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Brain and Behavior

Brain Development

How has brain size changed from early hominids?

Hominid skulls show a steady increase in cubic centimeters across evolution. Estimating from skull size and shape, Homo habilis had a brain size of 600 to 700 cubic centimeters (cc) and Homo erectus about 900 to 1,000 cubic centimeters. Homo sapien sapiens (modern humans) have a brain size of about 1,400 cubic centimeters. Concurrent with the increase in brain size, paleontologists find an increase in the complexity of tools found with hominid remains. Larger brains apparently translated into more sophisticated tool use. Additionally, larger brained hominids were adapted to more varied and/or harsher climates.



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