Cookies

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to browse this repository, you give consent for essential cookies to be used. You can read more about our Privacy and Cookie Policy.


Durham e-Theses
You are in:

The evolution of the primate cerebellum

Whiting, Bryony Anneke (2001) The evolution of the primate cerebellum. Masters thesis, Durham University.

[img]
Preview
PDF
6Mb

Abstract

Investigations into the evolution of the primate brain have consistently focussed on the neocortex as the principal area of change. New evidence is presented here to show that the cerebellum has also shown significant expansion over primate brain evolution indicating that exclusive focus on the neocortex is unwarranted. More detailed analysis shows that individual components of the cerebellar-neocortical system have undergone correlated evolution independently of change in the rest of the brain, providing support for the theory of mosaic evolution. Among primates, the great ape cerebellum is shown to be particularly large, indicating that this area of the brain is more important in great apes than in other primates. Possible ecological, social, developmental and motor correlates are investigated with the aim of accounting for cerebellar expansion. Implications for previous theories of primate brain evolution are discussed.

Item Type:Thesis (Masters)
Award:Master of Science
Thesis Date:2001
Copyright:Copyright of this thesis is held by the author
Deposited On:26 Jun 2012 15:25

Social bookmarking: del.icio.usConnoteaBibSonomyCiteULikeFacebookTwitter