Evolutionary innovations in the primate dopaminergic system

The human brain has evolved unique capabilities compared to other vertebrates. The mechanistic basis of these derived traits remains a fundamental question in biology due to its relevance to the origin of our cognitive abilities and behavioral repertoire, as well as to human-specific aspects of neur...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current opinion in genetics & development 2024-10, Vol.88, p.102236, Article 102236
Main Authors: Doll, Hannah M, Risgaard, Ryan D, Thurston, Hailey, Chen, Rachel J, Sousa, André MM
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Biological Evolution
Brain - metabolism
Dopamine - genetics
Dopamine - metabolism
Dopaminergic Neurons - metabolism
Humans
Primates - genetics
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Summary:The human brain has evolved unique capabilities compared to other vertebrates. The mechanistic basis of these derived traits remains a fundamental question in biology due to its relevance to the origin of our cognitive abilities and behavioral repertoire, as well as to human-specific aspects of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Comparisons of the human brain to those of nonhuman primates and other mammals have revealed that differences in the neuromodulatory systems, especially in the dopaminergic system, may govern some of these behavioral and cognitive alterations, including increased vulnerability to certain brain disorders. In this review, we highlight and discuss recent findings of human- and primate-specific alterations of the dopaminergic system, focusing on differences in anatomy, circuitry, and molecular properties.
ISSN:0959-437X
1879-0380
1879-0380
DOI:10.1016/j.gde.2024.102236