According to a 2023 article in Science Advances, the evolution of human cognition was driven by improved connectivity, not larger brains or disproportionate brain region expansion. This improved connectivity came at an energetic cost. 

Cognitive circuits regulate some brain areas more than others. They control and modify the ability of neurons across the brain to communicate with each other. This keeps the brain active for memory storage and thinking. 

Many neuroscientists suspect that changes to the pattern of connections are more important for the development of human cognition than the brain’s volume.

Ultimately then, it seems the human brain evolved to such advanced levels of cognition not just because we have large brains, nor even just because certain areas of our brain grew disproportionately big, but because – at a cost – the connectivity improved

Some say that human cognition is driven by improved connectivity, not larger brains or disproportionate brain region expansion. 

Here are some details about human brain evolution: 

• Cortical expansion Human cognitive abilities are thought to come from cortical expansion over the course of human brain evolution. This expansion may be driven by adaptations in the properties of single neurons and their local circuits. 
• Connectivity The human brain has an increased number of cortical regions, expansion of the superficial cortical layers, and additional pathways connecting cortical regions. These changes suggest a shift toward increased cortico-cortical connectivity in the human brain. 
• Association hubs The rapid expansion of multimodal association hubs, and the rich-club connections between them, may underlie the enhanced cognitive capacity of humans compared to other species. 
• Axonal mass The evolutionary process of neocorticalization in primates is mainly due to the progressive expansion of the axonal mass that implement global communication.

According to The Hindu, human cognition is driven by improved connectivity, not larger brains or disproportionate brain region expansion. 

Here’s some related information about connectivity and brain size: 

• Connectivity Connectivity is a link between two or more things or properties. It can also refer to network connections, such as bridges, routers, switches, and gateways. 
• Brain size Brain size tends to vary according to body size. A human brain weighs around 1.3 to 1.5 kg (2.9 to 3.3 lb). 
• Cerebral cortex The cerebral cortex receives information from the rest of the brain and elaborates on it. The expansion of the cerebral cortex, and in particular that of its prefrontal region, is a major evolutionary landmark in the emergence of human cognition.

According to a 2018 study published in Psychological Science, people with larger brains tend to perform better on cognitive tests than people with smaller brains. However, other research suggests that brain size has a small impact on intelligence and behavior. 

According to Scientific American, brain size accounts for 9–16% of the variability in general intelligence. However, according to BrainFacts, having a larger brain doesn’t guarantee more cognitive power. For example, the human brain weighs about three pounds, while the elephant brain weighs about nine pounds and the whale brain can weigh up to 20 pounds. 

According to Psychology Today, large-scale research suggests only a slight and tenuous relationship between brain size and intelligence. According to NY Neurology Associates, the size of the brain actually has nothing to do with one’s intelligence. 

However, according to the Smithsonian Institution’s Human Origins Program, large, complex brains can process and store a lot of information. This was a big advantage to early humans in their social interactions and encounters with unfamiliar habitats.

According to NY Neurology Associates, scientists found that Albert Einstein’s brain was no different in size from the brains of people with average intelligence. 

According to Psychology Today, large-scale research suggests only a slight and tenuous relationship between brain size and intelligence. 

However, according to Scientific American, many modern studies have linked a larger brain to higher intellect, with total brain volume accounting for about 16 percent of the variance in IQ. 

According to Wikipedia, larger brain size and volume is associated with better cognitive functioning and higher intelligence. The specific regions that show the most robust correlation between volume and intelligence are the frontal, temporal and parietal lobes of the brain. 

According to WebMD, highly gifted or genius individuals typically have more active white matter in their brains. White matter is responsible for the communication between different parts of your brain. Genius brains seem to have a better network of these connections

According to Scientific American, brain size accounts for 9–16% of the variability in general intelligence. However, some say that the correlation between brain size and intelligence is very loose. 

According to a 1999 study, Einstein’s parietal lobe, which is associated with spatial reasoning and mathematics, was 15% wider than the average brain. However, Einstein’s brain was smaller than the average adult male brain, weighing 1,230 grams compared to the average of 1,400 grams. Einstein’s brain also had a thinner cerebral cortex than five control brains, but a greater density of neurons. 

Some say that the singular trait of genius is creativity, not knowledge, memory, curiosity, or analytical intelligence.

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