Unveiling ancient minds: fossil endocasts unlock secrets of past brains NatureComms BathSpaUni fossils brainfossil unlock ancientminds
By Tarun Sai LomteJun 15 2023Reviewed by Lily Ramsey, LLM A recent study published in the Communications Biology Journal summarized the knowledge of brain anatomy from fossil records and brain evolution.Background Because the brain does not fossilize like bones and teeth, observing endocranium is the only way to understand extinct species' external brain anatomy.
Data from endocasts Endocasts are natural or synthetic internal casts of the endocranium, resembling brains, that provide data on a few gross anatomical features. The study of the brain evolution of extinct species was possible due to endocast techniques. Fossil endocranial imprints can provide information on brain size, vasculature, and morphological features.
Another research team revealed that chimpanzees, orangutans, and gorillas exhibited asymmetry patterns typical of humans, challenging the notion that human asymmetry is unique. Emerging directions Emerging directions for future research involve paleo-neurological collections incorporating neuroimaging, cellular and molecular biology, comparative phylogenetic techniques, paleo-anthropological discoveries, and sharing tools and data.
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