Research reveals the real reason we have eyebrows — to communicate before we could speak

The ability to raise two eyebrows in amazement or to lift one when we don’t believe something may have given early humans an advantage in their ability to survive, researchers in Britain have said.

Movable eyebrows offered humans the communication skills they needed before they could talk allowing them to build large, groups of friends and create greater co-operation and better survival odds*, they said.

“Eyebrows are the missing part of the puzzle of how modern humans managed to get on so much better with each other than other now-extinct hominins*,” said Penny Spikins from the University of York, co-author of a study published in the journal Nature Ecology & Evolution.

The researchers studied the skull of a Homo heidelbergensis, the type of human that lived up to 600,000 years ago — well before modern humans evolved into the body shapes we know today.

Previous research suggested humans grew a brow ridge that stuck out to protect the skull when chewing, but this recent study found it was more likely to help with communication.

The appearance of a smooth forehead with more visible, hairy eyebrows capable of greater movement, began about 200,000 years ago and has developed more quickly over the past 20,000 years.

“Social signalling is a convincing explanation for the jutting* brows of our ancestors*,” said Paul O’Higgins, senior author of the paper and anatomy professor at the University of York.

Ms Spikins said eyebrow movements allowed humans to express complex emotions and to understand how others were feeling.

We’re not sure what emotions these kids in a chocolate commercial are feeling, but it shows how movable our eyebrows are and it’s fun to watch!

WHAT DO SOME EYEBROW MOVEMENTS MEAN?

Quick flash: Sign of recognition

Lifting both in the middle only: Sympathy

Both lowered: either hiding the truth or annoyance

Raising both: surprised or unsure

Raising one: distrust

Middle down: when they slope inward it means anger or frustration

Middle raised: with the forehead up as well, this means relief

Source: Changingminds.org

GLOSSARY

survival odds: chances of not dying

hominins: a primate closely related to early humans

jutting: sticking out

ancestors: those who lived before us

LISTEN TO TODAY’S STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES

1. Survival

Read the story carefully. Write down all of the things that you can find in the story that are things that helped early humans to survive.

Time: Allow 15 minutes

Extension: Look at the things that are in your list. For each one, write sentences explaining how and why it would have been important to help early humans to survive. Include at least one example for each.

Time: Allow 20 minutes

Curriculum Links: English, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Body language

Using words and talking is only one of the ways that we communicate with each other. In the story you have read how using your eyebrows can show what you are thinking or feeling. This is called body language. Can you think of other examples of body language, or how we can show our thoughts and feelings without words? Write down as many examples as you can.

Extension: Write a script for a short play, or a scene, where the characters can only use body language to communicate. Share your script with another student, or act it out. Can they work out what your scene is about?

Time: allow 20-25 minutes for each activity

Curriculum Links: Personal and Social Capability, Drama.

VCOP ACTIVITY

After reading the article, with a partner, highlight as many wow words or ambitious pieces of vocabulary that you can find in yellow. Discuss the meanings of these words and see if you can use them orally in another sentence.

IN ONE SENTENCE, TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THIS STORY

Please do not use one-word answers. Explain what you enjoyed or found interesting about the article. Use lots of adjectives.