1. The endocast of MH1, Australopithecus sediba.
- Author
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Carlson KJ, Stout D, Jashashvili T, de Ruiter DJ, Tafforeau P, Carlson K, and Berger LR
- Subjects
- Animals, Brain growth & development, Frontal Lobe growth & development, Hominidae growth & development, Humans, Imaging, Three-Dimensional, Male, Olfactory Bulb anatomy & histology, Organ Size, Principal Component Analysis, Skull anatomy & histology, Skull growth & development, South Africa, Synchrotrons, Temporal Lobe anatomy & histology, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Biological Evolution, Brain anatomy & histology, Fossils, Frontal Lobe anatomy & histology, Hominidae anatomy & histology
- Abstract
The virtual endocast of MH1 (Australopithecus sediba), obtained from high-quality synchrotron scanning, reveals generally australopith-like convolutional patterns on the frontal lobes but also some foreshadowing of features of the human frontal lobes, such as posterior repositioning of the olfactory bulbs. Principal component analysis of orbitofrontal dimensions on australopith endocasts (MH1, Sts 5, and Sts 60) indicates that among these, MH1 orbitofrontal shape and organization align most closely with human endocasts. These results are consistent with gradual neural reorganization of the orbitofrontal region in the transition from Australopithecus to Homo, but given the small volume of the MH1 endocast, they are not consistent with gradual brain enlargement before the transition.
- Published
- 2011
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