsonian Institution's Human Origins Program Main Menu

Floris expanded vs evolved