Thank goodness human babies have skulls that are a bit elongated at birth and become rounder during the first year of life. Ouch! What’s the story with that? Well, it’s a history thing.
Humans and Neanderthals have elongated skulls which helped with the birth process! Ancient man kept that oval shape which did not allow for brain expansion. Why was that a problem?
This round shape allowed for expansion in the motor and language parts of the brain as well as the parts that coordinate sensory information with other parts of the brain. The humans got all the goodies with their round skulls!
Humans were able to form abstract representational thought that’s necessary for learning. Because our brains took on the “human” shape, we were able to problem-solve without language and then, with language which propelled us to the top of the hierarchy.
It’s been millions of years in the making, but we can finally work an algebra problem! Well, some of us can!
Claudia
Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch
At DrClaudia.net, click on the "Ask Me" button and send me a question.
Humans and Neanderthals have elongated skulls which helped with the birth process! Ancient man kept that oval shape which did not allow for brain expansion. Why was that a problem?
This round shape allowed for expansion in the motor and language parts of the brain as well as the parts that coordinate sensory information with other parts of the brain. The humans got all the goodies with their round skulls!
Humans were able to form abstract representational thought that’s necessary for learning. Because our brains took on the “human” shape, we were able to problem-solve without language and then, with language which propelled us to the top of the hierarchy.
It’s been millions of years in the making, but we can finally work an algebra problem! Well, some of us can!
Claudia
Join me on Facebook at Dr. Claudia McCulloch
At DrClaudia.net, click on the "Ask Me" button and send me a question.
