Elephant brain

Shoshani, Jeheskel; Kupsky, William J.; Marchant, Gary H.

doi:10.1016/j.brainresbull.2006.03.016

Cited by 186Primate Behavior and EcologyComparative Animal Anatomy StudiesEvolution and Paleontology Studies

Elephant brain

Shoshani, Jeheskel, Kupsky, William J., Marchant, Gary H.·2006·Brain Research Bulletin

DOI 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2006.03.016

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Abstract

We report morphological data on brains of four African, Loxodonta africana, and three Asian elephants, Elephas maximus, and compare findings to literature. Brains exhibit a gyral pattern more complex and with more numerous gyri than in primates, humans included, and in carnivores, but less complex than in cetaceans. Cerebral frontal, parietal, temporal, limbic, and insular lobes are well developed, whereas the occipital lobe is relatively small. The insula is not as opercularized as in man. The temporal lobe is disproportionately large and expands laterally. Humans and elephants have three parallel temporal gyri: superior, middle, and inferior. Hippocampal sizes in elephants and humans are comparable, but proportionally smaller in elephant. A possible carotid rete was observed at the base of the brain. Brain size appears to be related to body size, ecology, sociality, and longevity. Elephant adult brain averages 4783 g, the largest among living and extinct terrestrial mammals; elephant neonate brain averages 50% of its adult brain weight (25% in humans). Cerebellar weight averages 18.6% of brain (1.8 times larger than in humans). During evolution, encephalization quotient has increased by 10-fold (0.2 for extinct Moeritherium, approximately 2.0 for extant elephants). We present 20 figures of the elephant brain, 16 of which contain new material. Similarities between human and elephant brains could be due to convergent evolution; both display mosaic characters and are highly derived mammals. Humans and elephants use and make tools and show a range of complex learning skills and behaviors. In elephants, the large amount of cerebral cortex, especially in the temporal lobe, and the well-developed olfactory system, structures associated with complex learning and behavioral functions in humans, may provide the substrate for such complex skills and behavior.

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Elephants have large brains with a neuron density three times that of humans (257 billion neurons).
“Elephants have large brains with a neuron density three times that of humans (257 billion neurons; Hart et al., 2008; Herculano-Houzel et al., 2014; Shoshani et al., 2006)”
From Do elephants really never forget? What we know about elephant memory and a call for further investigation (2025) · cites this paper as Shoshani et al., 2006
Elephants have an enlarged olfactory bulb, in comparison with brain regions for other senses, suggesting that it is one of their strongest sensory modalities.
“Elephants have an enlarged olfactory bulb, in comparison with brain regions for other senses (Shoshani et al., 2006), suggesting that it is one of their strongest sensory modalities.”
From Do elephants really never forget? What we know about elephant memory and a call for further investigation (2025) · cites this paper as Shoshani et al., 2006

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“They also have a relatively underdeveloped occipital lobe (Shoshani et al., 2006).”
Background
Do elephants really never forget? What we know about elephant memory and a call for further investigation
Hope, S. F., Willgohs, K. R., Dittakul, S., & Plotnik, J. M. (2025) · Learning & Behavior · doi:10.3758/s13420-024-00655-y · Cited by 8 · see citing works

Authors: Shoshani, J., Kupsky, W. J., & Marchant, G. H.
Affiliations: University of Asmara (ER)
Wayne State University (US)
Corresponding author: Shoshani, Jeheskel
ORCID: Kupsky, William J.
Venue: Brain Research Bulletin
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Published: 2006-06
Volume: 70
Issue: 2
Pages: 124-157
ISSN: 0361-9230 (ISSN-L)
DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2006.03.016
OpenAlex: W104174880
Cited by: 186
References: 113
Citations by year: 2026: 4 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 7 · 2022: 13 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 6 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 14 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 15
FWCI: 10.37
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.elsevier.com/tdm/userlicense/1.0/ (tdm)
www.elsevier.com/legal/tdmrep-license (tdm)
Locations: Brain Research Bulletin (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
Health Sciences › Medicine › Urology › Comparative Animal Anatomy Studies
Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
Keywords: Loxodonta africana, Asian elephant, temporal lobe, hippocampus, insula, cerebellum, brain size, encephalization quotient, convergent evolution, brain evolution, tool use, olfactory system, brain structure
MeSH terms: Animals, Haplorhini, Brain, Cats, Pan troglodytes, Chinchilla, Elephants, Biological Evolution, Female, Guinea Pigs, Humans, Hyraxes, Male, Sheep, Equidae, Wolves

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