Artificial selection on brain size leads to matching changes in overall number of neurons

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11310%2F19%3A10399871" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11310/19:10399871 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=0BMV5lb51u" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=0BMV5lb51u</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/evo.13805" target="_blank" >10.1111/evo.13805</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Artificial selection on brain size leads to matching changes in overall number of neurons

Original language description

Neurons are the basic computational units of the brain, but brain size is the predominant surrogate measure of brain functional capacity in comparative and cognitive neuroscience. This approach is based on the assumption that larger brains harbor higher numbers of neurons and their connections, and therefore have a higher information-processing capacity. However, recent studies have shown that brain mass may be less strongly correlated with neuron counts than previously thought. Till now, no experimental test has been conducted to examine the relationship between evolutionary changes in brain size and the number of brain neurons. Here, we provide such a test by comparing neuron number in artificial selection lines of female guppies (Poecilia reticulata) with &gt;15% difference in relative brain mass and numerous previously demonstrated cognitive differences. Using the isotropic fractionator, we demonstrate that large-brained females have a higher overall number of neurons than small-brained females, but similar neuronal densities. Importantly, this difference holds also for the telencephalon, a key region for cognition. Our study provides the first direct experimental evidence that selection for brain mass leads to matching changes in number of neurons and shows that brain size evolution is intimately linked to the evolution of neuron number and cognition.

Czech name

—

Czech description

—

Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

10613 - Zoology

Project

<a href="/en/project/GA18-15020S" target="_blank" >GA18-15020S: Evolution of brain complexity and processing capacity in amphibians and reptiles: A quantitative approach to understanding tetrapod brain evolution</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2019

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Evolution; international journal of organic evolution

ISSN

0014-3820

e-ISSN

—

Volume of the periodical

73

Issue of the periodical within the volume

9

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

10

Pages from-to

2003-2012

UT code for WoS article

000479899600001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85070088357