The evolution of brain neuron numbers in amniotes

SignificanceThe evolution of brain processing capacity has traditionally been inferred from data on brain size. However, similarly sized brains of distantly related species can differ in the number and distribution of neurons, their basic computational units. Therefore, a finer-grained approach is n...

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Published in:Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS 2022-03, Vol.119 (11), p.e2121624119-e2121624119
Main Authors: Kverková, Kristina, Marhounová, Lucie, Polonyiová, Alexandra, Kocourek, Martin, Zhang, Yicheng, Olkowicz, Seweryn, Straková, Barbora, Pavelková, Zuzana, Vodička, Roman, Frynta, Daniel, Němec, Pavel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological Sciences
Birds
Body size
Brain
Cell density
Cognition
Cognition & reasoning
Cognitive ability
Comparative studies
Computational neuroscience
Evolution
Information processing
Mammals
Neurons
Primates
Reptiles
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Summary:SignificanceThe evolution of brain processing capacity has traditionally been inferred from data on brain size. However, similarly sized brains of distantly related species can differ in the number and distribution of neurons, their basic computational units. Therefore, a finer-grained approach is needed to reveal the evolutionary paths to increased cognitive capacity. Using a new, comprehensive dataset, we analyzed brain cellular composition across amniotes. Compared to reptiles, mammals and birds have dramatically increased neuron numbers in the telencephalon and cerebellum, which are brain parts associated with higher cognition. Astoundingly, a phylogenetic analysis suggests that as few as four major changes in neuron-brain scaling in over 300 million years of evolution pave the way to intelligence in endothermic land vertebrates.
ISSN:0027-8424
1091-6490
DOI:10.1073/pnas.2121624119