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Surprising baby brains: A new study
14.12.2023 00:30
Updated: 13.05.2024 21:21
Contrary to what we thought, a new experiment shows that baby brains are not significantly less developed compared to other primates.
The misconception arises because much of our brain development happens after birth.
Let's find out more about how surprising baby brains actually are.
How it was discovered
The latest experiment highlights that people are born with brains at a development level typical for similar primates.
Nevertheless, our brains undergo more significant growth and complexity than other species after birth, creating a misconception that human newborns are somehow underdeveloped or "altricial."
The lead author contends that this challenges the prevailing thoughts of evolutionary human brain development, demonstrating that humans align with other kinds of primates, when considering alternative measurements of brain development.
Looking at the brain development of 140 different mammals, the experiment underscores that although our brains take longer to reach their full capacity, it's not because of being significantly less developed at birth; rather, they experience substantial growth later in life.
Why it's important to know
This experiment questions the statement that the underdevelopment of babies at birth contributes to enhanced brain plasticity, indicating that increased plasticity may not be a result of being born less developed than other primates.
The specialists stress that their study does not diminish the significance of brain plasticity in human evolution but offer a fresh perspective on the development of baby brains.
Previously, we talked about early memory decline.
