Find research datasets worth reusing
Search datasets from major research repositories and use ShareScore to quickly assess how well each record supports discovery, access, and reuse.
119
datasets available to search
ShareScore release 0.7.1
Dataset results
119 results for “Brain evolution”
Data from: A Miopetaurista (Sciuridae, Rodentia) cranium from the middle Miocene of Bavaria (Germany) and brain evolution in flying squirrels
<p>Flying squirrels (Sciurinae, Pteromyini) are the most successful group of gliding mammals. However, their fossil record mostly consists of isolated dental remains which provide very limited insights into their paleobiology and evolution. Only recently, the first skeleton of a fossil flying squirrel, belonging to the species <em>Miopetaurista neogrivensis</em>, has been described. It presents all the diagnostic gliding-related postcranial features of its extant relatives and shows that this group has undergone very little morphological change for almost 12 million years. However, the associated cranium is badly crushed, so particular details of the cranial morphology cannot be described. Here we describe a well-preserved cranium of the closely-related <em>Miopetaurista crusafonti</em> from 12.5–12.0 Ma from Bavaria (Germany). Its cranial morphology is found to be almost identical to extant large flying squirrels, even in details such as the position of the foramina. The virtual endocast also shows close affinities to living large flying squirrels in morphology and in the relative volume of different brain regions, showing diagnostic features such as the size reduction of petrosal lobules and olfactory bulbs. However, the encephalization quotient (EQ) and neocortical ratio are lower than observed in extant flying squirrels. EQ is known to increase through time in squirrels, but might also be related to locomotion, as arboreal and gliding squirrels display higher EQs than terrestrial ones. Because <em>Miopetaurista</em> was certainly a glider, its comparatively lower EQ and neocortical size support the existence of an independent trend of increasing EQ and neocortical complexity in this flying squirrel subclade.</p>
Data from: Convergent mosaic brain evolution is associated with the evolution of novel electrosensory systems in teleost fishes
<p><span><span><span><span>Brain region size generally scales allometrically with total brain size, but mosaic shifts in brain region size independent of brain size have been found in several lineages and may be related to the evolution of behavioral novelty. African weakly electric fishes (Mormyroidea) evolved a mosaically enlarged cerebellum and hindbrain, yet the relationship to their behaviorally novel electrosensory system remains unclear. We addressed this by studying South American weakly electric fishes (Gymnotiformes) and weakly electric catfishes (<em>Synodontis</em> spp.), which evolved varying aspects of electrosensory systems, independent of mormyroids. If the mormyroid mosaic increases are related to evolving an electrosensory system, we should find similar mosaic shifts in gymnotiforms and <em>Synodontis</em>. Using micro-computed tomography scans, we quantified brain region scaling for multiple electrogenic, electroreceptive, and non-electrosensing species. We found mosaic increases in cerebellum in all three electrogenic lineages relative to non-electric lineages and mosaic increases in torus semicircularis and hindbrain associated with the evolution of electrogenesis and electroreceptor type. These results show that evolving novel electrosensory systems is repeatedly and independently associated with changes in the sizes of individual brain regions independent of brain size, which suggests that selection can impact structural brain composition to favor specific regions involved in novel behaviors.</span></span></span></span></p>
Data from: Nocturnal giants: evolution of the sensory ecology in elephant birds and other palaeognaths inferred from digital brain reconstructions
The recently-extinct Malagasy elephant birds (Palaeognathae, Aepyornithiformes) included the largest birds that ever lived. Elephant bird neuroanatomy is understudied but can shed light on the lifestyle of these enigmatic birds. Paleoneurological studies can provide clues to the ecologies and behaviors of extinct birds because avian brain shape is correlated with neurological function. We digitally reconstruct endocasts of two elephant bird species, Aepyornis maximus and A. hildebrandti, and compare them with representatives of all major extant and recently-extinct palaeognath lineages. Among palaeognaths, we find large olfactory bulbs in taxa generally occupying forested environments where visual cues used in foraging are likely to be limited. We detected variation in olfactory bulb size among elephant bird species, possibly indicating interspecific variation in habitat. Elephant birds exhibited extremely reduced optic lobes, a condition also observed in the nocturnal kiwi. Kiwi, the sister taxon of elephant birds, have effectively replaced their visual systems with hyperdeveloped olfactory, somatosensory and auditory systems useful for foraging. We interpret these results as evidence for nocturnality among elephant birds. Vision was likely deemphasized in the ancestor of elephant birds and kiwi. These results show a previously unreported trend toward decreased visual capacity apparently exclusive to flightless, nocturnal taxa endemic to predator-depauperate islands.
Data from: Cranial endocast of Anagale gobiensis (Anagalidae) and its implications for early brain evolution in Euarchontoglires
<p><span>Anagalids are an extinct group of primitive mammals from the Asian Palaeogene thought to be possible basal members of Glires. Anagalid material is rare, with only a handful of crania known. Here we describe the first virtual endocast of an anagalid, based on the holotype of <em>Anagale gobiensis</em> (AMNH 26079; late Eocene, China), which allows for comparison with published endocasts from fossil members of modern euarchontogliran lineages (i.e. primates, rodents, lagomorphs). The endocast </span><span>displays traits often observed in fossorial mammals, such as relatively small petrosal lobules and a low neocortical ratio, which would be consistent with previous inferences about use of subterranean food sources based on heavy dental wear. In fact, <em>Anagale gobiensis</em> has the lowest neocortical ratio yet recorded for a euarchontogliran. This species was olfaction-driven, based on the relatively large olfactory bulbs and laterally expansive palaeocortex. The endocast supports previous inferences that relatively large olfactory bulbs, partial midbrain exposure and low encephalization quotient are ancestral for Euarchontoglires, although the likely fossorial adaptations of <em>Anagale gobiensis</em> may also partly explain these traits. While <em>Anagale gobiensis</em> is a primitive mammal in many aspects, some of its derived endocranial traits point towards a new, different trajectory of brain evolution within Euarchontoglires.</span></p>
Both diet and sociality affect primate brain-size evolution
<p>Increased brain size in humans and other primates is hypothesized to confer cognitive benefits but brings costs associated with growing and maintaining energetically expensive neural tissue. Previous studies have argued that changes in either diet or levels of sociality led to shifts in brain size, but results were equivocal. Here we test these hypotheses using phylogenetic comparative methods designed to jointly account for and estimate the effects of adaptation and phylogeny. Using the largest current sample of primate brain and body sizes with observation error, complemented by newly compiled diet and sociality data, we show that both diet and sociality have influenced the evolution of brain size. Shifting from simple to more complex levels of sociality resulted in relatively larger brains, while shifting to a more folivorous diet led to relatively smaller brains. While our results support the role of sociality, they modify a range of ecological hypotheses centered on the importance of frugivory and instead indicate that digestive costs associated with increased folivory may have resulted in relatively smaller brains.</p>
Network evolution of regional brain volumes in young children reflects neurocognitive scores and mother's education
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Both diet and sociality affect primate brain-size evolution
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: A Miopetaurista (Sciuridae, Rodentia) cranium from the middle Miocene of Bavaria (Germany) and brain evolution in flying squirrels
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: Nocturnal giants: evolution of the sensory ecology in elephant birds and other palaeognaths inferred from digital brain reconstructions
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: Convergent mosaic brain evolution is associated with the evolution of novel electrosensory systems in teleost fishes
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Sex-specific evolution of brain size, brain structure, and covariation with eye size in Trinidadian killifish
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: Pattern and process in hominin brain size evolution are scale-dependent
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Data from: Cranial endocast of Anagale gobiensis (Anagalidae) and its implications for early brain evolution in Euarchontoglires
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
The evolution of plasticity in brain morphology following colonization of an ecologically divergent habitat in Trinidadian guppies
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Cryptic genetic variation in brain gene expression precedes the evolution of cannibalism in spadefoot toad tadpoles
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
The evolution of hearing and brain size in Eocene whales
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Predictable evolution toward larger brains and lower hand-wing indices in long-tailed birds
Open the record for dataset details and reuse information.
Variation in the strength of allometry drives rates of evolution in primate brain shape - Supplementary Material
<p>Large brains are a defining feature of primates, as is a clear allometric trend</p> <p>between body mass and brain size. However, important questions on the</p> <p>macroevolution of brain shape in primates remain unanswered. Here we</p> <p>address two: (i), does the relationship between the brain size and its shape</p> <p>follow allometric trends and (ii), is this relationship consistent over evolutionary</p> <p>time? We employ three-dimensional geometric morphometrics and</p> <p>phylogenetic comparative methods to answer these questions, based on a</p> <p>large sample representing 151 species and most primate families. We found</p> <p>two distinct trends regarding the relationship between brain shape and</p> <p>brain size. Hominoidea and Cercopithecinae showed significant evolutionary</p> <p>allometry, whereas no allometric trends were discernible for Strepsirrhini,</p> <p>Colobinae or Platyrrhini. Furthermore,we found that in the taxa characterized</p> <p>by significant allometry, brain shape evolution accelerated, whereas for taxa in</p> <p>which such allometrywas absent, the evolution of brain shape decelerated.We</p> <p>conclude that although primates in general are typically described as largebrained,</p> <p>strong allometric effects on brain shape are largely confined to the</p> <p>order's representatives that display more complex behavioural repertoires.</p>
Data from: Exposure to predators does not lead to the evolution of larger brains in experimental populations of threespine stickleback
Natural selection is often invoked to explain differences in brain size among vertebrates. However, the particular agents of selection that shape brain size variation remain obscure. Recent studies suggest that predators may select for larger brains because increased cognitive and sensory abilities allow prey to better elude predators. Yet, there is little direct evidence that exposure to predators causes the evolution of larger brains in prey species. We experimentally tested this prediction by exposing families of 1000-2000 F2 hybrid benthic-limnetic threespine stickleback to predators under naturalistic conditions, along with matched controls. After two generations of selection, we found that fish from the predator addition treatment had significantly smaller brains (specifically smaller telencephalons and optic lobes) than fish from the control treatment. After an additional generation of selection, we reared experimental fish in a common environment and found that this difference in brain size was maintained in the offspring of fish from the predator addition treatment. Our results provide direct experimental evidence that (a) predators can indeed drive the evolution of brain size – but not in the fashion commonly expected and (b) that the tools of experimental evolution can be used to the study the evolution of the vertebrate brain.
Coordinated evolution of brain size, structure and eye size in Trinidadian killifish
<p>Brain size, brain architecture, and eye size vary extensively in vertebrates. However, the extent to which the evolution of these components is intricately connected remains unclear. Trinidadian killifish, <em>Anablepsoides hartii</em>, are found in sites that differ in the presence and absence of large predatory fish. Decreased rates of predation are associated with evolutionary shifts in brain size; males from sites without predators have evolved a relatively larger brain and eye size than males from sites with predators. Here, we evaluated the extent to which the evolution of brain size, brain structure, and eye size covary in male killifish. We utilized wild-caught and common garden reared specimens to determine if specific components of the brain have evolved in response to differences in predation and to determine if there is covariation between the evolution of brain size, brain structure, and eye size. We observed consistent shifts in brain architecture in second generation common garden reared, but not wild caught preserved fish. Male killifish from sites that lack predators exhibited a significantly larger telencephalon, optic tectum, cerebellum, and dorsal medulla when compared with fish from sites with predators. We also found positive connections between the evolution of brain structure and eye size but not between overall brain size and eye size. These results provide evidence for evolutionary covariation between the components of the brain and eye size. Such results suggest that selection, directly or indirectly, acts upon specific regions of the brain, rather than overall brain size, to enhance visual capabilities.</p>
ScienceDex guides
Understand access before you commit
These curated guides explain access requirements, typical timelines, costs, and reuse considerations for widely used research datasets.
Allen Brain Atlas
Allen Brain Atlas is an Allen Institute collection of brain map atlases, datasets, APIs, and analysis tools covering mouse, human, and non-human primate brain resources.
Annotated Behaviour and Observability Dataset (ABODe)
ABODe is a University of Edinburgh DataShare dataset for behavior classification in group-housed mice using home-cage video, identities, bounding boxes, ground-plate positions, and annotator labels.
DANDI Archive for NWB datasets
DANDI is a BRAIN Initiative archive for publishing and sharing neurophysiology data, including electrophysiology, optophysiology, and behavioral data packaged as NWB and related standards.
International Brain Laboratory public data
The International Brain Laboratory public data releases expose standardized mouse decision-making experiments, including Neuropixels recordings, widefield calcium imaging, behavior, and session metadata accessed through the ONE API.
OpenNeuro
OpenNeuro is a free, open platform for sharing neuroimaging datasets, with public search, dataset pages, and download paths for web, S3, DataLad, and the OpenNeuro CLI.