title: Cerebral evolution.
abstract: We suggest that the evolution of the large human brain could not have occurred on the savannahs of Africa. It depended on avoiding the trap of universal loss of brain capacity amongst all land species as they evolved larger bodies. The nutrition at the water's front would have given evolving humans the edge over other hominid species. They would have had access to a rich, plentiful and easily harvested food resource, rich in DHA, trace elements and anti-oxidants, for little energy expenditure. This does not deny the possibility that the men hunted for meat. However, a reliable and consistent nutrient dense food resource, rich in DHA would have been especially important for women during pregnancy and lactation and of course the children during the period of fetal and neonatal brain development and reproductive maturation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Brain Chemistry and Human Nutrition, University of North London, UK. michael@macrawf.demon.co.uk
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Crawford
mesh_terms: D005075:Biological Evolution; D001921:Brain / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000502:physiology*