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evolutionary neuroscience

·January 10, 2025·4 min read

Single Nerve Cord Revealed as Ancestor of Ecdysozoan Nervous Systems

A study analyzing Cambrian fossils uncovered that the ancestral ecdysozoan likely had a single ventral nerve cord, challenging long-standing views about the evolution of these structures. Fossil impressions from early Scalidophora species reveal similarities to modern priapulid nerve cords, supporting the single-cord hypothesis. This finding suggests that paired nerve cords in arthropods, kinorhynchs, and loriciferans evolved independently, linked to body segmentation and movement complexity.

Featured Neuroscience

·January 7, 2025·6 min read

Lead Pollution Linked to IQ Decline in Roman-Era Europe

A study analyzing Arctic ice cores reveals that lead pollution during the Roman Empire's height contributed to an estimated 2-3 point IQ decline across Europe. The pollution stemmed from silver mining and smelting, which released vast amounts of lead into the atmosphere.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·January 2, 2025·7 min read

Gene Expression Drives Evolution of Human Brain Complexity

While humans share over 95% of their genome with chimpanzees, our brains are far more complex due to differences in gene expression. Research shows that human brain cells, particularly glial cells, exhibit higher levels of upregulated genes, enhancing neural plasticity and development.

This shows the bone fragments discovered.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 16, 2024·4 min read

Human Remains Reveal Violence and Cannibalism in Bronze Age Britain

Archaeologists studying the Charterhouse Warren site in England found evidence of a massacre, where at least 37 individuals were butchered, likely partly consumed, and dehumanized by their enemies. Analysis of over 3,000 bone fragments revealed blunt force trauma and cut marks, indicating intentional violence rather than ritualistic funerary practices.

This shows a representation of a cave painting.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 14, 2024·10 min read

Humans and Neanderthals Interbred 47,000 Years Ago

New research refines the timeline of interbreeding between modern humans and Neanderthals, showing it began about 50,500 years ago and lasted roughly 7,000 years. This gene flow left non-African populations with 1-2% Neanderthal ancestry, contributing beneficial traits like immune resilience and skin pigmentation.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 12, 2024·6 min read

Do Animals Really Understand Fairness?

New research challenges the idea that animals share humans’ sense of fairness, suggesting their reactions to unequal rewards stem from unmet expectations rather than inequity aversion. In the largest meta-analysis to date, researchers reanalyzed data from 23 studies across 18 species and found no strong evidence of jealousy or fairness aversion in animals.

This shows ancient man fishing with dogs at his side.

Featured Neuroscience Psychology

·December 5, 2024·5 min read

Ancient Friendship: Humans and Dogs Bonded 12,000 Years Ago

Humans and canines in the Americas formed close relationships 12,000 years ago, earlier than previously thought. Archaeological findings in Alaska, including a 12,000-year-old canine tibia and an 8,100-year-old jawbone, indicate these animals relied on humans for food, such as salmon, rather than hunting independently.

This shows the change in the anger body map.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 4, 2024·5 min read

Angry Feet: How the Emotional Body Map Changed Over Time

Researchers analyzing 1 million Akkadian words from ancient Mesopotamian texts revealed unique insights into how emotions were experienced in the body. While many emotions align with modern perceptions, the ancients notably linked happiness to the liver and anger to the feet, contrasting with modern experiences in the chest and hands.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 4, 2024·5 min read

How Evolution Shaped the Brain’s Understanding of Numbers

Human number cognition may be rooted in the putamen, a deep brain structure traditionally associated with movement rather than abstract thought. Neurosurgery patients demonstrated activity in this area while processing numbers as symbols, words, and concepts, suggesting that numerical understanding emerged early in evolution.

Featured Neuroscience

·December 3, 2024·5 min read

Gut Microbes May Have Powered Evolution of Larger Brains

A new study suggests that gut microbes played a key role in the evolution of larger brains in primates by influencing energy production and usage. Researchers implanted microbes from humans, squirrel monkeys (large-brained species), and macaques (small-brained species) into mice, observing that microbes from larger-brained primates enhanced energy production, while those from smaller-brained primates favored fat storage.

This shows a line of people, depicting evolution.

Featured Neuroscience

·November 29, 2024·4 min read

Human Brains Evolved Gradually, Not in Sudden Leaps

A new study reveals that modern humans, Neanderthals, and other relatives evolved larger brains through gradual changes within each species, overturning the idea of sudden leaps in brain size. Researchers used the largest-ever fossil dataset spanning 7 million years and advanced statistical methods to reconstruct brain size evolution.

Featured Genetics Neuroscience

·November 26, 2024·4 min read

DNA to AI: How Evolution Shapes Smarter Algorithms

A new AI algorithm inspired by the genome’s ability to compress vast information offers insights into brain function and potential tech applications. Researchers found that this algorithm performs tasks like image recognition and video games almost as effectively as fully trained AI networks.

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evolutionary neuroscience

Single Nerve Cord Revealed as Ancestor of Ecdysozoan Nervous Systems

Lead Pollution Linked to IQ Decline in Roman-Era Europe

Gene Expression Drives Evolution of Human Brain Complexity

Human Remains Reveal Violence and Cannibalism in Bronze Age Britain

Humans and Neanderthals Interbred 47,000 Years Ago

Do Animals Really Understand Fairness?

Ancient Friendship: Humans and Dogs Bonded 12,000 Years Ago

Angry Feet: How the Emotional Body Map Changed Over Time

How Evolution Shaped the Brain’s Understanding of Numbers

Gut Microbes May Have Powered Evolution of Larger Brains

Human Brains Evolved Gradually, Not in Sudden Leaps

DNA to AI: How Evolution Shapes Smarter Algorithms

Taming Tumor Chaos: Researchers Uncover Key to Improving Glioblastoma Treatment

Hippocampus Predicts Rewards by Reorganizing Memories

Memory Rewritten: Study Finds No Clear Line Between Episodic and Semantic Retrieval

Brain Stimulation Method Can Evaluate Consciousness in Alzheimer’s Disease

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