By MALCOLM RITTER
AP Science Writer 

Study offers new look at why our brains evolved to be so big

 


NEW YORK (AP) — Why do people have such big brains? Some researchers asked a really powerful brain — a computer — and got back a surprising answer.

In relation to body size, our brains are huge, about six times larger than one would expect from other mammals. And this three-pound organ sucks up fully 20 percent of the body's energy needs. Evolutionary theory says to build and maintain something that costly, there must have been a very good reason.

But what is it? Did our ancestors need more brainpower to cope with the environment, such as finding and storing food? Or was it driven mor...



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