bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory),
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: March 21, 2023
Abstract
Brain
size
tripled
in
the
human
lineage
over
four
million
years,
but
why
this
occurred
remains
uncertain.
To
advance
our
understanding
of
what
caused
hominin-brain
expansion,
I
mechanistically
replicate
it
in-silico
by
modelling
evolutionary
and
developmental
(evo-devo)
dynamics
size.
show
that,
starting
from
australopithecine
brain
body
sizes,
model
recovers
evolution
sizes
seven
hominin
species,
brain-body
allometry,
major
patterns
development
evolution.
Analysis
shows
that
expands
because
is
“socio-genetically”
correlated
with
developmentally
late
preovulatory
ovarian
follicles,
not
directly
selected
for.
The
socio-genetic
correlation
causing
recovered
expansion
generated
ecology
possibly
culture.
Thus,
model,
direct
selection
does
favour
provides
a
force
constraints
divert
expansion.
Communications Biology,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
6(1)
Published: June 13, 2023
Fossil
endocasts
record
features
of
brains
from
the
past:
size,
shape,
vasculature,
and
gyrification.
These
data,
alongside
experimental
comparative
evidence,
are
needed
to
resolve
questions
about
brain
energetics,
cognitive
specializations,
developmental
plasticity.
Through
application
interdisciplinary
techniques
fossil
record,
paleoneurology
has
been
leading
major
innovations.
Neuroimaging
is
shedding
light
on
organization
behaviors.
Inferences
development
physiology
extinct
species
can
be
experimentally
investigated
through
organoids
transgenic
models
based
ancient
DNA.
Phylogenetic
methods
integrate
data
across
associate
genotypes
phenotypes,
Meanwhile,
archeological
discoveries
continuously
contribute
new
knowledge.
cooperation,
scientific
community
accelerate
knowledge
acquisition.
Sharing
digitized
museum
collections
improves
availability
rare
fossils
artifacts.
Comparative
neuroanatomical
available
online
databases,
along
with
tools
for
their
measurement
analysis.
In
context
these
advances,
paleoneurological
provides
ample
opportunity
future
research.
Biomedical
ecological
sciences
benefit
paleoneurology's
approach
understanding
mind
as
well
its
novel
research
pipelines
that
establish
connections
between
neuroanatomy,
genes
behavior.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
14(1)
Published: April 20, 2023
Abstract
Studies
in
comparative
neuroanatomy
and
of
the
fossil
record
demonstrate
influence
socio-ecological
niches
on
morphology
cerebral
cortex,
but
have
led
to
oftentimes
conflicting
theories
about
its
evolution.
Here,
we
study
relationship
between
shape
cortex
topography
function.
We
establish
a
joint
geometric
representation
cortices
ninety
species
extant
Euarchontoglires,
including
commonly
used
experimental
model
organisms.
show
that
variability
surface
geometry
relates
species’
ecology
behaviour,
independent
overall
brain
size.
Notably,
ancestral
reconstruction
cortical
change
during
evolution
enables
us
trace
evolutionary
history
localised
expansions,
modal
segregation
function,
their
association
behaviour
cognition.
find
individual
regions
follow
different
sequences
area
increase
adaptations
dynamic
niches.
Anatomical
correlates
this
sequence
events
are
still
observable
species,
relate
current
ecology.
decompose
deep
human
into
spatially
temporally
conscribed
components
with
highly
interpretable
functional
associations,
highlighting
importance
considering
when
studying
anatomy
Humans
have
an
extraordinary
ability
to
create
evolutionarily
novel
knowledge,
such
as
writing
systems
and
mathematics.This
accumulated
knowledge
over
several
millennia
supports
large,
dynamic
societies
that
now
require
children
learn
this
in
educational
settings.This
Element
provides
a
framework
for
understanding
the
evolution
of
brain
enable
innovation
learning
how
these
can
act
on
human
cognitive
universals,
language,
abilities,
reading
writing.Critical
features
networks
include
top-down
control
attention,
which
is
central
formation
well
self-awareness
mental
time
travel
support
academic
self-concepts
generation
long-term
goals.The
basics
are
reviewed
updated
here,
implications
instructional
practices.
Dementia & Neuropsychologia,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
18
Published: Jan. 1, 2024
ABSTRACT
The
purpose
of
this
review
is
to
highlight
the
most
important
aspects
anatomical
and
functional
uniqueness
human
brain.
For
this,
a
comparison
made
between
our
brains
those
closest
ancestors
(chimpanzees
bonobos)
ancestors.
During
evolution,
several
changes
occurred
in
brain,
such
as
an
absolute
increase
brain
size
number
cortical
neurons,
addition
greater
degree
lateralization
asymmetry.
Also,
cytoarchitecture
became
more
diversified
there
was
intracortical
networks
extending
from
cerebral
cortex
subcortical
structures,
with
neural
being
invested
multisensory
sensory-motor-affective-cognitive
integration.
These
permitted
complex,
flexible
versatile
cognitive
abilities
social
behavior,
shared
intentionality
symbolic
articulated
language,
which,
turn,
possible
formation
larger
groups
cumulative
cultural
evolution
that
are
characteristic
species.
PLoS ONE,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
17(7), P. e0270771 - e0270771
Published: July 22, 2022
There
are
multiple
hypotheses
for
the
evolution
of
cognition.
The
most
prominent
Social
Intelligence
Hypothesis
(SIH)
and
Ecological
(EIH),
which
often
pitted
against
one
another.
These
tend
to
be
tested
using
broad-scale
comparative
studies
brain
size,
where
size
is
used
as
a
proxy
cognitive
ability,
various
social
and/or
ecological
variables
included
predictors.
Here,
we
test
how
robust
conclusions
drawn
from
such
analyses
may
be.
First,
investigate
variation
in
body
measurements
across
>1000
bird
species.
We
demonstrate
that
there
substantial
estimates
datasets,
indicating
models
likely
differ
depending
on
source
data.
Following
this,
subset
our
data
Corvides
infraorder
interrogate
modelling
decisions
impact
results.
show
model
results
change
substantially
variable
inclusion,
classification.
Indeed,
could
have
contradictory
about
principal
drivers
evolution.
reflect
concerns
growing
number
researchers
not
robust.
suggest
evolution,
fruitful
way
forward
focus
testing
performance
within
between
closely
related
taxa,
with
an
emphasis
understanding
relationship
informational
uncertainty
Scientific Reports,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
14(1)
Published: April 25, 2024
In
this
work
we
endeavor
to
further
understand
the
genetic
architecture
of
cerebellum
by
examining
underpinnings
different
cerebellar
lob(ul)es,
identifying
their
relation
cortical
and
subcortical
regions,
as
well
psychiatric
disorders,
traces
evolutionary
trajectories.
We
confirm
moderate
heritability
volumes,
reveal
clustering
variability
across
substructures,
which
warranted
a
detailed
analysis
using
higher
structural
resolution.
replicated
known
correlations
with
several
report
new
cortico-cerebellar
correlations,
including
negative
between
anterior
lobules
cingulate,
positive
ones
lateral
Crus
I
lobule
VI
measures
in
fusiform
region.
Heritability
partitioning
for
annotations
highlighted
that
vermis
II
has
depleted
genomic
regions
"archaic
introgression
deserts",
but
no
enrichment/depletion
any
other
regions.
Taken
together,
these
findings
novel
insights
into
lobules.
International Journal of Molecular Sciences,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
26(7), P. 3144 - 3144
Published: March 28, 2025
The
mechanisms
that
influence
human
longevity
are
complex
and
operate
on
cellular,
tissue,
organismal
levels.
To
better
understand
the
tissue-level
mechanisms,
we
compared
organization
of
cell
proliferation,
differentiation,
cytoprotective
protein
expression
in
squamous
epithelium
esophagus
between
mammals
with
varying
lifespans.
Humans
only
species
a
quiescent
basal
stem
layer
is
distinctly
physically
separated
from
parabasal
transit-amplifying
cells.
In
addition
to
these
stark
differences
epithelial
cells
express
DNA
repair-related
markers,
such
as
MECP2
XPC,
which
absent
or
low
mouse
Furthermore,
investigated
whether
transition
suprabasal
different
species.
humans,
seem
originate
detaching
basement
membrane,
can
already
begin
proliferate
while
delaminating.
most
other
species,
delaminating
have
been
rare
their
proliferation
rate
counterparts,
indicating
an
alternative
mode
how
maintain
tissue.
combination
elevated
signature
novel
tissue
may
enhance
resistance
aging
prevent
cancer.
Our
results
point
enhanced
cellular
cytoprotection
architecture
separates
stemness
proliferation.
These
both
potential
factors
contributing
increased
fitness
epithelia
support
by
suppressing
tumorigenesis.
However,
canine
oral
mucosa
shows
some
similarities
provide
useful
model
relationship
architecture,
gene
regulation,
tumor
suppression,
longevity.
