Neuroscience 2000 Abstract
| Presentation Number: | 462.2 |
|---|---|
| Abstract Title: | My cerebellum is bigger than yours: relative size of the cerebellum in dolphins and primates. |
| Authors: |
Marino, L.*1
; Rilling, J. K.2
; Ridgway, S. H.3
; Lin, S.4
1Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, Emory Univ, Atlanta, GA 2Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 3Navy Marine Mammal Program, San Diego, CA 4Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA |
| Primary Theme and Topics |
H. Other Systems of the CNS - 100. Comparative neuroanatomy and brain evolution |
| Secondary Theme and Topics | G. Motor Systems and Sensorimotor Integration<br />- 88. Cerebellum |
| Session: |
462. Comparative neuroanatomy and brain evolution: mammals, birds, fish and other Poster |
| Presentation Time: | Tuesday, November 7, 2000 9:00 AM-10:00 AM |
| Location: | Hall G-J |
| Keywords: | Delphinus delphis, Tursiops truncatus, MRI, SENSORIMOTOR |
Size relationships between the whole brain and its components are highly conserved on a broad taxonomic level. But, with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) analyses, Rilling and Insel (1998) showed that cerebellar volume is not predictable from whole brain volume across primates. To test the generalizability of these findings, we analyzed the cerebellum-whole brain relationship in another large brained mammal, dolphins. Fresh whole brain and cerebellum weights were obtained from 31 early postmortem adult common and bottlenose dolphins. Whole brain and cerebellum volumes for 4 additional dolphins were obtained from T1-weighted postmortem MRI scans using image analysis software (Scion IMAGE). Log weight (or volume from MRIs) of the cerebellum was regressed on log whole brain minus cerebellum (weight or volume) for dolphins, apes, monkeys, and humans separately and a line fitted through each sample. A General Linear Model was used to test for significant differences in the regression slopes and intercepts for each group that would imply differences in scaling factors and/or grade shifts. Although no differences in slopes were found, significant differences in intercepts among the groups (all p values < 0.016) showed that, controlling for whole brain size, the average dolphin cerebellum is 18.6%, 55%, and 70% larger than the average ape, human, and monkey cerebellum, respectively. These results show that the cerebellum-whole brain size relationship is not conserved across dolphins and primates and have implications for brain allometry theories.
Sample Citation:
[Authors]. [Abstract Title]. Program No. XXX.XX. 2000 Neuroscience Meeting Planner. New Orleans, LA: Society for Neuroscience, 2000. Online.
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