Which hypothesis about the selective forces influencing brain size has the strongest supporting evidence?

A) Brain size increased as humans became more social and cultured.
B) Brain size increased as making tools and using them to process food increased.
C) Brain size has mostly experienced stasis as opposing selective forces result in stabilizing selection.
D) a and b

Question

Sahim Samran · Accepted Answer

Final Answer : D, Explanation :  Both social complexity (A) and the use of tools and processing food (B) have strong supporting evidence as selective forces for increased brain size in humans. Social interactions and cultural developments require sophisticated cognitive abilities, which are supported by larger brain sizes. Similarly, the creation and use of tools, as well as the processing of food, demand advanced cognitive functions and problem-solving skills, which are facilitated by larger brains. These factors have likely worked in tandem to drive the evolution of larger brain sizes in human ancestors.

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