PSYCH 112 Lecture Notes - Human Brain
Document Summary
Origins of mind -or- why do we have minds at all? (continued from 9/5/14) The human brain has gotten significantly larger over time. More than doubled in size as species has evolved (over 3 million years) Around 400,000 years ago, the brain started getting larger at a faster rate. A larger brain and the body increasing in size does not correlate directly. Brain is 3x larger than the expected size for the human body. The size of the brain relates to early birthing. Born prematurely so that the head can fit through the birthing canal. When other species give birth, they are fairly capable: when humans are born, they are incapable of doing anything for themselves. Babies are as capable as other creatures when they are born after around 9 months of being alive. Brain is divided into two hemispheres; right and left. Left hemisphere controls right side of body: space, music, art, imagination.
