According to Scientific American Magazine, the advanced capabilities of the human mind are like an upgrade on a chimpanzee's intelligence, rather than an authentic super computer. The jury is still out on the how and why of brain evolution. One of the perplexing questions surrounding the evolution of the brain is its size. The human brain is massive compared to human body size. Our body size is about 20-percent larger than a chimp's, but our brain size in 250-percent larger than our mammalian cousins.
The size of the human brain increased significantly over the course of human evolution, reaching its current size about 150,000 years ago. Since then, brain size has remained constant while brain complexity continues to evolve. However, an interview with Chung-I Wu in Science Daily investigates the possibility that human brain evolution has slowed down. Wu's recent study on the genetic make-up of the brain suggests that the complexity of the brain actually deters major genetic morphologies.
Critical thinking enables an individual to make informed decisions about the world around them. It is a skill that gives birth to opinions, problem-solving, conceptualization and creativity and defines our personalities. The human brain has used this skill for over 100,000 years, but the term "critical thinking" was not coined until the early 20th century. Some communities believe that critical thinking is a heightened form of thought that, when executed properly, will improve a human being's output and overall quality of life. An example of one organization that purports the advancement of the mind through critical thinking is the Foundation for Critical Thinking. According to the definition provided by the foundation, anyone can improve his critical-thinking skills, thus creating evolution of his own thoughts.
Ongoing research is being conducted on various aspects of human brain development. Studies cover a wide range of psychological, genetic and biological fields. From dreams to genetic alleles, no one study can predict the evolutionary course of the human mind. Too many factors effect that spongy mass between the ears for a definitive projection of the future to be unveiled.