Encephalisation

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The development of increased brain complexity and functionality in organisms signifies a notable evolutionary advancement
2. The enhancement of brain structure and capability in various species highlights their progression over time
3. The process by which organisms evolve larger and more complex brains relative to body size

Etymology: Encephalisation is built from "encephalize", itself formed from the Greek "enkephalos", meaning "brain" (literally "in the head", from "en" meaning "in" and "kephalē" meaning "head"), plus the English suffix "-ation", which turns a verb into a noun for a process. The result names the process by which a lineage's brain grows larger or more elaborate over evolutionary time. The spelling with "s" is the British form; the same word appears as "encephalization" in American usage. Both spellings follow the pattern of many scientific terms coined from classical roots in the modern era, so the word is a technical coinage rather than something the ancient Greeks would have recognised, even though its parts are ancient.