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Evolution of behavioural control from chordates to primates
1Department of Neuroscience, University of Montreal CP 6123 Succursale Centre-ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada H3C 3J7.
Summary
This study traces the evolution of behavioral control in the human lineage, from basic feedback to complex actions. It details how niche transitions and neuroanatomical changes shaped diverse species-typical behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Evolutionary biology
- Neuroscience
- Comparative psychology
Background:
- Behavioral control evolved from simple feedback loops in early animals.
- Niche transitions (aquatic to terrestrial, nocturnality, arboreal life) influenced behavioral evolution.
Purpose of the Study:
- To outline a hypothetical evolutionary sequence of innovations extending behavioral control.
- To propose a functional neuroanatomical architecture for species-typical actions.
Main Methods:
- Tracing evolutionary history from ancient mobile animals to humans.
- Analyzing neuroanatomical substrates associated with behavioral diversification.
- Proposing a model of parallel, competing control systems.
Main Results:
- A sequence of behavioral repertoire elaboration and diversification is proposed.
- Specific neuroanatomical structures (midbrain, telencephalon, pallium, neocortex, primate cortex) are linked to behavioral control evolution.
- A functional architecture of parallel, competing control systems is presented.
Conclusions:
- Evolutionary innovations progressively enhanced behavioral control complexity.
- The proposed architecture explains how diverse species-typical actions are guided and selected.
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