Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2026

A Pipeline using Bilateral In Utero Electroporation to Interrogate Genetic Influences on Rodent Behavior
Published on: May 21, 2020
Human brain evolution: harnessing the genomics (r)evolution to link genes, cognition, and behavior
Genevieve Konopka1, Daniel H Geschwind
1Department of Neurology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
Abstract:
The evolution of the human brain has resulted in numerous specialized features including higher cognitive processes such as language. Knowledge of whole-genome sequence and structural variation via high-throughput sequencing technology provides an unprecedented opportunity to view human evolution at high resolution. However, phenotype discovery is a critical component of these endeavors and the use of nontraditional model organisms will also be critical for piecing together a complete picture. Ultimately, the union of developmental studies of the brain with studies of unique phenotypes in a myriad of species will result in a more thorough model of the groundwork the human brain was built upon. Furthermore, these integrative approaches should provide important insights into human diseases.
Related Concept Videos
Human Genetics
The complex relationship between genetics and psychology is observable through common biological components such...
Introduction to Biological Bases of Psychology
The nervous system, the cornerstone of...
Evolutionary Psychology
Cognitivism
Previously dominated by behaviorism, which prioritized observable behaviors and largely ignored mental processes, psychology transformed in the 1950s. Cognitive psychologists argue that understanding how we think and process information is...
Genomics
Organization of the Brain
Hindbrain
The hindbrain, located at the base of the brain, plays a vital role in regulating automatic processes that sustain life. It includes the medulla oblongata, which is essential for...

