Breaking News:

HEALTH

Why our brains are getting smaller

Oct 2, 2023, 2:00 PM

A brain on a white background....

That belief has evolved as we've learned that the human brain has actually shrunk starting approximately 3,000 years ago. This is not a microscopic change. Our grey matter has shrunk about the size of a lime. (Canva)

(Canva)

SALT LAKE CITY — Humans have long believed that our superior intelligence is connected to our brains being larger than other species relative to our body size.

That belief has evolved as we’ve learned that the human brain has actually shrunk starting approximately 3,000 years ago. This is not a microscopic change. Our grey matter has shrunk about the size of a lime.

“It’s important not to conflate brain size with smarts,” explained Dr. Rachna Reddy, a biological anthropologist, primatologist and Assistant Professor of Anthropology at the University of Utah. “Having a larger brain does not equate in any way to more intelligence.”

So, why is our brain shrinking? Reddy commented on the new study from Dartmouth.

“One hypothesis that the authors put forward is that humans have come to rely on collective intelligence,” she said.

What is collective intelligence?

In modern society, we all do so many different things every day. We drive cars, use phones and the internet, eat a variety of food.

“No one person is really capable of knowing all of the skills and possessing all that knowledge,” Reddy said. “So, you use a cellphone every day, but if I asked you how each piece of it worked, there might not be a single person who could put together every piece of the cellphone. That would include finding the minerals necessary to make all the parts, and programming all the parts. These are all specialized skills that come together in a cooperative way to accomplish this one task that allows many different people from all over the world to communicate.”

Our culture is cumulative. We benefit from what is learned generations ago and last month. A big reason for that is that we have language.

“We’re able to share all kinds of information even when we’re not there,” Reddy said.

Ant brains

The authors of this recent study use a comparative approach. They look at other places and species where there is a similar pattern and then infer what might have caused that pattern.

For instance, “They looked at how ant brains have changed over time,” Reddy explained. “Scientists have studied ants and linked aspects of the way they cooperate with each other to the way humans do. There are a lot of key differences, of course.”

“Ants are eusocial insects,” she continued. “They work as a group in order to survive. They travel great distances and accomplish many things by working together, as humans do. So maybe there are some sort of parallels from which we can make inferences.”

Dr. Reddy studies chimpanzees, human’s closest living relatives. “They do a lot of things cooperatively,” Dr. Reddy said. “They hunt together, sleep near each other. But chimps don’t have language. They can’t share information over time in a cumulative way like we do. They can’t pass knowledge down.”

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Health

Andrew Adams

Utah bill aims to provide comprehensive cancer screenings to firefighters

A measure on Utah’s Capitol Hill aims to provide comprehensive cancer screenings to the state’s firefighters.

3 hours ago

Nutritious food...

Michelle Lee

Nutritious food is good for your mood

Let’s Get Moving Host Maria Shilaos spoke with Gabriela Murza with USU's HEART Initiative to learn how nutritious food can improve our mental health.

14 hours ago

FILE - People wave signs to passing cars during a pro-transgender rights protest outside of Seattle...

LEA SKENE Associated Press

Federal judge pauses President Trump’s order restricting gender-affirming care for trans youth

Trumps order blocks support for gender-affirming health care for transgender people under age 19.

3 days ago

A bill that would have eliminated cost-sharing from follow-up breast cancer examinations is now on ...

Allessandra Harris Gurr

Utah bill to expand breast cancer coverage put on hold

A bill that would have eliminated cost-sharing from follow-up breast cancer examinations is now on hold.

4 days ago

Respiratory illnesses such as the flu, COVID-19, and RSV are on the rise across the U.S....

Michelle Lee

Simple ways to keep respiratory illnesses away

Let’s Get Moving Host Maria Shilaos spoke with Nicole Henry with CVS to learn what we can do to protect ourselves from respiratory illnesses.

8 days ago

Kaysville City officials confirmed that the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District had added water ...

Simone Seikaly

Kaysville City tells residents why water smells like chlorine

Weber officials recently added water from groundwater wells, which, because of extra processing, created the chlorine smell.

10 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Filing taxes online using a computer...

The Law Offices of Jordan F. Wilcox

Tax time is approaching. What to do if you have debilitating IRS debt

Is the IRS threatening you with wage garnishment, asset seizure or business closure? Here are some ideas to resolve your tax dilemma.

Full speed through the snow. A man on skis is pulled by his through the snow at full gallop Skijori...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Get ready for an unforgettable skijoring adventure in Bear Lake!

“Skijoring the Bear” takes place this year on February 21-22 in Garden City, Utah.

the bedroom in a geodesic dome shows the night sky...

Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon

Your front row to an extraordinary cosmos show

As America's first glass dome stargazing resort, Clear Sky Resorts Bryce Canyon is one of the world’s most unique and spectacular places to stay.

2 people huddled up in a blanket and warm clothes sipping hot chocolate...

Bear Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau

The best ways to spend your Christmas vacation in Bear Lake

If you're dreaming of a white Christmas this year, Bear Lake should definitely be on your radar. Read this guide for more!

big crowd of people under holiday lights in an outdoor market...

Western Nut

Our favorite family Christmas activities in Utah

We gathered up a list of our favorite activities, movies, and treats to try this holiday season that the whole family can enjoy.

an IT tech looks at a laptop in front of a server network...

Comcast Business

Tips to protect yourself from phishing attacks

Check out this resource from Comcast Business to learn more about phishing attacks and how to protect yourself from becoming a victim of one.

Why our brains are getting smaller