Differences in human and Neanderthal brains set in just after birth

Eurekalert ^ | Monday, November 8, 2010 | Elisabeth N. Lyons

[SunkenCiv]

The findings are based on comparisons of virtual imprints of the developing brain and surrounding structures (known as endocasts) derived from the skulls of modern and fossilized humans, including that of a newborn Neanderthal...

"In modern humans, the connections between diverse brain regions that are established in the first years of life are important for higher-order social, emotional, and communication functions," Gunz said. "It is therefore unlikely that Neanderthals saw the world as we do."

...In fact, the elongated overall shape of the braincase hasn't changed much in the course of more than two million years of human evolution, despite a big increase in endocranium volume. It is the globular braincases of modern humans that distinguish our own species from our closest fossil relatives and ancestors. The new results show that, at the time of birth, both Neanderthals and modern humans have elongated braincases, but only modern human endocasts change to a more globular shape in the first year of life.

[1010RD]

It’s how you raise them. I know a very nice family whose oldest son went to Harvard and the boy is simply brilliant.

They had a younger son, a surprise, twelve years later. They were simply parented out by that time.

The kids a complete Neanderthal. ;-]

[pookie18]

Needed that one...thanks!

[wolfcreek]

Just when you thought Neanderthals were getting a new lease in history, this crap comes out.

What's next, they were all autistic? <);`)

[night reader]

Sure, but what about liberal’s brains?

Liberals have brains?
Who'da thunk it???

[patton]

LOL - good one.

[Jim W N]

The point is "Neanderthal" skeletons or skulls were a hoax as the "missing link," which those that reject the overwhelming evidence of intelligent design used to try to support the crushingly unsupportable theory of evolution.

It's an agenda thing, not a truth thing. People who use lies and deception can't really believe in the truth of what they're defending - I think it's more of attempts to somehow discredit intelligent design because the agenda is, "There's no God."

[calex59]

Granted they tried to pass off Neanderthals as the missing link and even went so far as to portray them as "ape men" before more fossils were discovered and it was determined that they were true men of a different species, not a link to us. However, a real fraud would have been like the Piltdown man, a complete phony made up from scraps. I believe Peking Man was a made up fraud also as are the so called "feathered dinos" from China, which were cobbled together to prove a point due to lack of any real evidence.

To call the Neanderthal a fraud is not correct, since real Neanderthals did exist but to call it an attempt to prove something that isn't true with a real fossil is correct.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks gleeaikin!