Endocasts-the direct evidence and recent advances in the study of human brain evolution

• 作 者: Christopher J.Norton
• 机 构: Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology Chinese Academy of Sciences,,Beijing 1000
• 出 处: Progress in Natural Science
• 发表日期: 2004年期
• 关键词: fossil absolute anatomy frontal advances phylogeny asymmetry skull instance like

Brain evolution is one of the most important aspects of human evolution,usually studied through endocasts.Analysis of fossil hominid endocasts allows inferences on functional anatomy,physiology,and phylogeny.In this paper,we describe the general features of endocast studies and review some of the major topics in paleoneurology.These are:absolute and relative brain size evolution;brain shape variation;brain asymmetry and lateralization;middle meningeal vessels and venous sinuses;application of computed tomography and virtual imaging;the history of Chinese brain endocast studies.In particular,this review emphasizes endocast studies on Chinese hominin fossils.

Brain evolution is one of the most important aspects of human evolution, usually studied through endocasts. Analysis of fossil hominid endocasts allows inferences on functional anatomy, physiology, and phylogeny. In this paper, we describe the general features of endocast studies and review some of the major topics in paleoneurology.These are: absolute and relative brain size evolution; brain shape variation; brain asymmetry and lateralization; middle meningeal vessels and venous sinuses; application of computed tomography and virtual imaging; the history of Chinese brain endocast studies. this review emphasizes endocast studies on Chinese hominin fossils.