Erratum

doi:10.1159/000496658

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 6 publications

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“…[1,2,8,9]), and to give context to structure analyses in terms of how relationships between structure sizes and life history may be related to overall brain size. We did not use measures from a recent comparative dataset based on MRI scans [29] due to incompatible measures of neocortex volume (neocortical grey matter only in [29] versus whole neocortex volume in [20]; see [30]).…”

Section: Methods (A) Brain Volume Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Maternal investment, life histories and the evolution of brain structure in primates

2019

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Life history is a robust correlate of relative brain size: larger-brained mammals and birds have slower life histories and longer lifespans than smaller-brained species. The cognitive buffer hypothesis (CBH) proposes an adaptive explanation for this relationship: large brains may permit greater behavioural flexibility and thereby buffer the animal from unpredictable environmental challenges, allowing for reduced mortality and increased lifespan. By contrast, the developmental costs hypothesis (DCH) suggests that life-history correlates of brain size reflect the extension of maturational processes needed to accommodate the evolution of large brains, predicting correlations with pre-adult life-history phases. Here, we test novel predictions of the hypotheses in primates applied to the neocortex and cerebellum, two major brain structures with distinct developmental trajectories. While neocortical growth is allocated primarily to pre-natal development, the cerebellum exhibits relatively substantial post-natal growth. Consistent with the DCH, neocortical expansion is related primarily to extended gestation while cerebellar expansion to extended post-natal development, particularly the juvenile period. Contrary to the CBH, adult lifespan explains relatively little variance in the whole brain or neocortex volume once pre-adult life-history phases are accounted for. Only the cerebellum shows a relationship with lifespan after accounting for developmental periods. Our results substantiate and elaborate on the role of maternal investment and offspring development in brain evolution, suggest that brain components can evolve partly independently through modifications of distinct developmental phases, and imply that environmental input during post-natal maturation may be particularly crucial for the development of cerebellar function. They also suggest that relatively extended post-natal maturation times provide a developmental mechanism for the marked expansion of the cerebellum in the apes.

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Section: Methods (A) Brain Volume Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…R. Soc. B 286: 20191608 based on MRI scans [29] due to incompatible measures of neocortex volume (neocortical grey matter only in [29] versus whole neocortex volume in [20]; see [30]).…”

Section: Methods (A) Brain Volume Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Maternal investment, life histories and the evolution of brain structure in primates

2019

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Primate mosaic brain evolution reflects selection on sensory and cognitive specialization

DeCasien

Higham

2019

Nat Ecol Evol

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Relative Cerebellum Size Is Not Sexually Dimorphic across Primates

DeCasien

Higham

2020

Brain Behav Evol

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Background/Aims: Substantive sex differences in behavior and cognition are found in humans and other primates. However, potential sex differences in primate neuroanatomy remain largely unexplored. Here, we investigate sex differences in the relative size of the cerebellum, a region that has played a major role in primate brain evolution and that has been associated with cognitive abilities that may be subject to sexual selection in primates. Methods: We compiled individual volumetric and sex data from published data sources and used MCMC generalized linear mixed models to test for sex effects in relative cerebellar volume while controlling for phylogenetic relationships between species. Given that the cerebellum is a functionally heterogeneous structure involved in multiple complex cognitive processes that may be under selection in males or females within certain species, and that sexual selection pressures vary so greatly across primate species, we predicted there would be no sex difference in the relative size of the cerebellum across primates. Results: Our results support our prediction, suggesting there is no consistent sex difference in relative cerebellum size. Conclusion: This work suggests that the potential for sex differences in relative cerebellum size has been subject to either developmental constraint or lack of consistent selection pressures, and highlights the need for more individual-level primate neuroanatomical data to facilitate intra-and inter-specific study of brain sexual dimorphism.

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Erratum

Cited by 3 publications

References 6 publications

Maternal investment, life histories and the evolution of brain structure in primates

Maternal investment, life histories and the evolution of brain structure in primates

Primate mosaic brain evolution reflects selection on sensory and cognitive specialization

Relative Cerebellum Size Is Not Sexually Dimorphic across Primates

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