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Study Finds Neanderthal Cognition Nearly Equals Modern Humans

7/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

U.S. researchers published a PNAS study that Neanderthal cognition may match modern humans.
Tom Schoenemann of the University of Bloomington used deformation mapping to compare brain region volumes and found variation larger than Neanderthal-modern differences, indicating only a modest intelligence gap.
Naomichi Ogihara of the University of Tokyo said interbreeding likely ended Neanderthals, though a cognitive edge could have mattered, and placed them within the range of human cognitive functioning.

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Story summary

U.S. researchers published a PNAS study that Neanderthal cognition may match modern humans.
Tom Schoenemann of the University of Bloomington used deformation mapping to compare brain region volumes and found variation larger than Neanderthal-modern differences, indicating only a modest intelligence gap.
Naomichi Ogihara of the University of Tokyo said interbreeding likely ended Neanderthals, though a cognitive edge could have mattered, and placed them within the range of human cognitive functioning.