Nathan E Botts / Wednesday, June 6, 2018 / Categories: Mental Health Big Brain - Perks & Costs Big Brain - Perks & CostsNIMH's Dr. Armin Raznahan explains results of a study of human brain size. His research team has discovered how the size of our brain relates to its shape and the way its organized. Some of us have brains that are almost twice as large as those of others. It turns out that the bigger our brain is, the more its additional real estate is accounted for by growth in the higher thinking areas of the cortex, or outer mantle – at the expense of relatively slower growth in lower emotional, sensory and motor areas. This mirrors the pattern of brain changes seen in primate evolution and individual maturation – with higher-order areas showing greatest expansion. In the neuroimaging study of more than 3000 people, the investigators also found evidence linking these high-expanding regions to higher connectivity between neurons and higher energy consumption. Raznahan, Paul Reardon, Jakob Seidlitz, and colleagues at more than six collaborating research centers report on their study incorporating brain scan data from more than 3,000 people in Science, May 31, 2018. For more information, see NIMH News Release: Larger human brain prioritizes thinking hub – at a costLink to original article Previous Article Building Social Bonds: Connections That Promote Well-Being Next Article Teen Depression Study – Version 3 Short Print 922 Rate this article: No rating 0Upvote 0Downvote Leave a comment Name: Please enter a name. Email: Please enter an email address. Please enter a valid email address. Comment: Please enter comment. Add comment