Evolution of Brain and Behavior: Comparative and Neural Perspectives in Behavioral Neuroscience

What is the evolutionary basis of behavior?

The rationale for comparative approaches to neuroscience drawn from evolutionary biology.

What are the two general approaches in evolutionary perspectives?

1) Studies of how different species are similar; 2) Studies of how similar species are different.

What drives evolution according to natural selection?

Natural selection drives the evolution of species based on environmental pressures.

What is convergent evolution?

The process where widely different species arrive at similar solutions to environmental challenges.

What is the significance of studying other species in behavioral neuroscience?

It helps understand how complicated lives require complicated brains and allows for comparative studies.

What do all vertebrate brains share?

They share the same basic structures.

How does ecological niche exploitation affect brain evolution?

It induces significant behavioral and neurophysiological differences among closely related species.

What is the encephalization factor?

A measure of how much a species' brain size exceeds the mammalian norm, compensating for body weight.

How much did hominin brain size increase during evolution?

It tripled in volume over 1.5 million years from Homo erectus to Homo sapiens.

What unique features do human brains have compared to chimpanzees?

More cortex devoted to hands, specialized language areas, functional asymmetry, and expanded association areas.

What percentage of the body's metabolic budget does the human brain account for?

15-20% of the metabolic budget, while only being 2% of body mass.

What is the orthodox view regarding hominin brain expansion?

It is a consequence of natural selection favoring skills like tool use and language.

What role does sexual selection play in brain evolution?

It may have propelled brain expansion and many human behavioral traits.

What is the relationship between brain size and ecological complexity?

More complex environments require larger and more sophisticated brains.

What are some key terms related to evolution and behavior?

Adaptation, allele, analogy, ecological niche, evolution by natural selection, and sexual selection.

What is the role of DNA analysis in evolutionary studies?

It aids in classifying animals and inferring evolutionary relationships.

How do invertebrate nervous systems differ from vertebrates?

They use fewer, larger neurons and have identifiable neurons and specialized sensory systems.

What does the term 'phylogeny' refer to?

The evolutionary history and relationships among species.

What is the significance of the cerebral cortex in brain evolution?

It is associated with higher cognitive functions and has expanded in primates.

What is the impact of prolonged growth in the mammalian cortex?

It contributes to increased encephalization and brain size over evolutionary time.

What is an endocast?

A cast of the inside of a skull, used to study brain evolution.

What is the difference between homology and homoplasy?

Homology refers to traits inherited from a common ancestor, while homoplasy refers to traits that arise independently.

What is the role of epigenetics in evolution?

It involves changes in gene expression that can affect evolution without altering the DNA sequence.

What is the relationship between mutation and evolution?

Mutations introduce genetic variation, which is essential for natural selection.

What does the term 'taxonomy' refer to?

The science of classification of organisms.

How does brain size correlate with behavioral complexity?

Generally, larger brains are associated with more complex behaviors and social structures.