Name: What is so special about the human brain?
Uploaded: 2013-11-26T15:59:51Z
Duration: 13 min 18 s
Description: The human brain is puzzling -- it is curiously large given the size of our bodies, uses a tremendous amount of energy for its weight and has a bizarrely dense cerebral cortex. But: why? Neuroscientist Suzana Herculano-Houzel puts on her detective's cap and leads us through this mystery. By making "brain soup," she arrives at a startling conclusion.

Suzana Herculano-Houzel: What is so special about the human brain?

What is so special about the human brain?

The human brain is puzzling -- it is curiously large given the size of our bodies, uses a tremendous amount of energy for its weight and has a bizarrely dense cerebral cortex. But: why? Neuroscientist Suzana Herculano-Houzel puts on her detective's cap and leads us through this mystery. By making "brain soup," she arrives at a startling conclusion.

Human brains are not simply scaled-up versions of other animal brains. With about 86 billion neurons, the human brain stands out for its dense cerebral cortex, which powers advanced reasoning and awareness. This abundance of neurons comes at a steep metabolic cost—our brains use 25 percent of our daily energy. Only the invention of cooking made it possible for humans to fuel such large, energy-hungry brains and spend less time eating.