Summary:
- The study suggests that the gut microbiome, the diverse community of microorganisms living in the human gut, may have played a role in the evolution of larger brains in humans.
- Researchers found that the gut microbiomes of humans and other great apes have distinct compositions, with humans having a higher diversity of microbes associated with the production of short-chain fatty acids, which can influence brain development and function.
- The findings indicate that changes in the gut microbiome may have been a key factor in the expansion of the human brain, providing insights into the co-evolution of the gut and brain.