title: Paleoclimatic Variation and Brain Expansion during Human Evolution.
abstract: One of the major adaptations during the evolution of Homo sapiens was an increase in brain size. Here we present evidence that a significant and substantial proportion of variation in brain size may be related to changes in temperature. Based on a sample of 109 fossilized hominid skulls, we found that cranial capacities were highly correlated with paleoclimatic changes in temperature, as indexed by oxygen isotope data and sea-surface temperature. Indeed, as much as 52% of the variance in the cranial capacity of these skulls could be accounted for by temperature variation at 100 ka intervals. As an index of more short-term seasonal fluctuations in temperature, we examined the latitude of the sites from which the crania originated. More than 22% of the variance in cranial capacity of these skulls could be accounted for by variation in equatorial distance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave., Albany, NY, 12222, USA.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ash
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1400 Washington Ave., Albany, NY, 12222, USA. gallup@albany.edu.
authors.forename: Gordon G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Gallup
keywords: Cranial capacity; Homo; Paleoclimatic variability; Sea-surface temperature; Seasonal variability; Variability selection