<b>A team of researchers including neuroscientists, mechanical engineers, and anthropologists succeeded in reconstructing 4 Neanderthal brains.</b> 

![neanderthalensis_jg_recon_head_cc_3qtr_lt_sq.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmfKAAY171vSCpPJUPXR31UYcPXDazYpYyEGA5QbheN5pv/neanderthalensis_jg_recon_head_cc_3qtr_lt_sq.jpg)
Source: https://www.airspacemag.com/daily-planet/neanderthal-cave-art-suggests-they-were-smarter-we-thought-180968412/

<h1>Who Are Neanderthals?</h1>

Neanderthals are the closest extinct species to human beings. They were discovered in Germany in 1829. They are said to be different from modern humans by having shorter and stockier bodies. It is known from their skulls to have a huge nose, larger middle part of the face. However, their brains are the same size as human beings.

![Neanderthal_cranial_anatomy.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPKudK78tDoxNmUKcr5FqsNf5gAAuwTtnUCtZ2SuufkJF/Neanderthal_cranial_anatomy.jpg)
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neanderthal

<h1>Results of the New Study</h1>

By comparing the reconstructed Neanderthals' brains with an average human brain, the researchers suggest that different ways of processing information may have been the main cause that allowed humans outcompete the Neanderthals.

However, it was noticed that the <b>cerebellum</b> was significantly larger in humans than in Neanderthals. The cerebellum is a region in the brain that lies toward the lower back of the head and is associated with speech comprehension and production, working memory and cognitive flexibility according to one of the researchers. 

![_3339043.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmdUoZFVyJMafVp7VtNr7BGb9tJHKUnLNhRivvny55VPoB/_3339043.jpg)
Source: http://brainmadesimple.com/cerebellum.html


<i>References:</i>
http://humanorigins.si.edu/evidence/human-fossils/species/homo-neanderthalensis
https://phys.org/news/2018-04-size-ancestors-brains-outlast-neanderthals.html
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-018-24331-0.pdf