AQUATIC APE THEORY, SPEECH ORIGINS, AND BRAIN DIFFERENCES WITH APES AND MONKEYS

Humans and apes show clear differences in brain anatomy. In the human cerebral cortex, for instance, the areas that control the fine movemen ts of the hand, the areas that control the breathing and speech muscul ature, and the association areas have strongly expanded. It will be ar gued that these differences are best explained by the aquatic ape theo ry of human evolution (AAT) and originated in our semi-aquatic past, n otably in the adaptations necessary for diving and shellfish collectio n at sea coasts.