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Brain Evolution in the Times of the Pandemic and Multimedia
Elisabete Castelon Konkiewitz1, Edward B Ziff2
1Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde (FCS), Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD), Dourados, Brazil.
European Neurology
|September 12, 2024
Summary
Modern societal changes driven by the internet are powerful evolutionary forces reshaping human brains and adaptability. These adaptations may enable Homo sapiens to thrive despite environmental and social challenges.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Neuroscience
- Sociology
Background:
- Unprecedented social changes from social media and the internet act as potent environmental and behavioral forces.
- These forces include reduced physical activity, light exposure, face-to-face interactions, and disrupted biological rhythms.
- Modern lifestyles alter natural cues like light and season, impacting human biological rhythms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore how contemporary societal shifts influence human evolutionary adaptive responses.
- To investigate the potential reshaping of the human brain and its interaction with reality.
- To discuss mechanisms of human adaptation to modern environmental and social pressures.
Main Methods:
- Conceptual analysis of evolutionary and neurobiological principles.
- Discussion of gene-culture coevolutionary dynamics.
- Exploration of epigenetic and novel nervous system evolution mechanisms.
Main Results:
- Social media and internet use are identified as significant selective pressures.
- Human adaptation may involve changes in brain structure and function.
- Proposed mechanisms include epigenetics and gene-culture coevolution.
Conclusions:
- Homo sapiens may evolve to thrive amidst social, physical, and circadian deprivation.
- Adaptability and creativity are key factors in human evolution.
- Future humans might flourish in conditions currently detrimental to survival.
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