Evolutionary Developmental Biology of the Cerebral Cortex
No. 228
Novartis Foundation Symposium
1. Edition May 2000
IX, 271 Pages, Hardcover
Wiley & Sons Ltd
Short Description
A comparative analysis of brain development is relevant to many areas of neuroscience. Comparison of immature stages reveals features of evolution that are not able to be seen in a mature brain. This important work brings together experts in the fields of mammalian, reptilian, avian, and amphibian brain development and experts in evolutionary biology who discuss analytical approaches leading to an understanding of the possible origins of the cerebral cortex.
The cerebral cortex is the crowning achievement of evolution and the biological substrate of human mental capacities. Using a comparative evolutionary developmental approach to the study of its origin helps to offer new insights into this complex and important problem. The comparison of immature stages reveals features of evolution that are otherwise obstructed by the complexity of the mature brain, and the analysis of development in terms of possible evolutionary events helps us to focus on the most biologically relevant mechanisms. In this book, leading experts in the fields of mammalian, reptilian, avian and amphibian brain development and from evolutionary biology, tackle the fundamental question of the origin of the cerebral cortex. The book includes critical examinations of methods used to study homology in the central nervous system and methods used in cladistic analysis. Recent data on the earliest generated transient cells in the mammalian, reptilian, avian and amphibian forebrain are discussed, as are possible homologies based on specific connectional analysis. The various hypotheses on the origin of the mammalian isocortex are discussed in detail and new results are presented on cortical organization in reptiles, birds, marsupials, monotremes and other species.
Thoughts on the Cerebellum as a Model for Cerebral Cortical Development and Evolution (K. Herrup).
Radial Unit Hypothesis of Neocortical Expansion (P. Rakic).
General Discussion I.
Genetic Control of Regional Identity in the Developing Vertebrate Forebrain (E. Boncinelli, et al.).
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Control of Cortical Development (J. Rubenstein).
A Hypothesis as to the Organization of Cerebral Cortex in the Common Amniote Ancestor of Modern Reptiles and Mammals (A. Reiner).
General Discussion II.
Evolution of Cortical Lamination: The Reelin/Dab1 Pathway (I. Bar & A. Goffinet).
The Contribution of the Ganglionic Eminence to the Neuronal Cell Types of the Cerebral Cortex (J. Parnavelas, et al.).
Conserved Developmental Algorithms During Thalamocortical Circuit Formation in Mammals and Reptiles (Z. Molnár).
Regionalization of the Cerebral Cortex: Developmental Mechanisms and Models (P. Levitt & K. Eagleson).
Organizing Principles of Sensory Representations (J. Kaas).
How Does Evolution Build a Complex Brain? (L. Krubitzer).
Developmental Plasticity: To Preserve the Individual or to Create a New Species? (E. Welker).
The Relevance of Visual Perception to Cortical Evolution and Development (D. Purves, et al.).
Final Discussion.
Indexes.
