Cortical Evolution in Primates: What Primates Are, What Primates Were, and Why the Cortex Changed

Cortical Evolution in Primates is a comprehensive resource for neuroscience graduate students and established neuroscientists interested in cortical evolution and primates. It discusses the pertinent terminology and taxonomy, explores the palaeontology, adaptations, and paleoecology of primates, and harnesses the power of comparative neuroanatomy to examine how cortical maps changed during private evolution. The book concludes that the cortex expanded more recently than most neuroscientists suspect and occurred independently in several major primate lineages, favoring the expansion of cortical areas with neural representations that provided a selective advantage to ancestral primates.

Format: Hardback
Length: 400 pages
Publication date: 21 December 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press

Cortical Evolution in Primates is a comprehensive and essential resource for neuroscience graduate students and established neuroscientists who are interested in the study of cortical evolution and primates. The book addresses the often unfamiliar terminology and concepts used in discussions of these topics, ensuring that readers can understand the text and figures without needing additional references.

In addition to reviewing the relevant terminology and taxonomy, the book delves into the paleontology, adaptations, and paleoecology of primates. By summarizing a neglected source of data, fossil primates, the book harnesses the power of comparative neuroanatomy to examine how cortical maps changed during private evolution. It presents nine proposals on why the cortex changed, providing a comprehensive understanding of cortical evolution in primates.

Through its comprehensive coverage, Cortical Evolution in Primates offers a deep insight into the evolution of the primate cortex. It challenges the prevailing notion that the cortex expanded more recently than most neuroscientists suspect and emphasizes that cortical expansion occurred independently in several major primate lineages. The book explains how ancestral primates adapted to their respective ecosystems by expanding cortical areas with neural representations that conferred a selective advantage.

This resource is particularly valuable for students and researchers seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between cortical evolution, primates, and their ecological niches. It provides a solid foundation for future research in this field and serves as a valuable reference for both novice and experienced neuroscientists.

Weight: 936g
Dimension: 179 x 254 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192868398