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Human intelligence has little to do with having a big brain, scientists claim.

Rather, much like a computer, it is all down to its processing power.

Scientists made the discovery when comparing human brains with other living creatures.

Previously it was thought that superior intellect was due to larger brains having more nerve connections. Scientists believed protein components of nerve junctions, or synapses, were similar in most living beings.

But researchers at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute in Hinxton, Cambridgeshire, have discovered that mammals have a higher percentage of proteins in their brain synapses.

They believe the findings will help them form a better understanding of the human brain.

Professor Seth Grant said: ‘Our simple view that “more nerves” is sufficient to explain “more brain power” is simply not supported by our study. We found dramatic differences in the numbers of proteins in the neuron connections between different species.’

The scientists studied around 600 proteins found in mammalian synapses. They discovered that only 50 per cent of these were also present in invertebrates, and about 25 per cent in single-celled animals, which lack a brain.

For the first time, the team isolated synapse proteins from the brains of flies and confirmed they were simpler than those of vertebrates.

Professor Grant added: ‘The molecular evolution of the synapse is like the evolution of computer chips - the increasing complexity has given them more power.

‘This work leads to a new and simple model for understanding the origins and diversity of brains and behaviour in all species. We are one step closer to understanding the logic behind the complexity of human brains.’

source: dailymail