Big brain makes you smarter but less muscle?
A larger brain may lead to more intelligence but less muscle mass. The finding appears to be consistent with an earlier theory that the brain preferentially draws nutrients from the body to function.
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| Bigger brains may make for smaller muscles. |
A recent study by American scientists found that larger brain size in primates is accompanied by less muscle mass, according toDaily Mail.
The findings support a theory proposed in the 1990s that the body prioritizes nutrition to feed the brain. Experts believe that the body's ability to prioritize energy supply to the brain is responsible for humans' ability to think quickly.
The study was conducted by scientists at the University of North Texas (USA) on 10 different primate species. They analyzed data collected from the brain and muscle mass of monkeys that died of natural causes.
“Compared to many other animals, primates tend to have less muscle. What I found was that primates with larger brains are particularly less muscle,” said lead researcher Dr. Magdalena Muchlinkski.
The results also showed that larger primates not only have less muscle, but also have less of some of the muscles needed for endurance activities like running. Calculations from the studies show that to keep one kilogram of brain working at full capacity, it takes 240 calories a day.
However, scientists are still not sure whether this phenomenon can appear in humans or not. The research team said that in the near future, they will conduct further research on humans, chimpanzees and gorillas to find the exact answer, according toDaily Mail.
