Hominins and the emergence of the modern human brain

de Sousa, A.A ORCID: 0000-0003-2379-3894 and Cunha, E (2012) 'Hominins and the emergence of the modern human brain.' In: Hofman, M.A and Falk, D, eds. Evolution of the primate brain: from neuron to behavior. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 293-322. ISBN 9780444538604

Abstract

Evidence used to reconstruct the morphology and function of the brain (and the rest of the central nervous system) in fossil hominin species comes from the fossil and archeological records. Although the details provided about human brain evolution are scarce, they benefit from interpretations informed by interspecific comparative studies and, in particular, human pathology studies. In recent years, new information has come to light about fossil DNA and ontogenetic trajectories, for which pathology research has significant implications. We briefly describe and summarize data from the paleoarcheological and paleoneurological records about the evolution of fossil hominin brains, including behavioral data most relevant to brain research. These findings are brought together to characterize fossil hominin taxa in terms of brain structure and function and to summarize brain evolution in the human lineage.

Item Type:	Book Chapter or Section
Keywords:	evolution, endocast, fossil hominin, paleoneurology, cognition, paleoarcheology
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GN Anthropology Q Science > QH Natural history Q Science > QM Human anatomy
Divisions:	School of Sciences
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-444-53860-4.00014-3
Date Deposited:	08 Sep 2016 14:24
Last Modified:	02 Mar 2023 05:30
URI / Page ID:	https://researchspace.bathspa.ac.uk/id/eprint/8230

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