Evolutionary Anatomy of the Primate Cerebral Cortex

This review of the evolution of primate brain size and organization answers questions about the evolution of intelligence and cognition. With contributions from leading researchers in the fields of neuroscience, paleoneurology and comparative neuroanatomy, it provides a well-rounded picture of research and gives pointers for the future.

Studies of brain evolution have moved rapidly in recent years, building on the pioneering research of Harry J. Jerison. This book provides reviews of primate (including human) brain evolution. The book is divided into two sections, the first gives new perspectives on the developmental, physiological, dietary and behavioural correlates of brain enlargement. It has long been recognized, however, that brains do not merely enlarge globally as they evolve, but that their cortical and internal organization also changes in a process known as reorganization. Species-specific adaptations therefore have neurological substrates that depend on more than just overall brain size. The second section explores these neurological underpinnings for the senses, adaptations and cognitive abilities that are important for primates. With a prologue by Stephen J. Gould and an epilogue by Harry J. Jerison, this is an important reference work for all those working on brain evolution in primates.