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Modeling the Functional Network for Spatial Navigation in the Human Brain
Published on: October 13, 2023
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An agent-based model clarifies the importance of functional and developmental integration in shaping brain evolution.
Shahar Avin1, Adrian Currie2, Stephen H Montgomery3
1Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
BMC Biology
|May 11, 2021
Summary
Brain evolution can be concerted due to functional or developmental integration, not just developmental coupling. Both coupled and uncoupled brain architectures are adaptive, with mosaic evolution favored under constraints on brain size.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Neuroscience
- Computational modeling
Background:
- Vertebrate brain structure shows both consistent scaling and divergence.
- External (selection) and internal (developmental coupling) processes explain these patterns.
- The relative importance of these processes in evolution is debated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simulate brain evolution using an agent-based model.
- To investigate dependencies shaping brain evolution.
- To differentiate between concerted evolution and developmental coupling.
Main Methods:
- Agent-based modeling of a simplified brain system.
- Simulation of evolutionary dynamics.
- Analysis of factors influencing brain evolution patterns.
Main Results:
- Concerted brain evolution patterns do not solely indicate developmental coupling.
- Concerted evolution can arise from functional or developmental integration.
- Developmental coupling/uncoupling can be adaptive, influenced by neural tissue costs and constraints on brain size.
Conclusions:
- Both developmentally coupled and uncoupled brain architectures offer adaptive advantages.
- Selection distribution, life history, and tissue costs determine optimal architecture.
- Mosaic evolution is favored when overall brain size is constrained.
- Developmental coupling can evolve as an adaptive strategy for functional integration.
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