CARTA: The Evolution of Human Physical Activity
Exercise is well known to provide many health benefits, and human physical activities differ significantly from other species. How, when and why did these differences evolve? What genetic, physiological and anatomical adaptations underlie them? And how did the evolution of human physical activity affect other key human characteristics? This symposium integrates research on genetics, biomechanics, physiology, neurobiology and behavior. Because more and more humans today are primarily sedentary, we also explore implications of the evolution of human physical activity for contemporary health and disease.