BIOL 351 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Norman Geschwind, Biological Neural Network, Phylogenetic Tree
Document Summary
Brains are made of neurons that make neuronal networks, which are intimately connected. We can look at the formation of these networks to find evolutionary connections. In this research paper, buckner and krienen discuss relative brain size and complexity of neuronal pathways. A neuronal network, which is a complex network of neurons, can be expanded or even torn. What they discuss is the effect of evolution on those pathways. In smaller-brained ancestors, neuronal connections were patterned simply and compactly. When we evolved and our brains grew, the tethers ripped apart forcing the neurons to form new circuits. Many studies have thus been constructed using fmri to map the human"s connections and thus comparing it to the brains of other species. All in all, through studies of cortices, they have enhanced the differences found between species" neuronal connections. The behaviors of species reflect how neurons are wired and this begins when mammals are embryos and continue after birth.
