Evolution of the Human Brain: From Matter to Mind

Michel A. Hofman is at Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Netherlands

"Editor Michel A. Hofman provides a thoughtful examination of the evolution of the human brain. The book is divided topically into the following subjects: development and evolution of the human cortex, functional connectivity of the human cortex, the nature and evolution of the human mind, origin and evolution of human cognition, and consciousness. Each of these topics is covered in several chapters that review theories and application. Special attention is paid to Darwinian evolutionary theory in many of the chapters in order to better explain the modern human brain. There are instances in the book where there are acronyms that are introduced without warning the reader, which may be due some of the authors expecting the readers to have a certain level of familiarity with the research that is presented. For example, when discussing different structures in the brain, they would utilize the acronym for that brain structure first before introducing that area. Neuropsychology trainees will experience some familiarity with the information presented throughout the book, akin to what they have learned in their various neuroscience/neuropsychology classes. The chapters discussing the development of neurodevelopmental disorders, consciousness in children, metacognition, gaze following, problem solving, and human cognition are applicable to both neuropsychology trainees and practicing neuropsychologists." --Keshia M. Sanders, Ph.D.

• Section I - Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Human Brain Evolution1. Genetics of human brain evolutionEric J. Vallender2. Genetic diversity underlying behavioral plasticity in human adaptationAmy L. Bauernfeind and Courtney C. BabbittSection II - Cerebral Cortex: Neural Organization and Functional Connectivity 3. The origin and evolution of neocortex: From early mammals to modern humansJon H. Kaas4. Allometry, evolution and development of neocortex size in mammalsJeroen B. Smaers, Carrie S. Mongle, Kamran Safi and Diana K.N. Dechmann5. Neurodevelopmental disorders of the prefrontal cortex in an evolutionary contextBranka Hrvoj-Mihic and Katerina Semendeferi6. The human connectome from an evolutionary perspectiveDirk Jan Ardesch, Lianne H. Scholtens and Martijn P. van den Heuvel7. Evolution of cerebral asymmetryMichael C. Corballis8. Life history changes accompany increased numbers of cortical neurons: A new framework for understanding human brain evolutionSuzana Herculano-HouzelSection III - Origin and Evolution of the Human Mind 9. Evolution of the modern human brainAmelie Beaudet, Andrew Du and Bernard A. Wood10. On the nature and evolution of the human mindMichel A. Hofman11. Origin and evolution of human cognitionGerhard Roth and Ursula Dicke12. Origin and evolution of human consciousnessFranco Fabbro, Damiano Cantone, Susanna Feruglio and Cristiano Crescentini13. Origin and evolution of human speech: Emergence from a trimodal auditory, visual and vocal networkMaeva Michon, Vladimir López and Francisco Aboitiz