US EditionHuman Brains Evolved Twice as Fast as Other Apes
Humans evolved skull features linked to large brains and flat faces at twice the expected rate, highlighting evolutionary and possible social advantages, UCL researchers found.
- On October 21, the UCL-led study found humans' skull structure evolved substantially faster than other apes, published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B.
- About 20 million years ago, hominids and hylobatids diverged, and primate brains began enlarging around 2 million years ago with early modern humans appearing around 300,000 years ago.
- Using three-dimensional virtual models, the team analyzed skulls from seven hominids and nine hylobatids by partitioning them into four skull sections and applying computer numerical comparison, finding human skulls changed twice as much as expected.
- Researchers say larger brains likely aided complex social behaviour, as human brain size provided cognitive advantages linked to complex social structures and social selection influenced selective pressures on face evolution.
- Today humans boast brains three times larger than ape relatives, genetic evidence like human accelerated regions shows rapid evolution, and gorillas rank second in skull-evolution rate.
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Humans evolved fastest amongst the apes
Humans evolved large brains and flat faces at a surprisingly rapid pace compared to other apes, likely reflecting the evolutionary advantages of these traits, finds a new analysis of ape skulls by UCL researchers.
A study first quantifies the speed at which ape species have evolved, and shows that the skull and face 'sapiens' made it twice as fast as other species because of cognitive advantages and social factors Read
Humans evolved fastest among the apes, 3D skull study shows
Humans evolved large brains and flat faces at a surprisingly rapid pace compared to other apes, likely reflecting the evolutionary advantages of these traits, finds a new analysis of ape skulls by UCL researchers.
Rapid human brain and skull changes outpace other apes in evolutionary race
London, UK (SPX) Oct 23, 2025 A recent study from University College London has revealed that human evolution took a dramatic leap forward in the pace of skull and brain changes compared to other apes. Using advanced 3D scans, the UCL research team quantitatively assessed the shape and structure of ape and human skulls, highlighting a notably faster rate of change in humans. The analysis compared skulls from seven homi
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