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Evolutionary–developmental (evo-devo) dynamics of hominin brain size

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  • Mauricio González-Forero

    (University of St Andrews)

Abstract

Brain size tripled in the human lineage over four million years, but why this occurred remains uncertain. Here, to study what caused this brain expansion, I mathematically model the evolutionary and developmental (evo-devo) dynamics of hominin brain size. The model recovers (1) the evolution of brain and body sizes of seven hominin species starting from brain and body sizes of the australopithecine scale, (2) the evolution of the hominin brain–body allometry and (3) major patterns of human development and evolution. I show that the brain expansion recovered is not caused by direct selection for brain size but by its genetic correlation with developmentally late preovulatory ovarian follicles. This correlation is generated over development if individuals experience a challenging ecology and seemingly cumulative culture, among other conditions. These findings show that the evolution of exceptionally adaptive traits may not be primarily caused by selection for them but by developmental constraints that divert selection.

Suggested Citation

  • Mauricio González-Forero, 2024. "Evolutionary–developmental (evo-devo) dynamics of hominin brain size," Nature Human Behaviour, Nature, vol. 8(7), pages 1321-1333, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nathum:v:8:y:2024:i:7:d:10.1038_s41562-024-01887-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41562-024-01887-8
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Christopher B. Ruff & Erik Trinkaus & Trenton W. Holliday, 1997. "Body mass and encephalization in Pleistocene Homo," Nature, Nature, vol. 387(6629), pages 173-176, May.
    2. Manuel Will & Mario Krapp & Jay T. Stock & Andrea Manica, 2021. "Different environmental variables predict body and brain size evolution in Homo," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    3. PatrÍcia Beldade & Kees Koops & Paul M. Brakefield, 2002. "Developmental constraints versus flexibility in morphological evolution," Nature, Nature, vol. 416(6883), pages 844-847, April.
    4. Mauricio González-Forero & Timm Faulwasser & Laurent Lehmann, 2017. "A model for brain life history evolution," PLOS Computational Biology, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(3), pages 1-28, March.
    5. U. Dieckmann & R. Law, 1996. "The Dynamical Theory of Coevolution: A Derivation from Stochastic Ecological Processes," Working Papers wp96001, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis.
    6. Mauricio González-Forero & Andy Gardner, 2018. "Publisher Correction: Inference of ecological and social drivers of human brain-size evolution," Nature, Nature, vol. 561(7723), pages 32-32, September.
    7. Geoffrey B. West & James H. Brown & Brian J. Enquist, 2001. "A general model for ontogenetic growth," Nature, Nature, vol. 413(6856), pages 628-631, October.
    8. Mauricio González-Forero & Andy Gardner, 2018. "Inference of ecological and social drivers of human brain-size evolution," Nature, Nature, vol. 557(7706), pages 554-557, May.
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