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What is the evolutionary basis for colic?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 February 2005

Kim A. Bard*
Affiliation:
Centre for the Study of Emotion, Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, King Henry Building, Portsmouth, PO1 2DY, United Kingdomhttp://www.port.ac.uk/departments/academic/psychology/staff/title,1537,en.html

Abstract:

An evolutionary model of crying requires consideration of nonhuman primate data. Chimpanzees do not have colic. Although they have a peak of fussiness at 6 weeks with a decline by 12 weeks whether raised by biological mothers or in a human nursery, their crying is always consolable. Colic may be a by-product of delayed rates of brain development; that is, neoteny.

Type
Open Peer Commentary
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2004

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