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27 | Is the Human Brain Special? ~ Suzana Herculano-Houzel
Manage episode 378704364 series 3403620
The human brain is sometimes called the "most complex thing in the universe”. It allows us to study ourselves, other animals, and the cosmos itself. Indeed, we often think of our brain as the pinnacle of animal evolution.
But what do we actually know about the human brain? How different is it from the brain of an elephant? A chimpanzee? A raccoon? And if our brain is not the biggest in the animal kingdom (it is not), then what, if anything, makes it worth the hype?
To discuss this topic, I am joined by the Brazilian neuroscientist Suzana Herculano-Houzel. An associate professor at Vanderbilt University, Herculano-Houzel has done more than perhaps any living human to help us understand these questions. And her work has a wonderful capacity to explain why the human brain is so remarkable, but simultaneously, why it still fits within the broader patterns we see in other animals. (That’s unlike the elephant, the raccoon, or the chimpanzee. Their brains are truly special, she says.)
Herculano-Houzel’s work also suggests an answer to what might be the biggest question in human evolution: If a big brain is a good idea, why didn’t all other animals grow one?
As always, our conversation finishes with my Herculano-Houzel’s reflections on humanity.
Thank you, as always, for listening!
(You can also keep scrolling down to find some useful bits, such as useful links and lists of terms, names, and numbers mentioned in the episode conversation. Or do you prefer reading to listening? Or wish to get back to some highlights? From the 5th of October onwards, you can also read a breakdown of this conversation on Substack.)
LEARN MORE
To get longer show notes (plus essays based on the episodes), subscribe to On Humans on Substack.
https://OnHumans.substack.com/
To get highlights in video format, check out On Humans on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/@OnHumansPodcast
Patreon supporters can access more bonus material.
https://www.patreon.com/OnHumans
MENTIONS
Technical terms
The (cerebral) cortex / The cerebellum / Neurons / Stereology / The grandmother hypothesis (see episode 6)
Names
Harry Jerison
Numbers
Neurons in the whole brain of humans (86 billion) and elephants (257 billion)
Neurons in the cerebral cortex of humans (16 billion), great apes (6-8 billion), elephants (5-6 billion), dolphins & whales (1-4 billion, based on estimations), baboons (2- 3 billion), t-rex (2-3 billion based on estimates), smaller monkeys (1-3 billion), raccoons (over 1 billion), crows (a notch less than 1 billion)
Links
T-rex video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1tEnm53zDs
Herculano-Houzel’s TED talk (viewed almost 4 million times): https://www.ted.com/talks/suzana_herculano_houzel_what_is_so_special_about_the_human_brain?language=en
SUPPORT THE SHOW
You can support the show for free by sharing episodes, subscribing to the show, and rating it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
To show some serious support, join the group of wonderful people supporting the show financially.
https://www.patreon.com/OnHumans
Get in touch: ilari@onhumans.org
62 episod
Manage episode 378704364 series 3403620
The human brain is sometimes called the "most complex thing in the universe”. It allows us to study ourselves, other animals, and the cosmos itself. Indeed, we often think of our brain as the pinnacle of animal evolution.
But what do we actually know about the human brain? How different is it from the brain of an elephant? A chimpanzee? A raccoon? And if our brain is not the biggest in the animal kingdom (it is not), then what, if anything, makes it worth the hype?
To discuss this topic, I am joined by the Brazilian neuroscientist Suzana Herculano-Houzel. An associate professor at Vanderbilt University, Herculano-Houzel has done more than perhaps any living human to help us understand these questions. And her work has a wonderful capacity to explain why the human brain is so remarkable, but simultaneously, why it still fits within the broader patterns we see in other animals. (That’s unlike the elephant, the raccoon, or the chimpanzee. Their brains are truly special, she says.)
Herculano-Houzel’s work also suggests an answer to what might be the biggest question in human evolution: If a big brain is a good idea, why didn’t all other animals grow one?
As always, our conversation finishes with my Herculano-Houzel’s reflections on humanity.
Thank you, as always, for listening!
(You can also keep scrolling down to find some useful bits, such as useful links and lists of terms, names, and numbers mentioned in the episode conversation. Or do you prefer reading to listening? Or wish to get back to some highlights? From the 5th of October onwards, you can also read a breakdown of this conversation on Substack.)
LEARN MORE
To get longer show notes (plus essays based on the episodes), subscribe to On Humans on Substack.
https://OnHumans.substack.com/
To get highlights in video format, check out On Humans on YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/@OnHumansPodcast
Patreon supporters can access more bonus material.
https://www.patreon.com/OnHumans
MENTIONS
Technical terms
The (cerebral) cortex / The cerebellum / Neurons / Stereology / The grandmother hypothesis (see episode 6)
Names
Harry Jerison
Numbers
Neurons in the whole brain of humans (86 billion) and elephants (257 billion)
Neurons in the cerebral cortex of humans (16 billion), great apes (6-8 billion), elephants (5-6 billion), dolphins & whales (1-4 billion, based on estimations), baboons (2- 3 billion), t-rex (2-3 billion based on estimates), smaller monkeys (1-3 billion), raccoons (over 1 billion), crows (a notch less than 1 billion)
Links
T-rex video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1tEnm53zDs
Herculano-Houzel’s TED talk (viewed almost 4 million times): https://www.ted.com/talks/suzana_herculano_houzel_what_is_so_special_about_the_human_brain?language=en
SUPPORT THE SHOW
You can support the show for free by sharing episodes, subscribing to the show, and rating it on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
To show some serious support, join the group of wonderful people supporting the show financially.
https://www.patreon.com/OnHumans
Get in touch: ilari@onhumans.org
62 episod
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