Humans who live further from the equator have rapidly evolved bigger eyes and larger brains

[The Straight Story]

Polar Dwellers Have Bigger Eyes, Brains

Humans who live further from the equator have rapidly evolved bigger eyes and larger brains to better process the low light levels at those lofty latitudes.

Anthropologists at Oxford University collected 55 skulls, dating from the 1800s, that represented 12 different populations from around the globe. The researchers measured the eye socket and brain volumes and plotted them against the latitude of each individual’s country of origin.

The team, lead by the Institute of Cognitive and Evolutionary Anthropology’s Eiluned Pearce, found a significant positive correlation between the size of brain and the latitude of the country. People from the northern-European countries of Scandinavia had the biggest brains, while Micronesians, from just north of the equator, had the smallest.

The larger brains don’t necessarily relate to intelligence — bigger vision areas in the brain are required to help cope with the low light conditions caused by cloudy skies and long winters in northern territories. The study also notes that actual visual sharpness, measured under natural daylight conditions, is constant all around the globe, which further suggests that the visual processing system has adapted to ambient light conditions as humans colonized the Earth.

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/07/northerners-bigger-eyes-brains/

[LiberalLoner]

1. Wow, interesting! I've always been told I have big eyes (Swedish ancestors). n/t K&R

[NightWatcher]

2. hey, quit bashing the South (Northern Hemisphere only)

please know that I am messing with you and did not hit "alert"

[Cetacea]

3. That would explain Florida

where the perpetual dangerous heat levels have created a situation whereas the size of the cerebral cortex has shrunken to make way for areas of the brain devoted to fight and frightful.

[FLPanhandle]

4. That darn evolution working on humans.

Who would have thought it?

Cool article. Thanks.

[leveymg]

5. So what? Nordics are also maladapted to the tropics. 1930s eugenics, redux?

What, exactly, is this supposed to prove other than the obvious fact that humans have regional adaptations and variations?

[PotatoChip]

9. Well,

What, exactly, is this supposed to prove other than the obvious fact that humans have regional adaptations and variations?

I don't think it's trying to prove anything beyond what you just said in that sentence.

Some people find regional adaptations consistent w/evolutional study and as such deserve further evaluation. Personally I find this sort of thing to be meh, mildly interesting, on par with explanations as to why lighter hair, skin and eye color seem to be more common in northern latitudes. However, some people make a living from these types of studies.

As long as studies such as this are not used to prove some type of superiority of one group of people while denigrating another, I see nothing wrong with observations made about regional adaptations if that type of thing is what floats your boat.

I didn't check out the link, but the portion I read made a point to NOT correlate these findings with any type of inferiority OR superiority that could be attributable to these differences.

[leveymg]

10. Some sensitivity to this subject is to be expected. Considerable sensitivity.

Otherwise, I agree, mildly interesting.

Curious as to why multiple posters have reprinted this one at DU. Seems provocative, just a bit?

[PotatoChip]

11. Yes indeed, I agree w/you there

Anytime differences between a group or groups of people are pointed out, they should be done so carefully. I think in this case it is a benign study conducted on behalf of people who are interested in this sort of thing and willing to fund it.

But I also agree that there are people who could take such data and skew it for their own (possibly) nefarious purposes. Your earlier point about eugenics is something one should always consider about the consequences of allowing people to take this type of subject too far. History teaches.

I was unaware that this has been posted elsewhere though. Hmmm. That to me is more interesting then the article itself. (BTW ~ no offense to the OP intended. 99% of the time he posts great stuff. Something for everybody) :hi: Straight Story!

[leveymg]

12. No foul. No offense taken. ;-)

[awoke_in_2003]

21. well, the study did say...

that the larger brain did not mean more intelligence, but better light gathering capabilities.

[madinmaryland]

6. This should be entertaining.

:popcorn:

[FLPanhandle]

7. It's a benign article. However, some people will bypass the findings...

And go right into emotional reaction. So pass the popcorn. :)

[madinmaryland]

15. Yeap. It's GD where everyone seems to have a very jerky knee!

[PotatoChip]

8. Well, Conan O'Brien is always talking about his 'Giant

Irish Head'. So maybe there's something to this. :evilgrin:

[Cleita]

13. So how does this explain the Inuit? n/t

[Arugula Latte]

20. The scientists would probably say they originally evolved in Mongolia

where secondary eyelids are an adaptation to protect the eyes from dust storms. Then later they crossed the land bridge into North America.

What I don't get are people from India, with very large eyes, evolving not far from the Equator, as I posted below.

[RedCloud]

14. How did this improve breeding success? THAT's the key.

[PurityOfEssence]

16. Easy: eyes make them more anime attractive, and brains concoct better lies to get laid

Then there's batting the eyelashes, too...

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. So let me get this

Evolution and local adaptation works on humans?

I know this could be misused in certain quarters, but thankfully those are the same quarters that deny evolution.

[aaaaaa5a]

18. All of you are clearly godless people destined for hell!

There is no such thing as evolution!


There is no such thing as global warming!


There is no such thing as regional adaptations!


The world is flat!


The sun revolves around the Earth!


Gays can be cured of sin!


Women should always obey men!


The Bush tax cuts worked!


Christians are never terrorists!


I am Republican.... HEAR ME ROAR!


Damn you mathematicians, scientists, historians, northern elites, the college educated, city "folk", and those of rational liberal thought!



:sarcasm:

[Arugula Latte]

19. What about people from India? They tend to have very large eyes

and they're not far from the Equator.