Evolution of Large Brain and Body Size in Mammals

Stephen H Montgomery

doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-804042-3.00034-8

Evolution of Large Brain and Body Size in Mammals

Stephen H Montgomery

School of Biological Sciences

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

Abstract

Mammalian brain size varies from less than 1 g to over 9 kg, but what is the significance of this variation in terms of behavioral complexity and cognition? What are the advantages of a large brain, and what are the costs? Comparing brains of ecologically and phylogenetically disperse species provides one way to derive and test hypotheses about how brains evolve. Here I discuss the assumptions made when total brain size is compared across species and highlight potential difficulties that limit such comparisons. Chief among these is evidence that total brain size masks a hidden diversity of mammalian brain structure and cellular composition.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Evolution of Nervous Systems
Chapter	2.05
Pages	103-136
Volume	2
Edition	second
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-804042-3.00034-8
Publication status	Published - 2017

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title = "Evolution of Large Brain and Body Size in Mammals",

abstract = "Mammalian brain size varies from less than 1 g to over 9 kg, but what is the significance of this variation in terms of behavioral complexity and cognition? What are the advantages of a large brain, and what are the costs? Comparing brains of ecologically and phylogenetically disperse species provides one way to derive and test hypotheses about how brains evolve. Here I discuss the assumptions made when total brain size is compared across species and highlight potential difficulties that limit such comparisons. Chief among these is evidence that total brain size masks a hidden diversity of mammalian brain structure and cellular composition.",

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AB - Mammalian brain size varies from less than 1 g to over 9 kg, but what is the significance of this variation in terms of behavioral complexity and cognition? What are the advantages of a large brain, and what are the costs? Comparing brains of ecologically and phylogenetically disperse species provides one way to derive and test hypotheses about how brains evolve. Here I discuss the assumptions made when total brain size is compared across species and highlight potential difficulties that limit such comparisons. Chief among these is evidence that total brain size masks a hidden diversity of mammalian brain structure and cellular composition.

U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-12-804042-3.00034-8

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M3 - Conference Contribution (Conference Proceeding)

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BT - Evolution of Nervous Systems

ER -

Evolution of Large Brain and Body Size in Mammals

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