Welcome!
The Laboratory for Evolutionary Neuroanatomy is dedicated to research on brain evolution in primates and other mammals. We investigate phylogenetic diversity in neural structure, including its behavioral correlates and genetic substrates.
A primary goal of the laboratory’s research is to obtain a comprehensive characterization of variation in neocortical architecture among mammals. We use modern quantitative neuroanatomical methods to explore species differences in inhibitory interneuron distributions, neuronal morphology, glial cell proportions, innervation by neuromodulatory fibers, and synaptic organization. These studies allow us to reconstruct the evolutionary history of brain structure across mammals and to identify possible neural specializations underlying behavioral adaptations.
Within the scope of the laboratory’s research, we are examining human brain organization in comparison to other primates. Our aim is to elucidate the biological basis of uniquely modern human cognitive abilities, such as “theory of mind” and language. In addition, we are exploring the link between genotypic changes and the evolution of encephalization in the human lineage.