Humans are the ones who are most sensitive to the external environment. The human nervous system differs from that of chimpanzees with higher neuroplasticity. This makes it easier for us to adapt, which lies at the cornerstone of our survival as a species, scientists are categorical.
Scientists from George Washington University in the US have analyzed over 200 human and 200 monkey brains. Most of the human pairs were twins and most of the chimp pairs were cousins. Results clearly showed that our nervous system is much more vulnerable to external influences in comparison to that of the monkeys.
Researchers have discovered that the structure of the chimp brain is built by genes. In contrast, the human brain is formed, to a great extent, based on the influences of the external environment and practically does not depend on genetic factors.
Neurophysiologists call this malleability of the brain neuroplasticity. It has played a key role in the past, when our ancient ancestors had to quickly adapt to new habitats. This allowed them to develop their culture, create writing and gain more and more new knowledge. In fact, this process continues in full swing even today.
According to researchers, this function is explained by the fact that human children are born not fully developed. Our brain continues to grow and advance after we've left the womb. This isn't anything new for humans. Evidence indicates that this also happened to the children of some of the first proto-humans - Homo erectus, as well as in Neanderthals.
The neuroplasticity of our brains and their ability to adapt to every external influence and circumstance is what has transformed monkey into man and led to the birth of civilization, scientists theorize. Scientists now face the task of figuring out what caused a similar change in the brains of certain animals and why such advancement isn't seen in them today.
