
Contents
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Introduction Introduction
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Encephalization Encephalization
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Summary Summary
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The Frontal Lobes The Frontal Lobes
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Summary Summary
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Prefrontal Cortex as a Proportion of the Frontal Lobe Prefrontal Cortex as a Proportion of the Frontal Lobe
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Summary Summary
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Controversy Controversy
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The Frontal Lobe The Frontal Lobe
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Cortex Rostral to the Corpus Callosum Cortex Rostral to the Corpus Callosum
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Proportion of Neurones Proportion of Neurones
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Allometry of Area 10 Allometry of Area 10
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Summary Summary
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Comparison with Other Association Areas Comparison with Other Association Areas
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Summary Summary
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Connectivity Connectivity
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Changes in Connectivity Changes in Connectivity
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Summary Summary
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Microstructure Microstructure
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Summary Summary
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Grade Shifts and Ontogeny Grade Shifts and Ontogeny
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Summary Summary
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Selection Pressures Selection Pressures
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Climate Change Climate Change
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New Environments New Environments
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Communication Communication
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Social Factors Social Factors
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Conclusions Conclusions
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References References
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9 Evolution of the Prefrontal Cortex in the Hominins
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Published:June 2021
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Abstract
When body weight is taken into account, there was a rapid expansion of the brain during the evolution of the hominins, with the greatest increase occurring from around 400,000 years ago. After this time there is evidence of the bulging of the frontal lobe indicating the further expansion of the prefrontal (PF) cortex. Many selection pressures could have influenced these changes, but all of them involve a change in environment. This could occur via climatic change, via changes in the ecosystem, by migration, or by changes in the cultural environment. The cultural environment includes technology such as stone tool making, cooperation in hunting, and the improvements in communication that this required. The adaptation to new environments requires the solution of new problems, and this was aided by the ability of the PF cortex to support rapid transfer from one problem to another.
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