Why chimps are 4 times stronger than humans

In a new research, a scientist has suggested that chimpanzees are four times stronger than humans because our nervous systems exert more control over our muscles, thus preventing great feats of strength.

In a new research, a scientist has suggested that chimpanzees are four times stronger than humans because our nervous systems exert more control over our muscles, thus preventing great feats of strength.

HT Image

The research was done by evolutionary biologist Alan Walker, a professor at Penn State University. Walker argues that humans may lack the strength of chimps because our nervous systems exert more control over our muscles. Our fine motor control prevents great feats of strength, but allows us to perform delicate and uniquely human tasks. Walker’s hypothesis stems partly from a finding by primatologist Ann MacLarnon.

MacLarnon showed that, relative to body mass, chimps have much less grey matter in their spinal cords than humans have. Spinal grey matter contains large numbers of motor neurons — nerves cells that connect to muscle fibers and regulate muscle movement. According to Walker, more grey matter in humans means more motor neurons. And having more motor neurons means more muscle control.

Conversely, since chimps have fewer motor neurons, each neuron triggers a higher number of muscle fibers. So, using a muscle becomes more of an all-or-nothing proposition for chimps. As a result, chimps often end up using more muscle than they need. “And that is the reason apes seem so strong relative to humans,” Walker said.

Great apes, with their all-or-nothing muscle usage, are explosive sprinters, climbers and fighters, but not nearly as good at complex motor tasks. In addition to fine motor control, Walker suspects that humans also may have a neural limit to how much muscle we use at one time.