Tiny Ancient Humans May Have Had Bigger Brains Than We Thought

Homo floresiensis is a now extinct species of tiny, human-like hominin first discovered in Indonesia in 2003. According to new research by Japanese scientists, the Homo floresiensis may have had a much larger brain than we previously thought.

The diminutive people stood just three and a half feet tall, with short legs in comparison to their arms and feet. The Homo floresiensis lived on an island in Flores until about 12,000 years ago.

Researchers used new high definition micro-CT scanning technology to image the brains, which resulted in a volume of 426cc. Scientists had previously estimated the size of the Homo floresiensis brain at around 400cc. The new measurements are around that of the average modern chimpanzee.

Researcher Dean Falk stated that the new numbers are "the most precise estimate available to date because it has been calculated with improved methods and great care." Falk hopes that this will move the discussion forward on the species.

According to Discovery News, these findings mean "it was possible for a Homo erectus population to have evolved such brains. The prior estimate ruled that out, since there is only so much shrinkage that could have taken place."

This points to the idea that these tiny humanoids evolved from our own ancestor, the Homo erectus. Scientists now believe that the Homo floresiensis population had made its way to the island of Flores and simply never left.

Study co-author Yousuke Kaifu stated that species' "unique evolution suggests they did not go out of the island once they got there."

He elaborated that "a popular theory is that big mammals tend to reduce and small mammals tend to increase their body sizes on an isolated island because of energetic demands."

The research was published in the latest installment of the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.