In the last 30,000, the brain has actually shrunk, from 1600cc, to its present size around 1350cc. Therefore, in 4 million years the brain grow to 3 times the size that it grew in the 60 million years of primate evolution that preceded it. Most human advancement occurred since the last years, when brain size was decreasing. So, it should be clear not to read too much meaning into the size of the brain. Perhaps as important as the sheer size of the brain, is the development of Broca's area and, later, Weirnke's area, as these areas are crucial for understanding and using language. Some of the most significant hominin developments, such as agriculture, art, and the awareness of death, occurred in the last 60,000 years. This is long after most growth in brain size
In the last 30,000, the brain has actually shrunk, from 1600cc, to its present size around 1350cc. Therefore, in 4 million years the brain grow to 3 times the size that it grew in the 60 million years of primate evolution that preceded it. Most human advancement occurred since the last years, when brain size was decreasing. So, it should be clear not to read too much meaning into the size of the brain. Perhaps as important as the sheer size of the brain, is the development of Broca's area and, later, Weirnke's area, as these areas are crucial for understanding and using language. Some of the most significant hominin developments, such as agriculture, art, and the awareness of death, occurred in the last 60,000 years. This is long after most growth in brain size