Alannah Pearson is on a quest to decode the secrets hidden within the structure of our brains, shedding light on the characteristics of our early ancestors. Credit: Jamie Kidston/ANU
Exploring the temporal lobe, a crucial region responsible for memory and communication, could provide valuable insights into the evolutionary journey of human brains, as revealed by a groundbreaking study from The Australian National University (ANU).
Ph.D. student Alannah Pearson utilized CT scans to create 3D virtual models of skulls belonging to some of our oldest ancestors and all extant species of great apes. This pioneering ANU research marks the first attempt at comparing temporal lobe size relative to overall brain size.
The findings have been documented in the esteemed American Journal of Biological Anthropology.
“I sought to investigate whether changes occurred in shape or size within the temporal lobe during brain development,” shared Ms. Pearson.
“The prevailing belief suggests that an increase in temporal lobe size correlates with more intricate social behaviors—such as enhanced communication skills in humans or greater environmental exploration,” she added.
2024-11-15 09:15:03
Post sourced from phys.org