Neuroscience 2005 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 147.2 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | Development of the brain in infant chimpanzees. |
| Authors: |
Mikami, A.*1
; Nishimura, T.2
; Miwa, T.1
; Matsui, M.3
; Tanaka, M.1
; Tomonaga, M.1
; Matsuzawa, T.1
; Suzuki, J.1
; Kato, A.1
; Matsubayashi, K.1
; Goto, S.1
1Primate Res. Inst., Kyoto Univ., Inuyama 484, Japan 2Japan, Kanrin, 484-8506, 3Grad. School Sci., Kanrin, 484-8506, |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
Development - Evolution of Development |
| Session: |
147. Evolution of Development Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Sunday, November 13, 2005 9:00 AM-10:00 AM |
| Location: | Washington Convention Center - Hall A-C, Board # D23 |
| Keywords: | FRONTAL LOBE, MYELINATION, EVOLUTION, HUMAN |
Chimpanzees are the evolutionally closest animal to humans. Their brain sizes are about three times smaller than the brain sizes of humans. However, those sizes of chimpanzees are almost same as the ancient hominoid Australopithecus africanus. The macro-anatomical structures and shapes of their brains are similar between chimpanzees and humans. Thus, in order to reveal the evolutional process of the human brains, it must be helpful to understand the development of the brains in chimpanzee infants and to compare those with the development of the brains in human infants. We used the 3 dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (3D-MRI) techniques to study the brain of 4 chimpanzee infants. We studied 3 chimpanzee infants for 5 years and one for 2 years. The brain size increase was about 40% from 4 month to 24 month old. Among 4 lobes of cortices, volume increase in the frontal cortex was largest. These developmental processes were similar to the developmental processes of the human infants although the relative sizes of human brains were about 3 times larger than those of chimpanzees through out their development. The relative volume of the high density portion was smaller than the low-density portion in the initial 36 months of infancy. The increase of the high density portion was greater in the frontal lobe compared with the other lobes. These results probably related to the slow myelination process in chimpanzees. The data correspond with the age-related volumetric changes of brain gray and white matter in human infants.
Supported by Grant-in-Aid for Specially Promoted Research no. 10CE2005
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2005 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. Washington, DC: Society for Neuroscience, 2005. Online.
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