The
process
of
brain
folding
is
thought
to
play
an
important
role
in
the
development
and
organisation
cerebrum
cerebellum.
study
cerebellar
challenging
due
small
size
abundance
its
folia.
In
consequence,
little
known
about
anatomical
diversity
evolution.
We
constituted
open
collection
histological
data
from
56
mammalian
species
manually
segmented
developed
methods
measure
geometry
folia
estimate
thickness
molecular
layer.
used
phylogenetic
comparative
evolution
relationship
with
anatomy
cerebrum.
Our
results
show
that
cerebral
follows
a
stabilising
selection
process.
observed
two
groups
phenotypes
changing
concertedly
through
evolution:
group
'diverse'
-
varying
over
several
orders
magnitude
together
body
size,
'stable'
less
than
1
order
across
species.
analyses
confirmed
strong
correlation
between
volumes
species,
showed
addition
large
cerebella
are
disproportionately
more
folded
smaller
ones.
Compared
extreme
variations
surface
area,
folial
layer
varied
only
slightly,
showing
much
increase
larger
cerebella.
discuss
how
these
findings
could
provide
new
insights
into
folding,
mechanisms
their
potential
influence
on
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
119(11)
Published: March 7, 2022
SignificanceThe
evolution
of
brain
processing
capacity
has
traditionally
been
inferred
from
data
on
size.
However,
similarly
sized
brains
distantly
related
species
can
differ
in
the
number
and
distribution
neurons,
their
basic
computational
units.
Therefore,
a
finer-grained
approach
is
needed
to
reveal
evolutionary
paths
increased
cognitive
capacity.
Using
new,
comprehensive
dataset,
we
analyzed
cellular
composition
across
amniotes.
Compared
reptiles,
mammals
birds
have
dramatically
neuron
numbers
telencephalon
cerebellum,
which
are
parts
associated
with
higher
cognition.
Astoundingly,
phylogenetic
analysis
suggests
that
as
few
four
major
changes
neuron-brain
scaling
over
300
million
years
pave
way
intelligence
endothermic
land
vertebrates.
Science,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
376(6588), P. 80 - 85
Published: March 31, 2022
Mammals
are
the
most
encephalized
vertebrates,
with
largest
brains
relative
to
body
size.
Placental
mammals
have
particularly
enlarged
brains,
expanded
neocortices
for
sensory
integration,
origins
of
which
unclear.
We
used
computed
tomography
scans
newly
discovered
Paleocene
fossils
show
that
contrary
convention
mammal
steadily
over
time,
early
placentals
initially
decreased
their
brain
sizes
because
mass
increased
at
a
faster
rate.
Later
in
Eocene,
multiple
crown
lineages
independently
acquired
highly
through
marked
growth
regions.
argue
placental
radiation
emphasized
increases
size
as
extinction
survivors
filled
vacant
niches.
Brains
eventually
became
larger
ecosystems
saturated
and
competition
intensified.
Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
289(1985)
Published: Oct. 19, 2022
Life's
size
and
tempo
are
intimately
linked.
The
rate
of
metabolism
varies
with
body
mass
in
remarkably
regular
ways
that
can
often
be
described
by
a
simple
power
function,
where
the
scaling
exponent
(b,
slope
log-linear
plot)
is
typically
less
than
1.
Traditional
theory
based
on
physical
constraints
has
assumed
b
2/3
or
3/4,
following
natural
law,
but
hundreds
studies
have
documented
extensive,
systematic
variation
b.
This
overwhelming,
law-breaking,
empirical
evidence
causing
paradigm
shift
metabolic
methodology
from
'Newtonian'
to
'Darwinian'
approaches.
A
new
wave
focuses
adaptable
regulation
evolution
scaling,
as
influenced
diverse
intrinsic
extrinsic
factors,
according
multiple
context-dependent
mechanisms,
within
boundary
limits
set
constraints.
Science Advances,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
9(50)
Published: Dec. 13, 2023
In
comparison
to
other
species,
the
human
brain
exhibits
one
of
highest
energy
demands
relative
body
metabolism.
It
remains
unclear
whether
this
heightened
demand
uniformly
supports
an
enlarged
or
if
specific
signaling
mechanisms
necessitate
greater
energy.
We
hypothesized
that
regional
distribution
will
reveal
strategies
have
contributed
cognitive
development.
measured
within
functional
connectome
using
multimodal
imaging
and
found
pathways
in
evolutionarily
expanded
regions
up
67%
higher
energetic
costs
than
those
sensory-motor
regions.
Additionally,
histology,
transcriptomic
data,
molecular
independently
up-regulation
at
G-protein-coupled
receptors
energy-demanding
Our
findings
indicate
neuromodulator
activity
is
predominantly
involved
functions,
such
as
reading
memory
processing.
This
study
suggests
activity,
alongside
increased
size,
a
crucial
aspect
evolution.
PLoS Biology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
22(1), P. e3002422 - e3002422
Published: Jan. 22, 2024
When
vertebrates
first
conquered
the
land,
they
encountered
a
visual
world
that
was
radically
distinct
from
of
their
aquatic
ancestors.
Fish
exploit
strong
wavelength-dependent
interactions
light
with
water
by
differentially
feeding
signals
up
to
5
spectral
photoreceptor
types
into
behavioural
programmes.
However,
above
same
rules
do
not
apply,
and
this
called
for
an
update
circuit
strategies.
Early
tetrapods
soon
evolved
double
cone,
still
poorly
understood
pair
new
photoreceptors
brought
“ancestral
terrestrial”
complement
7.
Subsequent
nonmammalian
lineages
adapted
highly
parallelised
retinal
input
strategy
diverse
ecologies.
By
contrast,
mammals
shed
most
ancestral
converged
on
is
exceptionally
general.
In
eutherian
including
in
humans,
parallelisation
emerges
gradually
as
signal
traverses
layers
retina
brain.
Nature Ecology & Evolution,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
8(8), P. 1534 - 1542
Published: July 8, 2024
Despite
decades
of
comparative
studies,
puzzling
aspects
the
relationship
between
mammalian
brain
and
body
mass
continue
to
defy
satisfactory
explanation.
Here
we
show
that
several
such
arise
from
routinely
fitting
log-linear
models
data:
correlated
evolution
is
in
fact
log-curvilinear.
This
simultaneously
accounts
for
phenomena
which
diverse
biological
explanations
have
been
proposed,
notably
variability
scaling
coefficients
across
clades,
low
encephalization
larger
species
so-called
taxon-level
problem.
Our
model
implies
a
need
revisit
previous
findings
about
relative
mass.
Accounting
true
relationship,
document
dramatically
varying
rates
phylogeny,
resolve
question
whether
there
an
overall
trend
increase
through
time.
We
find
only
three
orders,
by
far
strongest
primates,
setting
stage
uniquely
rapid
directional
ultimately
producing
computational
powers
human
brain.
Functional Ecology,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 5, 2025
Abstract
Many
endotherms
from
diverse
taxonomic
groups
can
respond
to
environmental
changes
through
torpor,
that
is,
by
greatly
reducing
their
energy
expenditure
for
up
24
hours
(daily
torpor)
or
longer
(hibernation).
We
currently
have
a
poor
understanding
of
how
torpor
evolved
across
and
its
associations
with
physiological
traits
ecological
factors.
To
fill
this
gap,
we
thoroughly
examine
the
evolutionary
patterns
links
21
key
variables
1338
extant
endotherms.
find
daily
hibernation
are
parts
an
continuum,
there
several,
albeit
weak,
between
species'
characteristics.
Furthermore,
show
early
endotherm
ancestors
likely
did
not
hibernate
trait
multiple
times
in
independent
lineages.
Overall,
our
results
suggest
remarkable
variation
cannot
solely
be
attributed
niches,
but
partly
arises
gains
various
clades.
Read
free
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article
on
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blog.