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The Aquatic Ape Theory

Thread Status: Hello , There was no answer in this thread for more than 60 days.
It can take a long time to get an up-to-date response or contact with relevant users.

Gabriel

New Member
Jun 22, 2002
24
2
0
Excerpt from "The Einstein Factor" by Win Wenger, page 219-220 copyright Prima Publishing 1996)

“The Diving Response”

Any kind of vigorous aerobic exercise, such as jogging or stair-stepping, will increase your CO2 level and improve circulation to your brain. Underwater swimming, however, is far more effective, in my opinion, than any other type of exercise.

Underwater swimming stimulates what marine biologists call the diving response. When we dive, the body increases blood flow not only to the brain but to every other major organ as well. This response is common to all mammals and may partially explain why whales and dolphins –perhaps the champion breath holders of all time—have evolved brains as complex and powerful as our own.

In the 1930.s, British marine biologist Alister Hardy proposed that our ancestors may have lived mainly in the water. The aquatic ape theory (AAT) best explains why we lost our fur coat; why we have a layer of fat beneath our skin like whales, dolphins, seals, and hippopotami; why we have conscious control of our breathing (other land mammals don’t): why we stand upright (to keep our heads above water in shallow marshes); and why we have sebaceous glands, which secrete waterproof oils on our skin. If our ancestors really were aquatic apes, heir deep-diving habits may largely explain why they developed big brains. We can emulate that same evolutionary path through underwater swimming.”

This might be the reason why so many of us prefer to live underwater than in the "real world". In fact our original place was (probably) underwater so free diving might be a way to "go back to our origins". How about them apples?
:)

What do you think about this?

Gabriel
 
Pretty obvious

You should read Elaine Morgan's series on the aquatic ape theory, which include the books 'The Aquatic Ape Theory' and 'Scars of Evolution'. The older 1970's version of her 'Aquatic Ape Theory' is actually much better and more interesting than the newer version.

Why do you think that the most popular vacation spots in the world are beaches? Everyone likes to be at the waterfront. At least humans...not so for apes, they hate water (except for probiscus monkeys and bonobo chimpanzees). I figure the reason we like to be at the water front is because we lived there for eons...


Eric Fattah
BC, Canada
 
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