Evolution followed its own path of progression and this world became the residence of innumerable species of plants and animals. And the mammals began ruling the chart of "God's" creations! The humans emerged as the most sophisticated and the intelligent of all mammals. So what differentiated man from the rest of the group? His brain! His large brain!
In a recent study, researchers at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburg have suggested that it is the need for the sense of smell that contributed to the development of large brains in humans and other mammals. The ability to sense touch through body hair can be suggested as another driving force in the development of brain in mammals. This sense has been found to be intensely developed in mammals.
The study was conducted with 190 million old fossil skulls of Morganucodon and Hadrocodium, the two of the earliest known species of mammals. High resolution CT scans were deployed by American paleontologists to throw light on the revelations. The findings indicated the presence of larger-than-expected brains in these tiny creatures.
Zhe-Xi Luo, a researcher involved in the study, said, "Our new study shows clearly that the olfactory part of the brain and the part of the brain linked to tactile sensation through fur were enlarged in these early mammals." He suggested that mammals needed a sophisticated sense of smell and touch for mere survival during the earliest phase of evolution.
Luo said that it is the sense of smell and touch and not contemplation that led to the enlargement of the human brain. Luo thanks evolutionary advancements for contributing towards human brain development and for allowing the modern humans to discuss about natural history and evolution.
