Big brain evolution: adult neurogenesis? II (Evolution)

by David Turell , Friday, March 09, 2018, 20:04 (2449 days ago) @ dhw

DAVID: If the pre-frontal cortex in adults cannot produce more neurons, the argument that concepts forced an enlargement of the brain by making new neurons and new networks falls by the wayside. I would trust the earlier studies based on exposure to isotopes more than this study.

dhw: Perhaps you could make this clearer. How could any part of the brain expand without making more neurons – other, I suppose, than existing neurons expanding? Even in your own hypothesis, did your God add neurons or simply expand existing neurons? Either way, it still makes perfect sense that new concepts required greater brain capacity. I’m glad to see that your distrust of these new findings suggests that my hypothesis does not fall by the wayside.

These studies involve the finding of whether adult neurogenesis can occur. The current study involves a deeper structure, the hippocampus. Based on the negative comments, yes, I do not trust it. You are correct, the expanded pfc in each new stage of homo had to have new neurons and new networks. The deeper structure study is a strange entry into the debate about the frontal cortex.