Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Dynamics of Learning in Neanderthals and Modern Humans Volume 2 pp 121–129Cite as

Functional Craniology, Human Evolution, and Anatomical Constraints in the Neanderthal Braincase

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans Series ((RNMH))

Abstract

Neanderthals and modern humans share a similar cranial capacity but different neurocranial organization. Recently, digital anatomy and computed morphometrics have generated a revolution in functional craniology, allowing quantitative analyses to investigate integration and correlation among the anatomical elements, both in ontogeny and phylogeny. Despite some derived endocranial traits, Neanderthals display a general plesiomorph organization of the braincase. Geometrical and structural constraints between the endocranial soft and hard tissues may have induced morphogenetic limits to the growth and developmental processes. At the same time, heat production associated with a large cranial capacity and a plesiomorph vascular system may have also involved thermal limits. Although in paleontology morphogenetic and metabolic processes can only be investigated through indirect evidence, such hypotheses merit attention when considering the patterns of brain evolution in the genus Homo. It is tempting to wonder whether these limits may be also related to possible factors associated with the extinction of Neanderthals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Anton SC, Jaslow CR, Swartz SM (1992) Sutural complexity in artificially deformed human (Homo sapiens) crania. J Morphol 214:321–332

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bastir M, Rosas A (2005) Hierarchical nature of morphological integration and modularity in the human posterior face. Am J Phys Anthropol 128:26–34

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bastir M, Rosas A, Kuroe K (2004) Petrosal orientation and mandibular ramus breadth: evidence for an integrated petroso-mandibular developmental unit. Am J Phys Anthropol 123:340–350

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bastir M, Rosas A, O’Higgins P (2006) Craniofacial levels and the morphological maturation of the human skull. J Anat 209:637–654

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bastir M, Rosas A, Lieberman DE, O’Higgins P (2008) Middle craneal fossa and the origin of modern humans. Anat Rec 291:130–140

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bastir M, Rosas A, Gunz P, Peña-Melian A, Manzi G, Harvati K, Kruszynski R, Stringer C, Hublin JJ (2011) Evolution of the base of the brain in highly encephalized human species. Nat Commun 2:588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bertolizio G, Mason L, Bissonnette B (2011) Brain temperature: heat production, elimination and clinical relevance. Paediatr Anaesth 21:347–358

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bookstein FL, Gunz P, Mitteroecker P, Prossinger H, Schaefer K, Seidler H (2003) Cranial integration in Homo: singular warps analysis of the midsagittal plane in ontogeny and evolution. J Hum Evol 44:167–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brengelmann GL (1993) Specialized brain cooling in humans? FASEB J 7:1148–1153

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E (2004) Geometric morphometrics and paleoneurology: brain shape evolution in the genus Homo. J Hum Evol 47:279–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E (2008) Comparing endocranial form and shape differences in modern humans and Neandertal: a geometric approach. PaleoAnthropology 2008:93–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E (2010) Morphological differences in the parietal lobes within the human genus: a neurofunctional perspective. Curr Anthropol 51:S77–S88

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E (2013) The species concept as a cognitive tool for biological anthropology. Am J Primatol 75:10–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E. Manzi G (2006) Saccopastore 1: the earliest Neanderthal? A new look at an old cranium. In: Harvati K, Harrison T (eds) Neanderthals revisited: new approaches and perspectives. Springer, The Netherlands, pp 23–36

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E, Holloway R (2010) Bivariate approach to the widening of the frontal lobes in the genus Homo. J Hum Evol 58:138–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E, Jacobs HIL (2013) Alzheimer’s Disease: the downside of a highly evolved parietal lobe? J Alzheimer’s Disease 35:227–240

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E, Manzi G (2005) CT-based description and phyletic evaluation of the archaic human calvarium from Ceprano, Italy. Anat Rec 285A:643–658

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E, Manzi G (2008) Paleoneurology of an early Neanderthal: endocranial size, shape, and features of Saccopastore 1. J Hum Evol 54:729–742

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E, Pearson O (2013) Neurocranial evolution in modern humans: the case of Jebel Irhoud 1. Anthropol Sci 121:31–41

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E, Ripani M (2008) A quantitative and descriptive approach to morphological variation of the endocranial base in modern humans. Am J Phys Anthropol 137:30–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E, Sherkat S (2008) The middle meningeal artery: from clinics to fossils. Childs Nerv Syst 24:1289–1298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E, Manzi G, Arsuaga JL (2003) Encephalization and allometric trajectories in the genus Homo: evidence from the Neanderthal and modern lineages. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 100:15335–15340

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E, Mantini S, Perna A, Maffei C, Manzi G (2005) Fractal dimension of the middle meningeal vessels: variation and evolution in Homo erectus, Neanderthals, and modern humans. Eur J Morphol 42:217–224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E, Manzi G, Holloway RL (2006) Krapina and Saccopastore: Endocranial morphology in the pre-Wurmian Europeans. Period Biolog 108:433–441

    Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E, Mantini S, Ripani M (2009) Landmark-based analysis of the morphological relationship between endocranial shape and traces of the middle meningeal vessels. Anat Rec 292:518–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E, de la Cuétara JM, Holloway R (2011a) A bivariate approach to the variation of the parietal curvature in the genus Homo. Anat Rec 294:1548–1556

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E, Mantini S, Musso F, de la Cuétara JM, Ripani M, Sherkat S (2011b) The evolution of the meningeal vascular system in the human genus: from brain shape to thermoregulation. Am J Hum Biol 23:35–43

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruner E, De la Cuétara M, Musso F (2012) Quantifying patterns of endocranial heat distribution: brain geometry and thermoregulation. Am J Hum Biol 24:753–762

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cabanac M (1993) Selective brain cooling in humans: ‘fancy’ or fact? FASEB J 7:1143–1146

    Google Scholar 

  • Churchill SE (1998) Cold adaptation, heterochrony, and Neandertals. Evol Anthropol 7:46–60

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Churchill SE (2006) Bioenergetic perspectives on Neanderthal thermoregulatory and activity budgets. In: Harvati K, Harrison T (eds) Neanderthals revisited: new approaches and perspectives. Springer, Dordrecht, pp 113–134

    Google Scholar 

  • D’AW T (1942) On growth and form. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Dean D, Hublin JJ, Holloway R, Ziegler R (1998) On the phylogenetic position of the pre-Neandertal specimen from Reilingen, Germany. J Hum Evol 34:485–508

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Di Ieva A, Bruner E, Davidson J, Pisano P, Haider T, Stone SS, Cusimano MD, Tschabitscher M, Grizzi F (2013) Cranial sutures: a multidisciplinary review. Childs Nerv Syst 29:893–905

    Google Scholar 

  • Enlow DH (1990) Facial Growth. WB Saunders Company, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  • Falk D (1990) Brain evolution in Homo: the “radiator” theory. Behav Brain Sci 13:333–344

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Falk D (1993) Meningeal arterial pattern in great apes: implication for hominoid vascular evolution. Am J Phys Anthropol 92:81–97

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gould SJ (1966) Allometry and size in ontogeny and phylogeny. Biol Rev 41:587–640

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Grimaud-Hervé D (1997) L’évolution de l’encéphale chez l’Homo erectus et l’Homo sapiens. CNRS Eds, Paris

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunz P, Harvati K (2007) The Neanderthal "chignon": variation, integration, and homology. J Hum Evol 52:262–274

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gunz P, Mitteroecker P, Neubauer S, Weber GW, Bookstein FL (2009) Principles for the virtual reconstruction of hominin crania. J Hum Evol 57:48–62

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gunz P, Neubauer S, Maureille B, Hublin JJ (2010) Brain development after birth differs between Neanderthals and modern humans. Curr Biol 20:R921–R922

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hauser G, De Stefano GF (1989) Epigenetic variants of the human skull. Schweizerbart, Stuttgart

    Google Scholar 

  • Holliday TW (2006) Neanderthals and modern humans: an example of mammalian syngameon. In: Harvati K, Harrison T (eds) Neanderthals revisited: new approaches and perspectives. Springer, The Netherlands, pp 281–298

    Google Scholar 

  • Holloway RL (1980) Indonesian “Solo” (Ngandong) endocranial reconstructions: some preliminary observations with Neanderthal and Homo erectus groups. Am J Phys Anthropol 53:285–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holloway RL (1981) Volumetric and asimmetry determinations on recent hominid endocasts: Spy I and Spy II, Djebel Ihroud I, and the Sale´ Homo erectus specimen. With some notes on Neandertal brain size. Am J Phys Anthropol 55:385–393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Holloway RL, Broadfiled DC, Yuan MS (2004) The human fossil record, vol 3: brain endocast. Wiley, Hoboken

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Hublin JJ (2009) The origin of Neandertals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106:16022–16027

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Karbowski J (2009) Thermodynamic constraints on neural dimensions, firing rates, brain temperature and size. J Comput Neurosci 27:415–436

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leonard WR, Snodgrass JJ, Robertson ML (2007) Effects of brain evolution on human nutrition and metabolism. Annu Rev Nutr 27:311–327

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman DE, Ross C, Ravosa M (2000) The primate cranial base: ontogeny function and integration. Yearb Phys Anthropol 43:117–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman DE, McBratney BM, Krovitz G (2002) The evolution and development of cranial form in Homo sapiens. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 99:1134–1139

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manzi G (2003) “Epigenetic” cranial traits, Neandertals and the origin of Homo sapiens. Riv Antropol 81:57–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Manzi G, Vienna A, Hauser G (1996) Developmental stress and cranial hypostosis by epigenetic trait occurrence and distribution: an exploratory study on the Italian Neandertals. J Hum Evol 30:511–527

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masters MP (2012) Relative size of the eye and orbit: an evolutionary and craniofacial constraint model for examining the etiology and disparate incidence of juvenile-onset myopia in humans. Med Hypotheses 78:649–656

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCarthy RC (2001) Anthropoid cranial base architecture and scaling relationships. J Hum Evol 40:41–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGhee GR (2006) The geometry of evolution: adaptive landscapes and theoretical morphospaces. Cambridge University Press, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Moss ML, Young RW (1960) A functional approach to craniology. Am J Phys Anthropol 18:281–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neubauer S, Gunz P, Hublin JJ (2009) The pattern of endocranial ontogenetic shape changes in humans. J Anat 215:240–255

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neubauer S, Gunz P, Hublin JJ (2010) Endocranial shape changes during growth in chimpanzees and humans: a morphometric analysis of unique and shared aspects. J Hum Evol 59:555–566

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Laughlin VD (2004) Effects of different kinds of cranial deformation on the incidence of Wormian bones. Am J Phys Anthropol 123:146–155

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • O’Loughlin VD (1996) Comparative endocranial vascular changes due to craniosynostosis and artificial cranial deformation. Am J Phys Anthropol 101:369–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pearce E, Stringer C, Dunbar RIM (2013) New insights into differences in brain organization between Neanderthals and anatomically modern humans. Proc R Soc B 280:20130168

    Google Scholar 

  • Ponce de León MS, Zollikofer CPE (2001) Neanderthal cranial ontogeny and its implications for late hominid diversity. Nature 412:534–538

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rango M, Arighi A, Bresolin N (2012) Brain temperature: what do we know? Neuro Report 23:483–487

    Google Scholar 

  • Richtsmeier JT, Aldridge K, de Leon VB, Panchal J, Kane AA, Marsh JL, Yan P, Cole TM (2006) Phenotypic integration of neurocranium and brain. J Exp Zool 306B:360–378

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rohlf FJ, Marcus LF (1993) A revolution in morphometrics. Trends Ecol Evol 8:129–132

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosas A, Bastir M (2002) Thin-plate spline analysis of allometry and sexual dimorphism in the human craniofacial complex. Am J Phys Anthropol 117:236–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosas A, Bastir M, Martínez-Maza C, García-Tabernero A, Lalueza-Fox C (2006) Inquires into Neandertal craniofacial development and evolution: “accretion” versus “organismic” models. In: Harvati K, Harrison T (eds) Neanderthals revisited: new approaches and perspectives. Springer, The Netherlands, pp 37–70

    Google Scholar 

  • Sergi S (1934) Ossicini fontanellari della regione del lambda nel cranio di Saccopastore e nei crani neandertaliani. Riv Antropol 30:101–112

    Google Scholar 

  • Sergi S (1944) Craniometria e craniografia del primo paleantropo di Saccopastore. Ricerche di Morfologia 20–21:733–791

    Google Scholar 

  • Sergi S (1948) L’uomo di Saccopastore. Paleontographia Italica XLII:25–164

    Google Scholar 

  • Shea BT (1992) Developmental perspective on size change and allometry in evolution. Evol Anthropol 1:125–134

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson GG (1944) Tempo and mode in evolution. Columbia University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Slice DE (2004) Modern morphometrics in physical anthropology. Kluwer Academic/Plenum, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Spoor F, Jeffery N, Zonneveld F (2000) Using diagnostic radiology in human evolutionary studies. J Anat 197:61–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sukstanskii AL, Yablonskiy DA (2006) Theoretical model of temperature regulation in the brain during changes in functional activity. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 103:12144–12149

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tattersall I (2007) Neanderthals, Homo sapiens, and the question of species in paleoanthropology. J Anthropol Sci 85:139–146

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Leeuwen GM, Hand JW, Lagendijk JW, Azzopardi DV, Edwards AD (2000) Numerical modeling of temperature distributions within the neonatal head. Pediatr Res 48:351–356

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vandermeersch B, Garralda MD (2011) Neanderthal geographical and chronological variation. In: Condemi S, Weniger GC (eds) Continuity and discontinuity in the peopling of Europe. Springer, Dordrecht, pp113–125

    Google Scholar 

  • Weaver TD (2009) The meaning of the Neandertal skeletal morphology. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106:16028–16033

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weber GW, Bookstein FL (2011) Virtual anthropology: a guide to a new interdisciplinary field. Springer, Wien

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • White CD (1996) Sutural effects of fronto-occipital cranial modification. Am J Phys Anthropol 100:397–410

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zenker W, Kubik S (1996) Brain cooling in humans – anatomical considerations. Anat Embryol 193:1–13

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhu M, Ackerman JJH, Sukstanskii AL, Yablonskiy DA (2006) How the body controls brain temperature: the temperature shielding effect of cerebral blood flow. J Appl Physiol 101:1481–1488

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zollikofer CPE, Ponce de León MS (2005) Virtual reconstruction: a primer in computer-assisted paleontology and biomedicine. Wiley, New York

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

I am grateful to Naomichi Ogihara for inviting me to join his team on Neanderthal brain evolution, and to Takeru Akazawa for coordinating this project. Thanks to Osamu Kondo, Hideki Amano, Yasushi Kobayashi, Hiroki Tanabe, and Daisuke Kubo, for their contribution and involvement. Thanks to José Manuel de la Cuétara for his collaboration on the study of the endocranial heat dissipation patterns and for his comments on this manuscript, to Giorgio Manzi for his help on the epigenetic traits, and to Shahram Sherkat and Simone Mantini for their participation in the study of the middle meningeal vessels. This paper is supported by the Proyecto Atapuerca (Spain) and by the Italian Institute of Anthropology (Italy).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana, Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca s/n, 09002, Burgos, Spain

    Emiliano Bruner

Authors
  1. Emiliano Bruner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emiliano Bruner .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Kochi University of Technology, Research Institute, Kami-shi, Kochi, Japan

    Takeru Akazawa

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan

    Naomichi Ogihara

  3. Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Nagoya University, Nagoya, Japan

    Hiroki C Tanabe

  4. Department of Human Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Kobe, Japan

    Hideaki Terashima

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Japan

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Bruner, E. (2014). Functional Craniology, Human Evolution, and Anatomical Constraints in the Neanderthal Braincase. In: Akazawa, T., Ogihara, N., C Tanabe, H., Terashima, H. (eds) Dynamics of Learning in Neanderthals and Modern Humans Volume 2. Replacement of Neanderthals by Modern Humans Series. Springer, Tokyo. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-4-431-54553-8_13

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation