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Cited by 1,217Primate Behavior and EcologyNeurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanismsEvolution and Paleontology Studies

Linked Regularities in the Development and Evolution of Mammalian Brains

Finlay, Barbara L., Darlington, Richard B.·1995·Science
DOI 10.1126/science.7777856
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Abstract

Analysis of data collected on 131 species of primates, bats, and insectivores showed that the sizes of brain components, from medulla to forebrain, are highly predictable from absolute brain size by a nonlinear function. The order of neurogenesis was found to be highly conserved across a wide range of mammals and to correlate with the relative enlargement of structures as brain size increases, with disproportionately large growth occurring in late-generated structures. Because the order of neurogenesis is conserved, the most likely brain alteration resulting from selection for any behavioral ability may be a coordinated enlargement of the entire nonolfactory brain.

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Crossref · 10.1126/science.7777856

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83 of 83 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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  • The assumption that brain size relates to number of neurons similarly across orders underlies most comparative studies to date.

    “This assumption, which was justifiable by the lack of direct estimates of the neuronal composition of the brain of different species, is so widespread that it implicitly or explicitly underlies most comparative studies to date (for example, Haug, 1987; Finlay and Darlington, 1995; Barton and Harvey, 2000; Clark et al., 2001).”

    From The human brain in numbers: a linearly scaled-up primate brain (2009) · cites this paper as Finlay and Darlington, 1995

  • The cortical reorganization hypothesis suggests that selection for absolutely larger brains, and concomitant cortical reorganization, was the predominant mechanism supporting cognitive evolution.

    “The cortical reorganization hypothesis suggests that selection for absolutely larger brains-and concomitant cortical reorganization-was the predominant mechanism supporting cognitive evolution (77, 91, 100-106, 120).”

    From The evolution of self-control. (2014) · cites this paper as [101]

  • Putative developmental regularities in the evolution of brain structures in primates do not contribute markedly to explaining neural system diversity across species and/or are commonly offset by mosaic reorganization.

    “suggesting that putative developmental regularities in the evolution of brain structures in primates [65,66] do not contribute markedly to explaining neural system diversity across species and/or are commonly offset by mosaic reorganization.”

    From Brain reorganization, not relative brain size, primarily characterizes anthropoid brain evolution (2013) · cites this paper as [66]

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Authors
Finlay, B. L., & Darlington, R. B.
Affiliations
Cornell University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Science
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS)
Published
1995-06-16
Volume
268
Issue
5217
Pages
1578-1584
ISSN
  • 0036-8075 (ISSN-L)
  • 1095-9203
DOI
10.1126/science.7777856
OpenAlex
W2040245119
Cited by
1,217
References
83
Citations by year
2026: 24 · 2025: 54 · 2024: 29 · 2023: 42 · 2022: 45 · 2021: 59 · 2020: 76 · 2019: 59 · 2018: 36 · 2017: 56 · 2016: 69 · 2015: 52 · 2014: 65 · 2013: 52 · 2012: 52
FWCI
30.24
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Science (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5r01ns019245-16)
  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NS19245)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Developmental Neuroscience › Neurogenesis and neuroplasticity mechanisms
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Evolution and Paleontology Studies
Keywords
brain evolution, brain size, primates, bats, insectivores, brain enlargement, developmental constraints, comparative neuroanatomy
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Physiological, Analysis of Variance, Animals, Brain, Cell Division, Chiroptera, Biological Evolution, Humans, Eulipotyphla, Mammals, Models, Neurological, Neurons, Primates, Regression Analysis, Species Specificity, Models, Statistical, Databases, Factual

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