New Research Unveils Evolutionary Ties Between Autism and Intelligence
Recent scientific discoveries reveal a fascinating connection between autism and the evolution of the human brain. Researchers have found that autism’s prevalence may be intricately linked to rapid changes in specific neurons in the outer regions of the brain. These changes, which occurred over millions of years, played a crucial role in advancing our language and cognitive abilities.
According to the study, genes associated with autism underwent significant natural selection as the human brain evolved. This evolutionary process may have resulted in slower brain development in some children, but it also offered remarkable improvements in language, reasoning, and cognition.
Autism: An Evolutionary Trade-Off?
The findings suggest that autism could be part of the evolutionary trade-off that enabled humans to achieve superior cognitive skills. In other words, the very traits that make us uniquely intelligent may come with a cost—an increased risk of neurodevelopmental differences like autism. Understanding this connection provides new insights into both autism and the evolution of our extraordinary brains.
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