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Head Space: Behind 10,000 Years of Artificial Cranial Modification

38 points| Petiver | 11 years ago |atlasobscura.com | reply

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[+] bamie9l|11 years ago|reply
I'd like to know if this increases intelligence, the article states it does not decrease intelligence, and this article: http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2003/sep/28/research.health states that the important brain growth occurs during early childhood. Some of the brain cases in the pictures look 50% larger.
[+] maze-le|11 years ago|reply
I doubt it. Intellect is not --only-- determined by the brain size, but by the interconnectivity of the neurons in the brain and maybe several dozen other parameters we don't understand (like: individual neurochemistry; the rate by wich new connections are established etc.).

Also, the article states:

> subsequent research has led experts to believe that cranial modification has no impact on cognitive function, nor is there a difference in cranial capacity.

So, these heads only look big. The volume of the cranial cavity doen't seem to change. Where normal heads are small but volouminous, these heads are big but narrow.