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Organization and evolution of the avian forebrain
Anton Reiner1, Kei Yamamoto, Harvey J Karten
1Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA. areiner@utmem.edu
Summary
The avian telencephalon is not dominated by basal ganglia but largely pallial, supporting complex cognition like mammalian cerebral cortex. This revised understanding of bird brain organization highlights shared evolutionary origins.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Comparative Anatomy
- Evolutionary Biology
Background:
- Historically, avian telencephalon was misconstrued as having hypertrophied basal ganglia.
- This misconception led to inaccurate comparisons with mammalian thalamostriatal circuitry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present the modern understanding of avian forebrain organization.
- To highlight the pallial nature of the majority of the avian telencephalon.
- To discuss the evolutionary relationship between avian and mammalian brains.
Main Methods:
- Review of current scientific literature and terminology.
- Comparative analysis of avian and mammalian brain structures.
- Examination of evidence for common ancestry.
Main Results:
- The avian basal ganglia are proportionally similar to mammals and involved in motor control.
- The avian telencephalon is predominantly pallial, analogous to the mammalian cerebral cortex.
- Evidence supports a common evolutionary origin for avian pallium and mammalian cerebral cortex.
Conclusions:
- The modern view of avian forebrain organization emphasizes its pallial component and cognitive functions.
- Avian and mammalian cerebral cortices likely share a common evolutionary origin from ancestral amniotes.