It's important to remember that there's not a "make brain smarter" slider that evolution is slowly sliding to the right.
Our genes code for proteins which are expressed in different quantities and have different effects on multiple parts of our biology and growth that lead to operational differences in our brains that lead to patterns that might be considered "smarter" in some circumstances and is beneficial in some environments.
Take, for example, something near and dear to many of us on HN, hyperfocus.
Is being prone to hyperfocus on subjects that interest us making us "smarter"? Is it "beneficial"?
Well, sometimes, in some ways, in some environments. If you can hyperfocus on something that has economic value in a safe environment, you can make a lot of money and be very successful. If the things you want to hyperfocus on aren't particularly useful or you end up neglecting your actual job or relationships because of it, or if you're a caveman who was supposed to be keeping an eye out for lions and not counting how many leaves are on different kinds of plants, you'll be less successful.
Our genes code for proteins which are expressed in different quantities and have different effects on multiple parts of our biology and growth that lead to operational differences in our brains that lead to patterns that might be considered "smarter" in some circumstances and is beneficial in some environments.
Take, for example, something near and dear to many of us on HN, hyperfocus.
Is being prone to hyperfocus on subjects that interest us making us "smarter"? Is it "beneficial"?
Well, sometimes, in some ways, in some environments. If you can hyperfocus on something that has economic value in a safe environment, you can make a lot of money and be very successful. If the things you want to hyperfocus on aren't particularly useful or you end up neglecting your actual job or relationships because of it, or if you're a caveman who was supposed to be keeping an eye out for lions and not counting how many leaves are on different kinds of plants, you'll be less successful.