Morphological Differences in the Parietal Lobes within the Human Genus

Bruner, Emiliano

doi:10.1086/650729

Cited by 118 publications

(91 citation statements)

References 72 publications

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“…1) [Bruner et al, 2003[Bruner et al, , 2018aBruner, 2004]. Spatially, this difference is apparently associated with the dorsal parts of the parietal cortex, possibly the superior parietal lobules or the intraparietal sulcus [Bruner, 2010]. A similar situation can be described when comparing the endocasts of living hominoids, with modern humans displaying a remarkable expansion of the superior parietal lobule (Fig.…”

Section: Parietal Lobes and The Study Of Brain Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 64%

“…Neanderthals and modern humans share a similar cranial capacity, but the latter shows a general enlargement of the parietal lobes (f -digital replica of skull and endocasts of the Neandertal Saccopastore 1, and shape deformation associated with modern human endocranial anatomy). Images after Bruner [2004Bruner [ , 2010Bruner [ , 2014 and Bruner et al [2004Bruner et al [ , 2014aBruner et al [ , 2015c.…”

Section: Parietal Lobes and The Study Of Brain Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Human Paleoneurology and the Evolution of the Parietal Cortex

Bruner¹

2018

Brain Behav Evol

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Paleoneurology deals with the study of brain anatomy in fossil species, as inferred from the morphology of their endocranial features. When compared with other living and extinct hominids, Homo sapiens is characterized by larger parietal bones and, according to the paleoneurological evidence, also by larger parietal lobes. The dorsal elements of the posterior parietal cortex (superior parietal lobules, precuneus, and intraparietal sulcus) may be involved in these morphological changes. This parietal expansion was also associated with an increase in the corresponding vascular networks, and possibly with increased heat loads. Only H. sapiens has a specific early ontogenetic stage in which brain form achieves such globular appearance. In adult modern humans, the precuneus displays remarkable variation, being largely responsible for the longitudinal parietal size. The precuneus is also much more expanded in modern humans than in chimpanzees. Parietal expansion is not influenced by brain size in fossil hominids or living primates. Therefore, our larger parietal cortex must be interpreted as a derived feature. Spatial models suggest that the dorsal and anterior areas of the precuneus might be involved in these derived morphological variations. These areas are crucial for visuospatial integration, and are sensitive to both genetic and environmental influences. This article reviews almost 20 years of my collaborations on human parietal lobe evolution, integrating functional craniology, paleoneurology, and evolutionary neuroanatomy.

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Section: Parietal Lobes and The Study Of Brain Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Section: Parietal Lobes and The Study Of Brain Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Human Paleoneurology and the Evolution of the Parietal Cortex

Bruner¹

2018

Brain Behav Evol

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“…In particular, the implication of areas around the intraparietal sulcus is even more promising, taking into account the relevance of this region in neontological (Orban et al, 2006;Rushworth et al, 2001) and paleontological (Bruner, 2010;Stout & Chaminade, 2007) analyses. It is worth noting that, within the fronto-parietal system, functional changes at the parietal areas might be more influenced by the environment and less determined by genetic factors (Neubauer & Fink, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Midsagittal brain shape correlation with intelligence and cognitive performance

et al. 2011

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“…The enlargement of the parietal areas is a discrete and well-expressed trait of the endocranium of H. sapiens (Bruner et al, 2003(Bruner et al, , 2011Bruner, 2004;Neubauer et al, 2009Neubauer et al, , 2010Gunz et al, 2010). Considering the role of the parietal areas in the perception and management of the relationships between inner and outer world (Bruner, 2010a), a two-part model of the evolution of modern humans might also explain some of the differences between early (Middle Stone Age/Middle Paleolithic) and late (Later Stone Age/ Upper Paleolithic) modern human cultures (Klein, 2000(Klein, , 2008Foley and Lahr, 2003;Wynn and Coolidge, 2003;Coolidge and Wynn, 2005). It has been long suggested that morphological and behavioral modernity could have been decoupled along the evolution of H. sapiens and that 'modernity' evolved not as a single package but as a combination of characters evolved in different times and places (Stringer, 2006(Stringer, , 2007Tattersall, 2009).…”

Section: Phylogeny and Evolutionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neurocranial evolution in modern humans: the case of Jebel Irhoud 1

Bruner

Pearson

2013

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Jebel Irhoud 1 represents an almost complete cranium from the North African late Middle Pleistocene. Despite the good preservation of most of its anatomical regions, its phylogenetic position is still uncertain, particularly its relationship to the emergence of the modern human lineage. The present paper supplies a basic morphometric description and comparison of the endocast of Jebel Irhoud 1. The endocast's maximum width is large when compared with the hemispheric length, with values similar to those of Neandertals. Conversely, the frontal width is less pronounced, showing proportions compatible with modern and non-modern human taxa. The vertical proportions are similar to those displayed by Homo erectus, while the lateral proportions are comparable to Neandertals. Furthermore, the upper parietal areas show a certain parasagittal lateral bulging, as in European Neandertals. It remains to be established if this trait evolved independently in both the Neandertal and modern human lineages, or if it was already present in a common ancestor of these two groups. Given that Jebel Irhoud 1 in North Africa and Herto in East Africa have similar geological age, similar facial morphology, but different vault proportions, it seems likely that the origin of the modern human lineage may have predated the origin of many aspects of the modern human brain.

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Morphological Differences in the Parietal Lobes within the Human Genus

Cited by 118 publications

References 72 publications

Human Paleoneurology and the Evolution of the Parietal Cortex

Human Paleoneurology and the Evolution of the Parietal Cortex

Midsagittal brain shape correlation with intelligence and cognitive performance

Neurocranial evolution in modern humans: the case of Jebel Irhoud 1

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