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Human brain growth in the 19th and 20th century
Journal of the Neurological Sciences
|February 1, 1979
Summary
Brain weights in adults show no change over time, but maturity accelerated in recent populations. Female brain development is consistently faster than males across all periods studied.
Area of Science:
- Anthropology
- Neuroscience
- Human Biology
Background:
- Historical brain weight data provides insights into human development.
- Understanding secular trends in brain development is crucial for evolutionary and developmental studies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze secular trends in adult human brain weights.
- To compare brain weight development across different historical German populations.
- To investigate sex differences in brain weight maturation over time.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 2399 brain weight and age data from German anatomical and pathological institutes.
- Utilized non-linear and multiple linear regression analyses.
- Compared data from pre-1880, 1885-1900, and 1966-1976 population samples.
Main Results:
- No significant influence of absolute age (sample period) on adult brain weights was found.
- Sex differences in brain weights were confirmed across all studied periods.
- A notable acceleration in brain weight maturity was observed in the 1966-1976 population compared to older samples.
- Brain weights in females develop faster than in males across all populations.
Conclusions:
- Inconsistencies in historical sample averages are likely due to age distribution variations.
- Accelerated brain weight maturation in recent populations may be linked to changing causes of death or early postnatal development.
- Sex-specific differences in brain development rates persist across historical periods.
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