Brain Asymmetries in Chimps Resemble Those of Humans [Evolution]

Scientific American ^ | 06 December 2004 | Sarah Graham

[PatrickHenry]

The brains of chimpanzees show a number of similarities to human brains, the results of two new studies suggest. Findings published in the December issue ofBehavioral Neuroscience indicate that the animals have differences between the right and left sides of their brains in much the same way that humans do. In addition, it appears that the neurological basis for handedness is not unique to our species.

Hani D. Freeman of the Yerkes National Primate Research Center and his colleagues scanned the brains of 60 chimpanzees with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and measured two key regions of the brain's limbic system, the hippocampus and the amygdala. They found that the hippocampus, important to learning and spatial memory among other things, was asymmetrical--the right half was significantly larger than the left. What is more, the difference was larger for males than it was for females. The amygdala, on the other hand, showed no difference in size between the left and right halves of the brain. Both of these patterns characterize human brains. "The limbic system asymmetries advance the position that asymmetries are fundamental aspects of the nervous system of all primates, and apply to more primitive systems in the brain," remarks study co-author William Hopkins of Berry College and Yerkes National Primate Research Center.

Hopkins was also a co-author of a second paper that investigated hand preference in chimps. The researchers observed 66 animals and correlated brain anatomy with three measures of handedness: reaching, feeding and the action of fishing peanut butter out of a tube. They found that which hand the chimps favored was related to asymmetries in two brain regions associated with motor tasks, the planum temporale and the precentral gyrus. The results, the authors write, "suggest that the neurobiological basis for handedness evolved as early as five million years ago and emerged independent of systems associated with language and speech."

[PatrickHenry]

Everybody be nice.

[PatrickHenry]

EvolutionPing

For the pro-evolution side of evolution threads. See the list's description in my freeper homepage. Then FReepmail me to be added or dropped.

[billorites]

[pyx]

Hani D. Freeman of the Yerkes National Primate Research Center and his colleagues scanned the brains of 60 chimpanzees...

Hopkins was also a co-author of a second paper that investigated hand preference in chimps. The researchers observed 66 animals and correlated

126 animals in diverse and unrelated research projects seems like it would take a lot of FAITH to BELIEVE in the conclusions drawn on such a small sample.

[agere_contra]

The only reason Evolution is an issue on this board IMO is that it doesn't explain free will or the soul. Evolution explains all of the physical and a great deal of the lower behavioural stuff just fine. Its a nice bit of science, in fact.

We're need to be aware that Evolution doesn't explain everything about the human condition, nor does it in fact say anything definitive about there being a God or not. Evolution seems to be the way God has sculpted life.

As to how we became images of God, imbued with free will and an immortal soul - evolutionary theory is silent about this.

[The Loan Arranger]

Are these the same chimps that will be conducting the oral history of Ted Kennedy, mentioned two articles above? If so, I hope they brought their scuba gear and a hollow leg!

[Route101]

Oh...Now I understand the Democratic Party...Thank you.

[balrog666]

Brain Asymmetries in Chimps Resemble Those of Humans

Shocking! Just Shocking! Next they'll be saying we have similar genes!

[DBeers]

The results, the authors write, "suggest that the neurobiological basis for handedness evolved as early as five million years ago and emerged independent of systems associated with language and speech."

Astoundingly succinct assumption upon assumption.

[Shryke]

126 animals in diverse and unrelated research projects seems like it would take a lot of FAITH to BELIEVE in the conclusions drawn on such a small sample.

Huh? Diverse and unrelated projects that yield congruent populations of chimps (at least brain-wise) requires faith to observe?

[LittleMoe]

The human brain is a like a V-8 and the chimp brain is a V-4

[F16Fighter]

Hopkins was also a co-author of a second paper that investigated hand preference in chimps....

Don't even go there.

[ThePythonicCow]

The only reason Evolution is an issue on this board IMO is that it doesn't explain free will or the soul.

You are right to note that free will and the soul are the key issues. For those (few) on this board who hold that even free will is "just more stuff, more elaborately organized", and no evidence of divine intervention, see Freedom Evolves by Daniel C. Dennett:

Can there be freedom and free will in a deterministic world? Renowned philosopher Daniel Dennett emphatically answers "yes!" Using an array of provocative formulations, Dennett sets out to show how we alone among the animals have evolved minds that give us free will and morality. Weaving a richly detailed narrative, Dennett explains in a series of strikingly original arguments-drawing upon evolutionary biology, cognitive neuroscience, economics, and philosophy-that far from being an enemy of traditional explorations of freedom, morality, and meaning, the evolutionary perspective can be an indispensable ally. In Freedom Evolves, Dennett seeks to place ethics on the foundation it deserves: a realistic, naturalistic, potentially unified vision of our place in nature.

[Alamo-Girl]

Thanks for the ping!

[Dimensio]

Just a coincidence, I'm sure. Or it applies in all species of animals, but they just want to make an issue of chimps. And they've never shown a chimp giving birth to a human, so evolution is still false!

[furball4paws]

"And they've never shown a chimp giving birth to a human, so evolution is still false!"


Maybe not, but I've seen some "humans" that look and act an awful lot like apes.

[PatrickHenry]

Dead thread placemarker. (Not every thread is a winner.)

[Aracelis]

Then FReepmail me to be added or dropped.

Clairvoyance on the fritz?

[PatrickHenry]

Clairvoyance on the fritz?

Different list, different standards. You were expecting consistency?