Adaptive radiation is the process of evolution of different species in a given geographical area starting from a point and literally radiating to other areas of geography (habitats). Classic examples include Darwin's finches in Galapagos Islands, where from the original seed-eating features, many other forms with altered beaks arose, and Australian marsupials, where different marsupials evolved from an ancestral stock within the Australian island continent.

The story of modern human evolution appears to parallel evolution of human brain and language. However, based on the provided information, human evolution cannot be strictly classified as adaptive radiation. Unlike adaptive radiation where multiple species diverge from a common ancestor to occupy different habitats, human evolution shows a single lineage progression with changes in brain size, skeletal structure, and dietary preferences rather than diversification into multiple species.