Short Wave How Nature Makes A Complex Brain
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Apr 16, 2025 
Fernando García-Moreno, an evolutionary and developmental neurobiologist, discusses his groundbreaking research revealing that birds, reptiles, and mammals evolved their brains independently from a common ancestor. He delves into the structural differences across these species, challenging traditional views on avian intelligence and highlighting convergent evolution. García-Moreno emphasizes the non-linear paths of evolution that led to diverse forms of intelligence in nature, suggesting that human brains may not be as uniquely special as we believe.
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Convergent Brain Evolution
- The brains of birds, reptiles, and mammals evolved independently, despite sharing a common ancestor.
- This convergent evolution suggests multiple pathways to complex brains, challenging the idea of human brains' uniqueness.
Convergent Evolution Explained
- Convergent evolution refers to similar traits evolving independently in different species, like wings in bats, birds, and insects.
- This process also applies to brain circuits, where similar functions led to similar structures despite separate evolutionary paths.
Intelligence Across Species
- Intelligence and complex cognitive tasks aren't unique to humans; they evolved independently in other species like birds.
- This means that different types of neurons and brain structures can achieve similar levels of intelligence.