Dobson Seth D, Sherwood Chet C
Department of Anthropology, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA.
Anat Res Int. 2011;2011:236894. doi: 10.1155/2011/236894. Epub 2011 May 29.
Facial motor nucleus volume coevolves with both social group size and primary visual cortex volume in catarrhine primates as part of a specialized neuroethological system for communication using facial expressions. Here, we examine whether facial nucleus volume also coevolves with functionally unrelated brainstem motor nuclei (trigeminal motor and hypoglossal) due to developmental constraints. Using phylogenetically informed multiple regression analyses of previously published brain component data, we demonstrate that facial nucleus volume is not correlated with the volume of other motor nuclei after controlling for medulla volume. Our results show that brainstem motor nuclei can evolve independently of other developmentally linked structures in association with specific behavioral ecological conditions. This finding provides additional support for the mosaic view of brain evolution.
在狭鼻猴灵长类动物中，面部运动核体积与社会群体大小和初级视觉皮层体积共同进化，作为使用面部表情进行交流的专门神经行为系统的一部分。在这里，我们研究面部核体积是否也由于发育限制而与功能无关的脑干运动核（三叉神经运动核和舌下神经核）共同进化。通过对先前发表的脑成分数据进行系统发育知情的多元回归分析，我们证明在控制延髓体积后，面部核体积与其他运动核的体积无关。我们的结果表明，脑干运动核可以与特定的行为生态条件相关联，独立于其他发育相关结构而进化。这一发现为大脑进化的镶嵌观点提供了额外支持。
