A History of the Human Brain : From the Sea Sponge to CRISPR, How Our Brain Evolved

Just over 125,000 years ago, humanity was on the edge of extinction when a dramatic shift occurred—Homo sapiens started tracking the tides and eating the nearby oysters. Before long, they’d pulled themselves back from the brink of extinction. What saved us during that period of endangerment? The human brain, and its evolutionary journey is unlike anything else in history. In Brain Power , neuroscientist and popular science writer Bret Stetka takes readers through that far-reaching journey, showing exactly when and how the human brain evolved to shape who we are today. The whole millennia-long journey raises the question of where the brain might head next. Brain Power explores the burgeoning concept of epigenetics as well as technologies like CRISPR that allow scientists to manually edit our own genetic code. The biologic, philosophic, and ethical questions are wide-ranging: Could the evolutionary path of the human brain be leading to its own replacement? “Crack open this book and take a read. You will be transported, illuminated, and delighted.” —Psychology Today Just 125,000 years ago, humanity was on a path to extinction, until a dramatic shift occurred. We used our mental abilities to navigate new terrain and changing climates. We hunted, foraged, tracked tides, shucked oysters—anything we could do to survive. Before long, our species had pulled itself back from the brink and was on more stable ground. What saved us? The human brain—and its evolutionary journey is unlike any other. In A History of the Human Brain, Bret Stetka takes us on this far-reaching journey, explaining exactly how our most mysterious organ developed. From the brain's improbable, watery beginnings to the marvel that sits in the head of Homo sapiens today, Stetka covers an astonishing progression, even tackling future brainy frontiers such as epigenetics and CRISPR. Clearly and expertly told, this intriguing account is the story of who we are. By examining the history of the brain, we can begin to piece together what it truly means to be human. Cover Title Copyright Dedication Contents Epigraph Prologue Part One: The Animal Collective Chapter One: Very Ape Chapter Two: Life From No Life Chapter Three: Fish, Head Chapter Four: Lizard Kings and Lemurs Chater Five: Upright Citizens Part Two: Our Social Brain Chapter Six: Groomsmen Chapter Seven: A History of Violence Chapter Eight: Our Softer Side Chapter Nine: Speaker Wire Chapter Ten: Termperment of the Dog Part Three: Food, Fire,and the Future of the Human Brain Chapter Eleven: Weather Permitting Chapter Twelve: A Paleolithic Raw Bar Chapter Thirteen: The Creatives Chapter Fourteen: The New Wave Chapter Fifteen: Future Sapiens Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Photo and Illustration Credits Index Popular science writer Bret Stetka reveals how the evolution of the brain made us human--and where it may lead us to next