Evolution and development of the brain (VerteBrain)

Basic data for this project

Description

This project deals with the macroanatomy of the mammalian brain. Two aspects are relevant here: on the one hand, across all mammals there are extraordinary regular scaling relations between surface, volume, grey and white matter. On the other hand, the brain is folded on in highly regular manner (Walnut-like), and increasingly so with its size. A great mystery of the scaling properties is that they do not follow isometric laws. The project proposes and tests novel hypotheses to explain the relations. An important clue is the regular form of the neurons and the cortical columns that form the cerebrum of each mammal. Methods include (neuro)anatomic-, developmental biological- and functionally-founded mathematical relations as well as fractal considerations.