Neuron numbers link innovativeness with both absolute and relative brain size in birds

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F00216208%3A11310%2F22%3A10450326" target="_blank" >RIV/00216208:11310/22:10450326 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=Op8SWwqb6e" target="_blank" >https://verso.is.cuni.cz/pub/verso.fpl?fname=obd_publikace_handle&handle=Op8SWwqb6e</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41559-022-01815-x" target="_blank" >10.1038/s41559-022-01815-x</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Neuron numbers link innovativeness with both absolute and relative brain size in birds

Original language description

A longstanding issue in biology is whether the intelligence of animals can be predicted by absolute or relative brain size. However, progress has been hampered by an insufficient understanding of how neuron numbers shape internal brain organization and cognitive performance. On the basis of estimations of neuron numbers for 111 bird species, we show here that the number of neurons in the pallial telencephalon is positively associated with a major expression of intelligence: innovation propensity. The number of pallial neurons, in turn, is greater in brains that are larger in both absolute and relative terms and positively covaries with longer post-hatching development periods. Thus, our analyses show that neuron numbers link cognitive performance to both absolute and relative brain size through developmental adjustments. These findings help unify neuro-anatomical measures at multiple levels, reconciling contradictory views over the biological significance of brain expansion. The results also highlight the value of a life history perspective to advance our understanding of the evolutionary bases of the connections between brain and cognition. Using estimation data on neuron numbers in 111 bird species across 24 families, the authors show that number of neurons is positively associated with innovation propensity and encephalization.

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

2022

Confidentiality

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

Name of the periodical

NATURE ECOLOGY &amp; EVOLUTION [online]

ISSN

2397-334X

e-ISSN

2397-334X

Volume of the periodical

6

Issue of the periodical within the volume

9

Country of publishing house

GB - UNITED KINGDOM

Number of pages

9

Pages from-to

1381-1389

UT code for WoS article

000825839600003

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-85133856221