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The evolutionary masquerade: genetic and epigenetic contributions to the neocortex
Leah Krubitzer1, Danielle S Stolzenberg2
1University of California Davis, Center for Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, 1544 Newton CT, Davis, CA 95618, USA.
Current Opinion in Neurobiology
|February 5, 2014
Summary
Human brain evolution shows shared mammalian rules, with recent behavioral shifts possibly driven by epigenetic mechanisms. These context-dependent changes may uniquely distinguish human neocortex development and behavior.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- The neocortex is a key mammalian brain feature, central to human evolution.
- Comparative studies reveal conserved construction rules between human and other mammalian brains.
- Early hominins possessed anatomical precursors for speech, language, and manual dexterity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the role of epigenetic mechanisms in modern human brain and behavior evolution.
- To investigate if epigenetic mechanisms are more active in humans for environmental adaptation.
- To identify potential distinguishing factors in human neocortical development.
Main Methods:
- Review of comparative neuroanatomy studies.
- Analysis of evolutionary developmental biology findings.
- Examination of epigenetic regulation in mammalian brains.
Main Results:
- Human brain development follows general mammalian principles.
- Significant modern human behaviors evolved recently.
- Epigenetic mechanisms offer a plausible explanation for rapid phenotypic changes.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic mechanisms may mediate recent human brain and behavior evolution.
- Enhanced engagement of epigenetic mechanisms in humans could facilitate adaptation.
- The degree of context-dependent cortical alterations via epigenetics may differentiate humans.
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