Correlated evolution of brain regions involved in producing and processing facial expressions in anthropoid primates

Dobson, Seth D.; Sherwood, Chet C.

doi:10.1098/rsbl.2010.0427

Cited by 30 publications

(40 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…This is consistent with previous evidence that facial nucleus volume does not evolve in correlation with social group size or V1 volume in New World monkeys [27]. One potential explanation for this pattern is that the motor cortex does not directly innervate the facial nucleus in platyrrhines.…”

Section: Discussion and Future Directionssupporting

confidence: 91%

“…Many rodents, for example, are known to exhibit a specialized pattern of facial movement referred to as 'rhythmic whisking,' which they use to explore the surrounding environment [81]. Similarly, with regard to facial expressivity, catarrhines might be regarded as more specialized than platyrrhines, with few exceptions [27].…”

Section: Discussion and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…I found that species that live in larger groups tended to produce a wider range of facial movements, after controlling for body size. Thus, both neuroanatomical and behavioural evidence suggest that group size evolves in correlation with facial motor control, at least in catarrhines [27,28].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Face to face with the social brain

Dobson

2012

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Recent comparative evidence suggests that anthropoid primates are the only vertebrates to exhibit a quantitative relationship between relative brain size and social group size. In this paper, I attempt to explain this pattern with regard to facial expressivity and social bonding. I hypothesize that facial motor control increases as a secondary consequence of neocortical expansion owing to cortical innervation of the facial motor nucleus. This is supported by new analyses demonstrating correlated evolution between relative neocortex size and relative facial nucleus size. I also hypothesize that increased facial motor control correlates with enhanced emotional expressivity, which provides the opportunity for individuals to better gauge the trustworthiness of group members. This is supported by previous evidence from human psychology, as well as new analyses demonstrating a positive relationship between allogrooming and facial nucleus volume. I suggest new approaches to the study of primate facial expressivity in light of these hypotheses.

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Section: Discussion and Future Directionssupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussion and Future Directionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Face to face with the social brain

Dobson

2012

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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“…Differences in habitat use by platyrrhines versus catarrhines may also have a role, as visibility of facial cues is likely to be affected by the amount of clutter in the habitat and the distances among social group members. Quantitative data on the use of facial expressions 30,35 , and their relation to metrics of habitat use and social system, are crucial to test these hypotheses.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Adaptive response to sociality and ecology drives the diversification of facial colour patterns in catarrhines

et al. 2013

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The faces of Old World monkeys and apes (Catarrhini) exhibit every possible hue in the spectrum of mammal colours. Animal colouration experiences selection for communication, physiology and ecology; however, the relative importance of these factors in producing facial diversity in catarrhines is not known. Here we adopt a comparative approach to test whether facial traits have evolved in tandem with social, geographic and ecological pressures across four catarrhine radiations. Our analyses reveal the underlying correlates of two major axes in the evolution of facial diversity. Facial colour patterns are linked to social factors, such that gregarious and highly sympatric species have evolved more colours in their faces. Facial pigmentation tends to be dominated by ecological factors, and species living in tropical, densely forested and humid habitats in Africa have evolved darker faces. Thus, both sociality and ecology have played a role in producing the highest diversity of faces within mammals.

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“…Previous researchers have addressed this question using phylogenetic comparative methods [Blumstein & Armitage, 1997;Dobson, 2009;Dobson & Sherwood, 2011;May-Collado et al, 2007;McComb & Semple, 2005;Pollard & Blumstein, 2011] and behavioral experiments [Freeberg, 2006]. The results of these studies suggest an evolutionary link between social and communicative complexity.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Coevolution of Facial Expression and Social Tolerance in Macaques

Dobson

2012

American J Primatol

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The purpose of this study is to test the hypothesis that social tolerance drives the evolution of facial expression in macaques. Macaque species exhibit a range of social styles that reflect a continuum of social tolerance. Social interactions in more tolerant taxa tend to be less constrained by rank and kinship than in less-tolerant macaques. I predicted that macaques that are more tolerant would exhibit a wider range of facial displays than less-tolerant species because interactions that are open to negotiation are characterized by greater uncertainty than interactions that are constrained by rank or kinship. To test this hypothesis, I conducted a phylogenetically informed regression analysis (N = 11) using previously published data on repertoire size and two quantitative measures of social tolerance (conciliatory tendency and counter-aggression). As predicted, macaques with more tolerant social styles tended to have larger repertoires than less-tolerant species. These results support the hypothesis that increased social tolerance favors the elaboration of communication to mitigate uncertainty.

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Correlated evolution of brain regions involved in producing and processing facial expressions in anthropoid primates

Cited by 30 publications

References 26 publications

Face to face with the social brain

Face to face with the social brain

Adaptive response to sociality and ecology drives the diversification of facial colour patterns in catarrhines

Coevolution of Facial Expression and Social Tolerance in Macaques

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