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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Sep 10, 2025

Behavioral Assessment of Manual Dexterity in Non-Human Primates
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Human dexterity and brains evolved hand in hand.

Joanna Baker1,2, Robert A Barton3, Chris Venditti4

  • 1Division of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Reading, Reading, UK. j.l.a.baker@reading.ac.uk.

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Summary

Longer thumbs, crucial for precision grasping, are linked to larger primate brains. This connection, particularly strong with neocortex size, highlights the role of manipulative abilities in brain evolution.

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Area of Science:

  • Evolutionary biology
  • Primatology
  • Neuroscience

Background:

  • Large brains and dexterous hands are key to human evolution, enabling technology and cultural development.
  • The coevolution of primate brains and hands is suggested but lacks direct evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between thumb length, a marker for grasping ability, and brain size in primates.
  • To explore the neural correlates of this relationship, specifically examining neocortex and cerebellum size.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Bayesian phylogenetic methods to analyze data from 95 fossil and extant primate species.
  • Quantified thumb length as an indicator of precision grasping capabilities.
  • Correlated thumb length and brain size, including neocortex and cerebellum volumes.

Main Results:

  • A significant positive correlation was found between relatively longer thumbs and larger brain size across primates.
  • Most hominins, including Homo sapiens, exhibit exceptionally long thumbs.
  • The brain-thumb relationship was strongly associated with neocortex size, not cerebellum size.

Conclusions:

  • Manipulative abilities, indicated by thumb length, played a significant role in primate brain evolution.
  • Neural adaptations in areas like the neocortex are interconnected with bodily adaptations for fine motor skills.
  • This study provides evidence for the coevolution of neural and manual dexterity in primate evolution.