Evolutionary Neuroanatomy of Primate Cortices

The evolutionary neuroanatomy of primate cortices examines how cortical structure, connectivity and function have been shaped by phylogenetic diversification within the order Primates. Comparative studies reveal progressive expansion and regional specialisation of cortical surface geometry, accompanied by intricate folding (gyrification) and selective elaboration of white matter pathways that underpin higher cognitive processes. Morphological reconstructions and ancestral shape modelling have traced sequences of localised cortical expansions associated with socio-ecological adaptations, highlighting how frontal, temporal and parietal regions have evolved distinct structural and functional profiles. These adaptations are linked to changes in connectivity patterns—both in the density of myelinated fibres and in the modular organisation of the cortical connectome—giving rise to species-specific behavioural repertoires and cognitive capacities. Understanding these evolutionary modifications informs not only the origins of human cortical specialisations, but also offers a translational bridge for interpreting neural architectures across primate models.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have delivered unprecedented anatomical resources for cross-species comparison. A high-resolution diffusion magnetic resonance imaging dataset of the chimpanzee brain now provides detailed reconstructions of major white matter tracts, enabling direct morphological comparisons to human fibre networks and shedding light on phylogenetically conserved and unique pathways. In parallel, a comprehensive geometric analysis across ninety mammals has linked variability in cortical surface shape to ecological niche and behavioural ecology, reconstructing ancestral cortical geometries and mapping evolutionary trajectories of regional cortical expansions. This joint representation of cortical shape and function reveals how distinct cortical areas have undergone sequential enlargements, reflecting adaptations to dynamic socio-ecological pressures while retaining interpretable relationships to cognition and behaviour.

Evolutionary Neuroanatomy of Primate Cortices publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in evolutionary neuroanatomy of primate cortices across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Diffusion magnetic resonance imaging: A non-invasive imaging modality that measures water diffusion to infer microstructural properties of neural tissue.

White matter tract: A bundle of myelinated axons connecting distinct cortical or subcortical regions to facilitate neural communication.

Gyrification: The process of cortical folding that increases surface area and is quantified by gyral and sulcal morphology.

Tractography: Computational reconstruction of three-dimensional white matter pathways from diffusion imaging data.

Connectivity blueprint: An abstract reference space of matched white matter tract patterns used for cross-species cortical comparisons.

References

1. Detailed mapping of the complex fiber structure and white matter pathways of the chimpanzee brain. Nature Methods (2024).
2. Evolution of cortical geometry and its link to function, behaviour and ecology. Nature Communications (2023).
3. XTRACT - Standardised protocols for automated tractography in the human and macaque brain. NeuroImage (2020).
4. Whole brain comparative anatomy using connectivity blueprints. eLife (2018).
5. Cross-species cortical alignment identifies different types of anatomical reorganization in the primate temporal lobe. eLife (2020).