From fossils to mind

• Published in: Communications biology 2023-06, Vol.6 (1), p.636-21, Article 636
• Main Authors: de Sousa, Alexandra A., Beaudet, Amélie, Calvey, Tanya, Bardo, Ameline, Benoit, Julien, Charvet, Christine J., Dehay, Colette, Gómez-Robles, Aida, Gunz, Philipp, Heuer, Katja, van den Heuvel, Martijn P., Hurst, Shawn, Lauters, Pascaline, Reed, Denné, Salagnon, Mathilde, Sherwood, Chet C., Ströckens, Felix, Tawane, Mirriam, Todorov, Orlin S., Toro, Roberto, Wei, Yongbin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 631/181/19/2471; 631/181/27; 631/181/414; 631/378/2583; 631/378/2649; Anatomy; Archaeology; Archaeology and Prehistory; Behavior; Biology; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Brain; Brain architecture; Brain research; Cognitive ability; Developmental plasticity; Extinct species; Fossils; Genotypes; Humanities and Social Sciences; Life Sciences; Neuroimaging; Organoids; Phenotypes; Phylogeny; Review; Review Article
• ISSN: 2399-3642; 2399-3642
• DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04803-4

Fossil endocasts record features of brains from the past: size, shape, vasculature, and gyrification. These data, alongside experimental and comparative evidence, are needed to resolve questions about brain energetics, cognitive specializations, and developmental plasticity. Through the application of interdisciplinary techniques to the fossil record, paleoneurology has been leading major innovations. Neuroimaging is shedding light on fossil brain organization and behaviors. Inferences about the development and physiology of the brains of extinct species can be experimentally investigated through brain organoids and transgenic models based on ancient DNA. Phylogenetic comparative methods integrate data across species and associate genotypes to phenotypes, and brains to behaviors. Meanwhile, fossil and archeological discoveries continuously contribute new knowledge. Through cooperation, the scientific community can accelerate knowledge acquisition. Sharing digitized museum collections improves the availability of rare fossils and artifacts. Comparative neuroanatomical data are available through online databases, along with tools for their measurement and analysis. In the context of these advances, the paleoneurological record provides ample opportunity for future research. Biomedical and ecological sciences can benefit from paleoneurology’s approach to understanding the mind as well as its novel research pipelines that establish connections between neuroanatomy, genes and behavior. Recent advances in paleoneurology are collated together in this comprehensive review, linking neuroanatomy to genes and behavior. We provide guidance to the next generation of researchers to move the field forward.