Human Brain Evolution: The Influence of Freshwater and Marine Food ResourcesStephen Cunnane, Kathlyn Stewart The evolution of the human brain and cognitive ability is one of the central themes of physical/biological anthropology. This book discusses the emergence of human cognition at a conceptual level, describing it as a process of long adaptive stasis interrupted by short periods of cognitive advance. These advances were not linear and directed, but were acquired indirectly as part of changing human behaviors, in other words through the process of exaptation (acquisition of a function for which it was not originally selected). Based on studies of the modem human brain, certain prerequisites were needed for the development of the early brain and associated cognitive advances. This book documents the energy and nutrient constraints of the modern brain, highlighting the significant role of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA) in brain development and maintenance. Crawford provides further emphasis for the role of essential fatty acids, in particular DHA, in brain development, by discussing the evolution of the eye and neural systems. This is an ideal book for Graduate students, post docs, research scientists in Physical/Biological Anthropology, Human Biology, Archaeology, Nutrition, Cognitive Science, Neurosciences. It is also an excellent selection for a grad student discussion seminar. |
Contents
xiii | |
xix | |
1 | |
CHAPTER 2 LONGCHAIN POLYUNSATURATED FATTY ACIDS IN HUMAN BRAIN EVOLUTION | 13 |
CHAPTER 3 HUMAN BRAIN EVOLUTION A QUESTION OF SOLVING KEY NUTRITIONAL AND METABOLIC CONSTRAINTS ON MAMM... | 33 |
CHAPTER 4 METABOLIC AND MOLECULAR ASPECTS OF THE CRITICAL ROLE OF DOCOSAHEXAENOIC ACID IN HUMAN BRAIN FUN... | 65 |
CHAPTER 5 LESSONS FROM SHOREBASED HUNTERGATHERER DIETS IN EAST AFRICA | 77 |
CHAPTER 6 THYROID HORMONE IODINE AND HUMAN BRAIN EVOLUTION | 105 |
CHAPTER 7 FOOD FOR THOUGHT THE ROLE OF COASTLINES AND AQUATIC RESOURCES IN HUMAN EVOLUTION | 125 |
CHAPTER 8 THE CASE FOR EXPLOITATION OF WETLANDS ENVIRONMENTS AND FOODS BY PRESAPIENS HOMININS | 137 |
CHAPTER 9 BRAIN SIZE IN CARNIVORAN MAMMALS THAT FORAGE AT THE LANDWATER ECOTONE WITH IMPLICATIONS FOR RO... | 173 |
CHAPTER 10 COASTAL DIET ENCEPHALIZATION AND INNOVATIVE BEHAVIORS IN THE LATE MIDDLE STONE AGE OF SOUTHERN ... | 189 |
CHAPTER 11 HUMAN BRAIN EVOLUTION A NEW WETLANDS SCENARIO | 203 |
209 | |
Other editions - View all
Human Brain Evolution: The Influence of Freshwater and Marine Food Resources Stephen Cunnane,Kathlyn Stewart No preview available - 2010 |
Human Brain Evolution: The Influence of Freshwater and Marine Food Resources Stephen Cunnane,Kathlyn Stewart No preview available - 2010 |
Human Brain Evolution: The Influence of Freshwater and Marine Food Resources Stephen Cunnane,Kathlyn Stewart No preview available - 2010 |
Common terms and phrases
adult afarensis Aonyx apes arachidonic acid archaeological associated Atilax australopithecines behavior biochemical body fat bones bonobos brain development brain function brain-selective nutrients breast milk Broadhurst carnivoran cells changes Chapter chimpanzees Clin Nutr coastal cognitive consuming consumption Cordain Crawford Cunnane diet dietary disease docosahexaenoic acid double bonds early hominins early Homo ecological eicosapentaenoic acid encephalization energy environmental environments erectus Erlandson evidence evolutionary exaptively fish food resources fossil freshwater gene genetic genome glucose gorillas habitats hominin hominin brain human brain evolution human evolution increased infants intake iodide iodine deficiency ketones Koobi Fora lake late Miocene linoleic acid lipid long-chain PUFA mammals membrane metabolism Miocene modern humans Neanderthals neural nutritional Olduvai Paleolithic Paranthropus Parkington Pleistocene Plio-Pleistocene polyunsaturated fatty acids populations primates protein receptors role sapiens sedges selenium shellfish southern Africa species Stewart stone tools studies terrestrial thyroid hormone tion tissue vegetation Venturi vitamin wetlands