Concept explainers
Compared with the nearest evolutionary relative, the chimpanzee, the human has a brain that is huge. At a point in the past, a common ancestor gave rise to the two species of humans and chimpanzees. That evolutionary history is long and is still an area of intense study. But something happened to increase the size of the human brain relative to the chimpanzee. Read this article (http://openstaxcollege.org/l/hugebrain) in which the author explores the current understanding of why this happened.
According to one hypothesis about the expansion of brain size, what tissue might have been sacrificed so energy was available to grow our larger brain? Based on what you know about that tissue and nervous tissue, why would there be a trade-off between them in terms of energy use?
Want to see the full answer?
Check out a sample textbook solutionChapter 13 Solutions
Anatomy & Physiology
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
College Physics
Microbiology: An Introduction
Essentials of Genetics (9th Edition) - Standalone book
Microbiology with Diseases by Body System (5th Edition)
Biology: Life on Earth with Physiology (11th Edition)
Concepts of Genetics (11th Edition)
- How has the human brain changed in size and shape over millions of years of evolution? Explore the development of the human nervous system. Please, I really appreciate the answer on your own words, no paste or copy. Please, focus to answer the question, no imcomplete answer, thank you,arrow_forwardBased on the evidence from recordings of single neurons in the hippocampus and entorhinal cortex in rodents by Nobel Laureates John O'Keefe, May-Brit Moser and Edvard Moser, one would predict that patients like H.M. (whose bilateral medial temporal lobes were removed) would have problems with Short-term memory Semantic memory Spatial memory Object memory Face memoryarrow_forwardWhat is true of prenatal effects on brain plasticity? Parents' experiences before conception can influence their children's later brain development. Positive experiences influence prenatal brain development, whereas negative experiences do not. Negative experiences influence prenatal brain development, whereas positive experiences do not. Gene expression cannot be altered by prenatal experiences but can be altered after a child is born.arrow_forward
- Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that disrupts neural activities and causes recurrent seizures. About 70% of people with epilepsy can be treated with medication to prevent seizures from occurring. If medication does not work, surgery is an option for some patients. One of the procedures involves cutting the brain so that the seizures cannot be spread to other parts of the brain. A common goal of the surgical procedure to treat epileptic seizures is to reduce the connection between the two hemispheres of the brain. By cutting through this structure, an epileptic seizure occurring on one side of the brain will not be spread to the other side. Identify the structure that connects the two hemispheres of the brain.arrow_forwardIn a syndrome called word blindness, a person loses the ability to read (even single letters), although the person can still see and speak. What is a possible neurological explanation? That is, can you imagine a pattern of brain damage that might produce this result?arrow_forwardWhich part of the human brain is the most developed?arrow_forward
- Which of the following brain regions is not correctly matched to itsfunction?a. The medulla oblongata regulates heartbeat, breathing, and bloodpressure.b. The cerebellum coordinates voluntary muscle movements.c. The thalamus secretes melatonin, which regulates daily bodyrhythms.d. The midbrain acts as a refl ex center for visual, auditory, andtactile responses.arrow_forwardWhy does Carr spend so much time explaining the plasticity or the brain? How does this information help him support his thesis (that our internet is fldetrimental to us intellectually)? Give typing answer with explanation and conclusionarrow_forwardThis structure is a group of nuclei in the temporal lobe and is a part of the limbic system responsible for emotions and survival instincts:arrow_forward
- The concept of “labeled lines” states that each nerve input to the brain reports only a particular type of information, such as auditory versus visual information. Does this happen because the nature of the nerve fibers conveying the information is unique or because the nature of the brain location where the signals are received is unique? How do you know this?arrow_forwardIs there a limit or maximum capacity for our brain to grow?arrow_forwardAccording to the five principles of functional organization apply to all mammalian and most vertebrate brains, Vertebrate brain evolution has involved repeated expansion of forebrain areas. Explain why.arrow_forward
- Human Physiology: From Cells to Systems (MindTap ...BiologyISBN:9781285866932Author:Lauralee SherwoodPublisher:Cengage LearningHuman Biology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781305112100Author:Cecie Starr, Beverly McMillanPublisher:Cengage Learning