Topography of the chimpanzee corpus callosum

The corpus callosum (CC) is the largest commissural white matter tract in mammalian brains, connecting homotopic and heterotopic regions of the cerebral cortex. Knowledge of the distribution of callosal fibers projecting into specific cortical regions has important implications for understanding the evolution of lateralized structures and functions of the cerebral cortex. No comparisons of CC topography in humans and great apes have yet been conducted. We investigated the topography of the CC in 21 chimpanzees using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). Tractography was conducted based on fiber assignment by continuous tracking (FACT) algorithm. We expected chimpanzees to display topographical organization similar to humans, especially concerning projections into the frontal cortical regions. Similar to recent studies in humans, tractography identified five clusters of CC fibers projecting into defined cortical regions: prefrontal; premotor and supplementary motor; motor; sensory; parietal, temporal and occipital. Significant differences in fractional anisotropy (FA) were found in callosal regions, with highest FA values in regions projecting to higher-association areas of posterior cortical (including parietal, temporal and occipital cortices) and prefrontal cortical regions (p<0.001). The lowest FA values were seen in regions projecting into motor and sensory cortical areas. Our results indicate chimpanzees display similar topography of the CC as humans, in terms of distribution of callosal projections and microstructure of fibers as determined by anisotropy measures.     

The degenerative process during development of the corpus callosum

The ontogenesis of the corpus callosum is inextricably linked with the various processes controlling prosencephalic development. Our study is based on series of frontal and sagittal sections through the prosencephalon of 16 and 17 day mouse embryos and on ultrathin sections of the septum, particularly of the zone where the callosal fibres cross. The septum, which contains the first callosal fibres, does not undergo the fusional process described by other authors. The passage of pioneer fibres from one hemisphere to the other is preceded by the degeneration and death of the atrocytes of the cortical plate in the fundus of the interhemispheric issure, and by proliferation of the subependymal cells. The proliferation and migration of the subependymal cells from the medial angles of the lateral ventricles may well assist the passage of pioneering callosal fibres.     

Sexual dimorphism of the human corpus callosum from three independent samples: Relative size of the corpus callosum

Three independent autopsy samples of brains without apparent neuropathology were studied to ascertain whether there was sexual dimorphism in the human corpus callosum (CC). Using planimetric measurements on midsagittal brain sections, several morphometric features of the CC were studied: total callosal area, maximum dorsoventral splenial width, the posterior one fifth of the total area of the CC (mostly splenium), and brain weight. Ratio data correcting for brain size were also studied. In all samples, absolute brain size was larger in males, and significantly so. Measurements of splenial dorsoventral width were higher in females than males, but not significantly, except in the Australian sample. Total callosal area was absolutely higher in the Australian female sample than in males, and almost equal in the two American samples, without statistically significant differences. The posterior one-fifth area (splenium) was larger for females in each of the samples. The variables which were corrected for brain size were usually significantly larger in females, although this pattern varied in each sample. The statistical pattern of sexual dimorphism for the human CC differs from that found in most other neural structures, such as the amygdaloid nucleus, cerebellum, hippocampus, and thalamus. The absolute sizes of these structures are always significantly larger in males. When corrected for brain size, the relative sizes are not significantly larger. The CC is the only structure to show a larger set of relative measures in females. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Sex differences in dog corpus callosum.

Human studies reported sex differences in size and shape of the corpus callosum. These observations have been contested. The purpose of the present study is to investigate possible sex differences in the corpus callosum of dogs. The entire brains including the medulla from 12 female and 9 male adult mongrel dogs were removed and weighed. Total and partial area measurements of the callosum were made from photographic tracings of its outline. The callosum was partitioned into 3 regions; anterior half, posterior half, posterior one-fifth. The total corpus callosum, anterior half, posterior half, and posterior fifth or splenium areas were measured. Sex differences were found. The anterior half, the posterior half, the posterior fifth, and the total callosum were significantly greater in absolute area in males than in females.     

Vascularization of the corpus callosum in humans

The blood supply of the corpus callosum is studied in 20 brains by injecting the vascular system with gelatinous Indian ink. The arterial vascularization derives mainly from the anterior cerebral arteries, accessed from the median artery of the corpus callosum or from the terminal and choroidal branches of the posterior cerebral arteries. The various arteries give off perforating branches which are direct or indirect, short, of middle length or long. All these arteries concentrate on the peripheral wall of the corpus callosum. Inside of it these various arteries give off numerous terminal and collateral branches running between the nervous fibres and forming a characteristic vascular network which nourishes the capillary network. The venous vascularization of the corpus callosum is tributary to the deep venous system of the brain and concentrates on the central wall of the commissure.     

Anatomy of corpus callosum in prenatally malnourished rats

The effect of prenatal malnutrition on the anatomy of the corpus callosum was assessed in adult rats (45-52 days old). In the prenatally malnourished animals we observed a significant reduction of the corpus callosum total area, partial areas, and perimeter, as compared with normal animals. In addition, the splenium of corpus callosum (posterior fifth) showed a significant decrease of fiber diameters in the myelinated fibers without changing density. There was also a significant decrease in diameter and a significant increase in density of unmyelinated fibers. Measurements of perimeter's fractal dimensions from sagittal sections of the brain and corpus callosum did not show significant differences between malnourished and control animals. These findings indicate that cortico-cortical connections are vulnerable to the prenatal malnutrition, and suggest this may affect interhemispheric conduction velocity, particularly in visual connections (splenium).     

The robustness of altruism as an evolutionary strategy

Kin selection, reciprocity and group selection are widely regarded as evolutionary mechanisms capable of sustaining altruism among humans andother cooperative species. Our research indicates, however, that these mechanisms are only particular examples of a broader set of evolutionary possibilities.In this paper we present the results of a series of simple replicator simulations, run on variations of the 2–player prisoner's dilemma, designed to illustrate the wide range of scenarios under which altruism proves to be robust under evolutionary pressures. The set of mechanisms we explore is divided into four categories:correlation, group selection, imitation, and punishment. We argue that correlation is the core phenomenon at work in all four categories.     

The uncertainty principle as an evolutionary engine.

Heisenberg's uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics underlies the genesis of evolutionary variability. When the uncertainty principle is coupled with the incontrovertible principle of the conservation of energy and material resources, there appears an uncertainty relationship between local fluctuations in the quantities to be conserved on a global scale and the rate of their local variation. Since the local fluctuations are accompanied by the non-vanishing rate of variation because of the uncertainty relationship, they generate subsequent fluctuations. Generativity latent in the uncertainty relationship is non-random and ubiquitous all through various evolutionary stages from abiotic synthesis of monomers and polymers up to the emergence of behavior-induced variability of organisms.     

The role of corpus callosum development in functional connectivity and cognitive processing

The corpus callosum is hypothesized to play a fundamental role in integrating information and mediating complex behaviors. Here, we demonstrate that lack of normal callosal development can lead to deficits in functional connectivity that are related to impairments in specific cognitive domains. We examined resting-state functional connectivity in individuals with agenesis of the corpus callosum (AgCC) and matched controls using magnetoencephalographic imaging (MEG-I) of coherence in the alpha (8-12 Hz), beta (12-30 Hz) and gamma (30-55 Hz) bands. Global connectivity (GC) was defined as synchronization between a region and the rest of the brain. In AgCC individuals, alpha band GC was significantly reduced in the dorsolateral pre-frontal (DLPFC), posterior parietal (PPC) and parieto-occipital cortices (PO). No significant differences in GC were seen in either the beta or gamma bands. We also explored the hypothesis that, in AgCC, this regional reduction in functional connectivity is explained primarily by a specific reduction in interhemispheric connectivity. However, our data suggest that reduced connectivity in these regions is driven by faulty coupling in both inter- and intrahemispheric connectivity. We also assessed whether the degree of connectivity correlated with behavioral performance, focusing on cognitive measures known to be impaired in AgCC individuals. Neuropsychological measures of verbal processing speed were significantly correlated with resting-state functional connectivity of the left medial and superior temporal lobe in AgCC participants. Connectivity of DLPFC correlated strongly with performance on the Tower of London in the AgCC cohort. These findings indicate that the abnormal callosal development produces salient but selective (alpha band only) resting-state functional connectivity disruptions that correlate with cognitive impairment. Understanding the relationship between impoverished functional connectivity and cognition is a key step in identifying the neural mechanisms of language and executive dysfunction in common neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders where disruptions of callosal development are consistently identified.     

Convergence as an evolutionary process

Convergent evolution may be elucidated as a series of stages which show a decreasing number of common characters and become more and more generalized, the characters defining the stages finally being difficult to interpret as adaptive. The series starts with ecological races (genoecodemes), proceeds with parallel ecological races (ecotypes) to sub-life-forms, life-forms (growth forms), ecophysiological 'types' (e.g. xerophytes, halbphytes), and finishes with morpho-physiological levels. The ecotype concept is discussed, and it is proposed that it be restricted to cover parallel ecological races. Other discussions concern the possible occurrence of neutral or non-adaptive characters, the bunching of character gradients, and the two main classification systems of living entities.     

Biogenesis as an evolutionary process

Summary The earliest fossil stromatolites present evidence of a complex ecosystem of photosynthetic organisms. Because the origin of present life can be dated within a few hundred million years prior to these fossils, their complexity poses a problem. A heuristic model outlines the first radiation leading to the universal ancestor.     

Cannibalism as an evolutionary strategy

Mathematical models of predator-prey systems in which the prey species has a three-stage life cycle are studied. Certain stages of the prey life history are allowed to use younger stages as food. It is shown that sufficiently restricted cannibalism can result in an increase in the numbers of adult prey on a sustained basis when cannibalism decreases the vulnerability of a stage subject to predation or increases overall productivity.