Smaers_et_al_2021.pdf (817.77 kB)
The evolution of mammalian brain size
journal contribution
posted on 2023-07-26, 15:24 authored by Jeroen B. Smaers, Ryan S. Rothman, Daphne R. Hudson, Amy M. Balanoff, Brian Beatty, Dina K. N. Dechmann, Dorien de Vries, Jacob Dunn, John G. Fleagle, Christopher C. Gilbert, Anjali Goswami, Andrew N. Iwaniuk, William L. Jungers, Max Kerney, Daniel T. Ksepka, Paul R. Manger, Carrie S. Mongle, F. James Rohlf, N. Adam Smith, Christophe Soligo, Vera Weisbecker, Kamran SafiRelative brain size has long been considered a reflection of cognitive capacities and has played a fundamental role in developing core theories in the life sciences. Yet, the notion that relative brain size validly represents selection on brain size relies on the untested assumptions that brain-body allometry is restrained to a stable scaling relationship across species and that any deviation from this slope is due to selection on brain size. Using the largest fossil and extant dataset yet assembled, we find that shifts in allometric slope underpin major transitions in mammalian evolution and are often primarily characterized by marked changes in body size. Our results reveal that the largest-brained mammals achieved large relative brain sizes by highly divergent paths. These findings prompt a reevaluation of the traditional paradigm of relative brain size and open new opportunities to improve our understanding of the genetic and developmental mechanisms that influence brain size.
History
Refereed
- Yes
Volume
7Issue number
18Page range
eabe2101Publication title
Science AdvancesISSN
2375-2548External DOI
Publisher
American Association for the Advancement of ScienceFile version
- Published version
Language
- eng
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2021-05-17Legacy creation date
2021-05-17Legacy Faculty/School/Department
Faculty of Science & EngineeringUsage metrics
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