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The Brain of LB1, Homo floresiensis

2005; American Association for the Advancement of Science; Volume: 308; Issue: 5719 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1126/science.1109727

1095-9203

Dean Falk, Charles F. Hildebolt, Kirk Smith, M.J. Morwood, Thomas Sutikna, P. J. Brown, Jatmiko Jatmiko, E. Wayhu Saptomo, Barry S. Brunsden, Fred Prior,

Evolution and Paleontology Studies

The brain of Homo floresiensis was assessed by comparing a virtual endocast from the type specimen (LB1) with endocasts from great apes, Homo erectus, Homo sapiens, a human pygmy, a human microcephalic, specimen number Sts 5 (Australopithecus africanus), and specimen number WT 17000 (Paranthropus aethiopicus). Morphometric, allometric, and shape data indicate that LB1 is not a microcephalic or pygmy. LB1's brain/body size ratio scales like that of an australopithecine, but its endocast shape resembles that of Homo erectus. LB1 has derived frontal and temporal lobes and a lunate sulcus in a derived position, which are consistent with capabilities for higher cognitive processing.