Question

Based on Bruner et al. 2014, What is a physical constraint on future brain size in humans and how was this constraint lifted to allow for brain size expansion?

Answer 1

One hypothesis suggests that the increase in brain size required a trade-off with the size of the gut in humans. This trade-off occurred as more energy was required to support the growth and function of a larger brain, resulting in a decrease in the size of the digestive system.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to one hypothesis about the expansion of brain size in humans, it is believed that the increase in brain size required a trade-off with the size of the gut. This hypothesis suggests that as the brain size increased, the size of the digestive system, specifically the gut, had to decrease to allocate more energy towards brain growth.

The gut is responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients from food. It requires a significant amount of energy to function properly. As the brain size increased, more energy was required to support its growth and function. Therefore, a trade-off occurred between the energy demands of a larger brain and the energy demands of a larger gut.