Primate brain evolution: Integrating comparative, neurophysiological, and ethological data
Primate brain evolution: Integrating comparative, neurophysiological, and ethological data
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DOI：
10.1002/evan.20105
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发表时间：
2006-11-01
影响因子：
3.7
通讯作者：
Barton, Robert A.
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Barton, Robert A.
“毫无疑问，灵长类动物最显着的特征，即该目与进化史上所有其他哺乳动物目相比，是倾向于发展大脑，其与总体重的比例较大，其特别特征是具有相对广泛且通常非常复杂的大脑皮层（第 228 页）。”（1）虽然这种说法通常是正确的，但灵长类动物的大脑大小相差近千倍，从质量为 1.8 克到微小的大脑。现代人类的鼠狐猴重达 1,300 克。人们做出了许多尝试来了解灵长类大脑的独特性和在该目中观察到的变异：这种变异是如何进化的、为什么进化，以及它的认知含义是什么？继杰里森（Jerison）（2）三十年前的精彩评论之后，比较研究强调了大脑大小的暗示性相关性。然而，这些相关性的意义和有效性一直存在激烈争论。很明显，进步取决于非常谨慎地使用比较方法和寻找多个聚合的比较证据，而不是对单一相关性做出推测性解释。特别是，最近的工作证明了研究不同解剖水平的进化变化如何相互关联的价值。
"Undoubtedly the most distinctive trait of the Primates, wherein this order contrasts with all other mammalian orders in its evolutionary history, is the tendency towards the development of a brain which is large in proportion to the total body weight, and which is particularly characterized by a relatively extensive and often richly convoluted cerebral cortex (p. 228)."(1) While this statement is generally true, primate brains vary in size nearly one thousand-fold, from a mass of 1.8 g in the tiny mouse lemur to 1,300 g in modern humans. Many attempts have been made to understand both the distinctiveness of primate brains and the variation observed within the order: How did such variation evolve and why, and what are its cognitive implications? Following Jerison's(2) masterly review thirty years ago, comparative studies have highlighted suggestive correlations of brain size. However, the meaning and validity of these correlations have been vigorously debated. It has become clear that progress depends on taking great care in the use of comparative methods and in finding multiple converging strands of comparative evidence as opposed to making speculative interpretations of single correlations. In particular, recent work demonstrates the value of examining how evolutionary changes at different anatomical levels interrelate.