A wonderful side effect of our convoluted evolution is that in order to be able to both walk upright and possess a big brain we have to be born in a very immature state. In nature animals that are born in a helpless state are described as altricial. It means that at least for a time the babies are completely dependent and basically with very immature motor systems. Humans, dogs, cats, rodents and marsupials as well as quite a few species of birds. Animals that are precocial are born ready to go. An excellent example of this is the wildebeest which is running with the herd within minutes of birth. Anatomically the difference is that precocial animals’ brains are large at birth relative to their body size - but as the animals body grows and matures the brain size changes little. Altricial animals are born with relatively small brains, therefore they need a lot of care and protection from adults until they are able to fend for themselves. But altricial animal brains will continue to grow after they are born and these animals end up with comparatively larger brains than their precocial counterparts.
The renowned Harvard pioneer in the field of Evolutionary Biology wrote extensively about a trait that is exemplified in the human species. This characteristic is called neoteny and it means literally extending newness (as in the sense of infantile). He considered neoteny to be the defining characteristic of the human species. Neoteny can take two two forms biological and psychological. The concept on biological neoteny was originally proposed by Conrad Lorenz and expanded upon by extensively by Ashley Montegue in his pioneering work Growing Young. Biological neoteny refers to the physical traits we normally associate with youthfulness such as a large head, bulging forehead, big eyes and a relatively small chin are retained throughout life. And human beings are the undisputed champions in the field of neoteny. Adult humans, with our huge brains and correspondingly large craniums resemble huge babies - especially females with the feminized (rounded cheeks, big eyes, diminutive chin) features that are actually enhanced at sexual maturity under the influence of estrogen. We also retain a relatively helpless body that would render us truly defenseless with the adaptation of our highly developed brains and nervous systems. This idea is summarized brilliantly by Todd Eklof in his essay on neoteny -
In a very real sense, then, we humans are little more than walking heads. While our bodies, relatively weak and inferior compared to other primates, are enough to sustain us and work to engineer and make tangible our many intellectual inventions, we are primarily thinking machines. Although it seems so few of us ever do it, human beings are born to think. In fact, the human brain, accounting for only 2% of our body weight, consumes 20% of its energy.
The second type of neoteny is psychological neoteny. It is in this aspect that Montegue postulates that many of the psychological traits of children - curiosity, playfulness, wonder and creativity among many others are aspects that may (and arguably should) be retained into adulthood. It is this endless childlike capacity that allows us to become “superbabies”. Our brains are virtually limitless in their capacity change - a property referred to as neuroplasticity or “brain-changing”. This has allowed for the stupendous adaptability of the human species as well the the incredible wave of change that has accompanied the the stage of modern civilization. In fact despite the existence of homo sapiens for many million years modern civilization is pretty much confined to the past 10,000 years a period where man has man has transformed from an animal that responds to many varied environments to an animal that has molded and adapted the environment to suit the needs of the individual and the species.
But we can cherish and cultivate these characteristics. I remind people of course they know what it is like to be a genius. They were once a child after all... what more could define genius? It is within our power to resist the pull of society to “grow up” . After all such exemplars as Picasso, Newton, Einstein and Beethoven often remarked upon the need to safeguard and exercise these qualities throughout life. If Peter Pan’s bald statement is a bit tough to chew on consider these words penned by Johann Wolfgang Goethe, One of the great masters of world literature, his genius embraced most fields of human endeavor; his art and thought are epitomized in his great dramatic poem Faust.
If children grew up according to early indications, we should have nothing but geniuses.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
As the years roll by we have no choice but to grow older - however it is purely up to us whether we grow OLD. The price of maturity is that the brain becomes efficient and complacent. If we think of a baby brain as a brand new computer with a basically empty hard drive we can understand that intially we fill our brains with a lot of information. Because we have no experiences we don't know what is important and what can be discarded. So it is our impression that only children are actively learning and changing. As our brains inevitably fill up (much like that ever shrinking hard drive) we must make room for new growth and learning. We must prune away the unnecessary and clear out the cognitive clutter much like we must prune a fruit tree if we want to have a harvest. To begin this process we first must embrace the mindset of a child and open yourself to the possibility of limitless learning. As humans we are blessed with attribute of neoteny. If you want a lifetime of learning than take a lesson from Peter Pan.
"He who joyfully marches to music in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would fully suffice." Albert Einstein
