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Mosaic Evolution in the Primate Brain: Differences and Similarities in the Hominoid Thalamus

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Primate Brain Evolution

Abstract

Development of evolutionary hypotheses about the brain or central nervous system (CNS) in any particular taxon depends on solid comparative neurobiological data. Differences among closely related species are likely to be quantitative, and in comparative neuroanatomy a histological technique amenable for quantitative comparisons is a Nissl stain that colors all neuronal perikarya and glial nuclei. Nissl-stained serial sections throughout the brain permit identification of discrete populations of neurons according to their cytoarchitecture, i.e., the arrangement, orientation, density, and coloring features of the nerve cells. Measurements on and within architecturally distinct regions called nuclei or laminae can then be made (Armstrong, 1979; Bauchot, this volume; Zilles et al., this volume; Galaburda and Pandya, this volume).

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  1. Department of Anatomy, Louisiana State University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70112, USA

    Este Armstrong

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  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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Armstrong, E. (1982). Mosaic Evolution in the Primate Brain: Differences and Similarities in the Hominoid Thalamus. In: Armstrong, E., Falk, D. (eds) Primate Brain Evolution. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4148-2_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4684-4148-2_10

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