paleoneurology
Sign in to savethumb|Endocast of Australopithecus sediba
Article
19 sectionsContents
- History
- Tilly Edinger
- Conflict between Holloway and Falk
- Brain endocasts
- Methods of research
- Overall brain volume
- Morphometric analysis
- Convolution pattern and cerebral organization
- Asymmetry
- Meningeal patterns
- Endocranial vasculature
- Relative lobe size
- Significance
- Limitations
- Studies of interest
- Brain shape, intelligence, and cognitive performance
- Degenerative diseases and functional disorder
- See also
- References
thumb|Endocast of Australopithecus sediba
Paleoneurobiology is the study of brain evolution by analysis of brain endocasts to determine endocranial traits and volumes. Considered a subdivision of neuroscience, paleoneurobiology combines techniques from other fields of study including paleontology and archaeology. It reveals specific insight concerning human evolution. The cranium is unique in that it grows in response to the growth of brain tissue rather than genetic guidance, as is the case with bones that support movement. Fossil skulls and their endocasts can be compared to each other, to the skulls and fossils of recently deceased individuals, and even compared to those of other species to make inferences about functional anatomy, physiology and phylogeny. Paleoneurobiology is in large part influenced by developments in neuroscience as a whole; without substantial knowledge about current functionality, it would be impossible to make inferences about the functionality of ancient brains.