Evolution of the base of the brain in highly encephalized human species

Markus Bastir (), Antonio Rosas, Philipp Gunz, Angel Peña-Melian, Giorgio Manzi, Katerina Harvati, Robert Kruszynski, Chris Stringer and Jean-Jacques Hublin
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Markus Bastir: Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC. J. G. Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
Antonio Rosas: Paleoanthropology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC. J. G. Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain.
Philipp Gunz: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.
Angel Peña-Melian: Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Giorgio Manzi: Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
Katerina Harvati: Paleoanthropology, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen
Robert Kruszynski: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.
Chris Stringer: Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK.
Jean-Jacques Hublin: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany.

Nature Communications, 2011, vol. 2, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The increase of brain size relative to body size—encephalization—is intimately linked with human evolution. However, two genetically different evolutionary lineages, Neanderthals and modern humans, have produced similarly large-brained human species. Thus, understanding human brain evolution should include research into specific cerebral reorganization, possibly reflected by brain shape changes. Here we exploit developmental integration between the brain and its underlying skeletal base to test hypotheses about brain evolution in Homo. Three-dimensional geometric morphometric analyses of endobasicranial shape reveal previously undocumented details of evolutionary changes in Homo sapiens. Larger olfactory bulbs, relatively wider orbitofrontal cortex, relatively increased and forward projecting temporal lobe poles appear unique to modern humans. Such brain reorganization, beside physical consequences for overall skull shape, might have contributed to the evolution of H. sapiens' learning and social capacities, in which higher olfactory functions and its cognitive, neurological behavioral implications could have been hitherto underestimated factors.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms1593

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