Overview

This first volume in the series on ""Comparative Brain Research in Mammals"" deals with the brains of Insectivora. The importance of Insectivora lies above all in the fact that, (1) insectivore-like ancestors are regarded as the initial group for the evolution of higher mammals, and (2) the insectivore brains retained many conservative traits, though the animals have adapted to different living environments. Therefore, the study of Insectivora brains enables an insight into the size and composition of the brain structure of earlier ancestors of the higher mammals including primates and humans; in addition, it illumi- nates the various evolutionary trends which made the successful adaptation to different biotopes possible. The alterations which the brain has experienced in the course of the phylo- geny and the related adaptive radiation will be examined in the succeeding volumes on the brains of other Eutheria, e.g., bats (Volume 2) and primates (Volume 4). In Volume 3 the brains of marsupials will be compared with those of conservative and evolved Eutheria.

Full Product Details

Author:   Heinz Stephan ,  Georg Baron ,  Heiko D. Frahm
Publisher:   Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Imprint:   Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Volume:   1
Weight:   1.190kg
ISBN:  

9780387975054

ISBN 10:   0387975055
Pages:   573
Publication Date:   18 April 1991
Audience:   College/higher education ,  General/trade ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Out of Print
Availability:   Out of stock  

Table of Contents

1 Introduction.- Acknowledgements.- List of the Available Species.- Abbreviations.- 2 Material and Methods.- 3 Comparative Brain Characteristics.- 3.1 Comparative Macromorphology.- 3.2 Total Brain Size and its Comparison.- 3.3 Comparison of Brain Components.- 3.3.1 Medulla oblongata (OBL).- 3.3.2 Mesencephalon (MES).- 3.3.3 Cerebellum (CER).- 3.3.4 Diencephalon (DIE).- 3.3.5 Telencephalon (TEL).- Main olfactory bulb (MOB).- Accessory olfactory bulb (AOB).- Paleocortex (PAL).- Striatum (STR).- Septum (SEP).- Amygdala (AMY).- Hippocampus (HIP).- Schizocortex (SCH).- Neocortex (NEO).- 3.3.6 Comparison with Primates.- 4 Brain Characteristics in Taxonomic Units.- 4.1 Tenrecidae.- 4.1.1 Tenrecinae.- 4.1.2 Geogalinae.- 4.1.3 Oryzorictinae.- 4.1.4 Potamogalinae.- 4.1.5 Summary.- 4.2 Chrysochloridae.- 4.3 Solenodontidae.- 4.4 Erinaceidae.- 4.4.1 Echinosoricinae.- 4.4.2 Erinaceinae.- 4.4.3 Summary.- 4.5 Talpidae.- 4.5.1 Desmaninae.- 4.5.2 Talpinae.- 4.5.3 Summary.- 4.6 Soricidae.- 4.6.1 Soricinae.- 4.6.2 Crocidurinae.- 4.6.3 Summary.- 4.7 Index Profiles of Taxonomic Units.- 5 Adaptive Radiation.- 6 Brain Characteristics Related to Ecoethological Adaptations.- 6.1 Surface Dwellers.- 6.2 Subterranean or Fossorial Species.- 6.3 Semiaquatic Species.- 6.4 Morphological Adaptations for Winter Survival.- 7 Brain Characteristics Related to Functional Systems.- 7.1 Main Olfactory System.- 7.2 Accessory Olfactory (Vomeronasal) System.- 7.3 Visual System.- 7.4 Somatosensory System.- 7.5 Auditory System.- 7.6 Vestibular System.- 7.7 Motor Systems.- 7.8 Limbic System.- 7.9 Neocortex.- 8 Conclusions.- 9 References.- 10 Tables.- 12 Subject Index.

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