Evidence for expansion of the precuneus in human evolution.

Bibliographic Collection: 
CARTA-Inspired Publication
Publication Type: Journal Article
Authors: Bruner, E; Preuss, TM; Chen, X; Rilling, JK
Year of Publication: 2016
Journal: Brain Struct Funct
Date Published: Jan 2
Publication Language: eng
ISBN Number: 1863-2653
Accession Number: 26725108
Abstract:

The evolution of neurocranial morphology in Homo sapiens is characterized by bulging of the parietal region, a feature unique to our species. In modern humans, expansion of the parietal surface occurs during the first year of life, in a morphogenetic stage which is absent in chimpanzees and Neandertals. A similar variation in brain shape among living adult humans is associated with expansion of the precuneus. Using MRI-derived structural brain templates, we compare medial brain morphology between humans and chimpanzees through shape analysis and geometrical modeling. We find that the main spatial difference is a prominent expansion of the precuneus in our species, providing further evidence of evolutionary changes associated with this area. The precuneus is a major hub of brain organization, a central node of the default-mode network, and plays an essential role in visuospatial integration. Together, the comparative neuroanatomical and paleontological evidence suggest that precuneus expansion is a neurological specialization of H. sapiens that evolved in the last 150,000 years that may be associated with recent human cognitive specializations.

DOI: 10.​1007/​s00429-015-1172-y
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