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Evolutionary radiations and convergences in the structural organization of mammalian brains

Nature volume 409, pages 710–714 (2001)Cite this article

Abstract

The sizes of mammalian brain components seem to be mostly related to the sizes of the whole brain (and body), suggesting a one-dimensional scale of encephalization1,2,3. Previous multivariate study of such data concludes that evolutionary selection for enlargement of any one brain part is constrained to selection for a concerted enlargement of the whole brain4. However, interactions between structurally related pairs of brain parts5 confirm reports of differential change in brain nuclei6, and imply mosaic rather than concerted evolution. Here we analyse a large number of variables simultaneously using multi-dimensional methods7. We show that the relative proportions of different systems of functionally integrated brain structures vary independently between different mammalian orders, demonstrating separate evolutionary radiations in mammalian brain organization8. Within each major order we identify clusters of unrelated species that occupy similar behavioural niches and have convergently evolved similar brain proportions. We conclude that within orders, mosaic brain organization is caused by selective adaptation, whereas between orders it suggests an interplay between selection and constraints.

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Figure 1: Three-dimensional representation of species (coloured spheres) as separated by the first three Principal Components of the analysis of brain proportions.
Figure 2: Side view of Fig. 1, showing the bat dispersion at right angles to both the primate and insectivore directions.
Figure 3: Lifestyle convergences in brain proportions in insectivores and bats.
Figure 4: Relative contributions of the various brain structure proportions (arrows) to the species dispersions (dots).

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Acknowledgements

We thank H. Stephan for kindly sharing unpublished data, P. Merenda for producing 3D data displays, and A. Harvey, A. Baddeley, M. Arbib, L. Slomianka, M. Cottingham, R. B. Coles and J. D. Pettigrew, who have helped in various ways. This work is supported by two Australian Research Council Large Grants to C.E.O. and an Australian Research Council Small Grant to W.d.W. and C.E.O.

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  1. Department of Anatomy and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Perth, 6907, Western Australia, Australia

    Willem de Winter & Charles E. Oxnard

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  1. Willem de Winter
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Correspondence to Charles E. Oxnard.

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de Winter, W., Oxnard, C. Evolutionary radiations and convergences in the structural organization of mammalian brains. Nature 409, 710–714 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1038/35055547

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