The Human Spark | Running = Big Brains? | PBS

http://www.pbs.org/humanspark Alan Alda talks to scientist Dan Lieberman about why the human ability to run could be an important prerequisite for the evolution of our bigger brains -- and the emergence of our human spark.

In "The Human Spark," Alan Alda visits dozens of scientists on three continents -- and even undergoes an examination of his own brain -- to find the answer to one question: What makes us human? Coming to PBS in January 2010. Learn more at http://www.pbs.org/humanspark

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Alan Alda
• running
• Dan Lieberman
• brain
• evolution
• Human Spark

[ShaneWoodbury]

I love Alan Alda.

[Jobediah]

I <3 Dan Lieberman

[Gebruikersnaamz0r]

mind=blown

[Floydzkrieg]

It sounds odd, but I've always felt more human when I go running. Something primal and right about it. This goes a ways to explaining that for me.

[fantasticshokh]

There are African hunter-gatherer tribes that still use that technique.

[bmxphenom50]

Heel strick

[bodies42099]

this is straight from Born to Run. Like this is 100% all Chris McDougall's work. Anyone who read it will agree.

[SvendsenAtheist]

Maybe thats why we have big brains? because our ants esters ran alot back in the days?

[kshackleton]

@safenders

The environment is important. We evolved this ability in tropical Africa. We are at best advantage in the heat of the day. A marathon runner will beat sled dogs every time if they run in tropical heat, in the middle of the day. The dogs will simply go into heat exhaustion very quickly under those circumstances.

[Imprezziveness]

Very Interesting. I read this in a magazine. The fact that we're bipedal means less surface area for the sun to bead down on.

[safenders]

um what about sled dogs??

[Chemicalkinetics]

@frankystein12 Lieberman did not spell out the details. Running long distance alone does not develop brains. Our ancestors shifting to hunting and eating meat develop brains. Hunting is a complex task, so that pushes for brain development. An average carnivore like a wolf is more intelligent than an average herbivore like a deer. Eating meat also nutrients to develop larger brains.

Long distance running allows our ancestors to hunt and to eat meat which then develop the brains.