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Human hands evolved, at least in part, for fighting, with a surprising new study that involved using cadaver arms and fists.
Researchers used actual cadaver arms to punch and slap padded dumbbells in experiments that provide evidence in favor of the hotly debated theory that humans, and especially men, are hardwired both mentally and physically to fight at times. The findings are reported in the Journal of Experimental Biology.
“The idea that aggressive behavior played a role in the evolution of the human hand is controversial,” explained senior author David Carrier in a press release.
“Many skeptics suggest that the human fist is simply a coincidence of natural selection for improved manual dexterity,” added Carrier, who is a biology professor at the University of Utah. “That may be true, but if it is a coincidence, it is unfortunate.”
“As an alternative,” he continued, “we suggest that the hand proportions that allow the formation of a fist may tell us something important about our evolutionary history and who we are as a species. If our anatomy is adapted for fighting, we need to be aware we always may be haunted by basic emotions and reflexive behaviors that often don’t make sense — and are very dangerous — in the modern world.”
Read full, original post: Dead Man Punching Sheds Light on Fist Evolution
