Temporal lobe evolution in Javanese Homo erectus and African Homo ergaster: Inferences from the cranial base

Pearson, Alannah; Polly, P. David; Bruner, Emiliano

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2020.07.048

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 66 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…H. erectus increased in brain size across its long existence, and comparisons of endocast shape between early African and later Asian samples of H. erectus s.l . (sometimes distinguished as two species, H. ergaster and H. erectus ) show contrasts between these regional samples (Pearson et al, 2021).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The endocast morphology of LES1, Homo naledi

Hurst,

Holloway,

Balzeau

et al. 2024

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

ObjectivesHomo naledi is near the extreme of small brain size within Homo but is easily recognized as Homo in other aspects of endocast morphology. This study adds new evidence of the endocast morphology of H. naledi by describing the Lesedi Hominin 1 (LES1) endocranium from the Lesedi Chamber and compares it to the previously known H. naledi individual Dinaledi Hominin 3 (DH3) as well as other hominin taxa.Materials and MethodsWe examined interlandmark distances with both univariate and multivariate methods in multiple hominin taxa and both species of Pan. For each distance, we compared groups using adjusted Z‐scores (Azs). Our multivariate analyses included both principal component analyses (PCA) and linear discriminant analyses (LDA).ResultsDH3 and LES1 each have absolute third frontal convolution measures that enter the upper half of the variation for Homo sapiens, Homo erectus, and Homo neanderthalensis. Examined relative to the cube root of endocranial volume, H. naledi ranks among the highest values in these samples of Homo. Both absolute and relative values for H. naledi specimens are far above Pan, Australopithecus, and Paranthropus, suggesting an expanded Broca's area.ConclusionsBoth qualitative and quantitative analyses show consistency between LES1 and other H. naledi endocasts and confirm the shared morphology of H. naledi with H. sapiens, H. neanderthalensis, and some specimens of H. erectus.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The endocast morphology of LES1, Homo naledi

Hurst,

Holloway,

Balzeau

et al. 2024

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Thus, this is a flawed, circular argument that risks becoming self-referenced and limiting our understanding of pre-sapiens cognitive and social capacities and behaviours. Furthermore, my hypothesis is based on the comparison between the Middle Pleistocene populations and their predecessor and we know little about the cognitive capacities of pre-600,000 BP hominids (Pearson et al 2020). Finally, these studies mentioned that the origin of the modern brain morphology did not necessary coincide with the origin of our lineage (Bruner & Iriki 2016, 104) and that there were no significant differences in the relative size of the parietal regions between Neanderthal and Early Homo sapiens (Kochiyama et al 2018, 5).…”

Section: Other Changes In the Same Chronological Period And Their Impmentioning

confidence: 99%

Changes in Raw Material Selection and Use at 400,000 Years bp: A Novel, Symbolic Relationship between Humans and Their World. Discussing Technological, Social and Cognitive Arguments

Romagnoli¹

2021

CAJ

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Approximately 400,000 years bp, novel technological behaviours appeared in the archaeological record, attested by evidence of the exploitation of previously unused resources and the production of new tools. I have reviewed such innovations, and I discuss them in the frame of the anthropological, palaeoneurological, genetic and behavioural changes that appeared in the Middle Pleistocene. I propose that at this chronology humans started to see the resources as ‘other-than-human’ sentient co-dwellers. The technological innovations expressed this novel cognitive complexity and the possible new things–things, human–things and environment–things relationships. Artefacts and technologies acquired multiple semiotic meanings that were strongly interconnected with the functional value. Ethnoarchaeological evidence suggested the possible symbolic acting beyond these innovations in material culture. This perspective has relevant implications in the archaeology of the ancient Palaeolithic. It suggests the need for a new view of material culture, one that goes beyond the classical list approach in the definition of modern symbolic mediated behaviour. Further, it allows one to overcome the traditional juxtaposition between ancient cultures and Homo sapiens in terms of complexity. The evidence discussed in this paper suggests that the ontological hypothesis could change our view of Middle Pleistocene hominids and the origin and definition of modern behaviour, and test the archaeological visibility of cognition in prehistory.

show abstract

Temporal lobe evolution in Hominidae and the origin of human lobe proportions

Pearson,

Polly

2024

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objectives Evolutionary changes in hominin social complexity have been associated with increases in absolute brain size. The temporal lobes are nestled in the middle cranial fossae (MCF) of the skull, the dimensions of which allow estimation of temporal lobe volume (TLV) in extant and fossil taxa. Materials and Methods The main aim of this study is to determine where along the hominid phylogeny, major temporal lobe size transitions occurred. We used computed tomography (CT) scans of crania, 3D photogrammetry data, and laser surface scans of endocranial casts to measure seven MCF metrics in 11 extant anthropoid taxa using multiple regressions to estimate TLV in 5 extant hominids and 10 fossil hominins. Phylogenetic comparative methods mapped temporal lobe size, brain size, and temporal lobe proportions onto phylogenetic trees broadly for Hominidae and specifically for Hominini. Results Extant Homo sapiens were not an outlier in relative brain size, temporal lobe size, or proportions of the temporal lobes, but some proportions within the lobe were uniquely altered. The most notable changes in relative temporal lobe size and proportions saw a decrease in relative temporal lobe size and proportions in the genus Pan compared to other extant great apes and fossil hominins while there was a relative increase in the temporal lobe width and length in Australopithecus–Paranthropus clade compared to the genus Homo and other extant great apes including modern humans. Discussion We do not find support for the social brain, environmental or functional craniology hypotheses alone but think it prudent to consider the implications of cerebral reorganization between the temporal lobes and other regions of the brain within the context of these hypotheses and with future investigation is warranted.

show abstract

Temporal lobe evolution in Javanese Homo erectus and African Homo ergaster: Inferences from the cranial base

Cited by 6 publications

References 66 publications

The endocast morphology of LES1, Homo naledi

The endocast morphology of LES1, Homo naledi

Changes in Raw Material Selection and Use at 400,000 Years bp: A Novel, Symbolic Relationship between Humans and Their World. Discussing Technological, Social and Cognitive Arguments

Temporal lobe evolution in Hominidae and the origin of human lobe proportions

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About