Why animals start waking soon after birth and not human

 Why animals start waking soon after birth and not human?

Humans are born with a relatively underdeveloped brain compared to other animals. At birth, the human brain is only about 25% of its full adult size. This is because the human skull needs to be small enough to pass through the birth canal, but the brain needs to be large enough to support the cognitive and social abilities that define humans. The brain continues to develop and mature after birth, with the most significant changes occurring during the first three years of life. This period of brain development is critical for the formation of neural connections and the establishment of brain function.

Many animals, on the other hand, are born with a brain that is closer to its full adult size. This is because they do not have the same constraints on head size during birth and are able to move and function relatively independently soon after birth. For example, many mammal babies can stand, walk, and even run within hours of birth. Similarly, many bird chicks can leave the nest and forage for food shortly after hatching.

Furthermore, human infants are born with a high degree of immaturity and dependency on adults, which allows for a prolonged period of brain development and learning before they are fully capable of taking care of themselves. This is known as the "extended juvenescence" of humans. This extended juvenescence is relatively unique to humans, and is thought to have evolved as a way to facilitate the development of complex social and cognitive abilities.

In summary, the reason that human infants take longer to wake up and become active than many animals is that the human brain is larger and more complex than the brains of most animals, which requires a longer period of development before it can function fully. Additionally, human infants are born with a high degree of immaturity and dependency on adults, which allows for a prolonged period of brain development and learning before they are fully capable of taking care of themselves.