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On the Origin and Progressive Evolution of the Triune Brain

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Book cover Primate Brain Evolution

Abstract

That the cerebral hemispheres are requisite for the spontaneous, directed activities of terrestrial vertebrates has been well known since the last century. As Ferrier (1876) noted, if a decerebrated animal “be left to itself, undisturbed by any form of external stimulus, it remains fixed and immovable on the same spot, and unless artificially fed, dies of starvation....” As has since been repeatedly confirmed, the neuraxis below the level of the hemispheres contains the neural apparatus required for posture and locomotion and the integrated performance of bodily actions involved in self-preservation and procreation. Since the cerebral hemispheres are essential for psychological functions, they may appropriately be referred to as the psychencephalon.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Brain Evolution and Behavior, National Institute of Mental Health, Poolesville, Maryland, 20837, USA

    Paul D. MacLean

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  1. Paul D. MacLean
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

    Este Armstrong

  2. University of Puerto Rico Medical Science Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico

    Dean Falk

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© 1982 Plenum Press, New York

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MacLean, P.D. (1982). On the Origin and Progressive Evolution of the Triune Brain. In: Armstrong, E., Falk, D. (eds) Primate Brain Evolution. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4148-2_19

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4148-2_19

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4684-4150-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4684-4148-2

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