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A comparative analysis of hippocampus size and ecological factors in primates

Edler, Melissa
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1184945831

Abstract Details

2007, MA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology.
Mammal brains may evolve through selection on specific neural structures. Thus, they may be under varying evolutionary pressures. This study investigates the effect of environmental influences, such as diet, home range size, activity pattern and habitat, on primate hippocampal volume size, which appears to be responsible, in part, for spatial memory skills. In both species and phylogenetic independent contrast analyses, a highly frugivorous diet had no impact on hippocampus volume size. Due to exceptions to the rule that primates with mainly insectivorous diets tend to be smaller-bodied, log body mass was plotted against percentage of frugivorous diet. When frugivorous-insectivore outliers were removed, the size-adjusted hippocampus volume residual from medulla oblongata volume was found to increase in primates with a highly frugivorous diet. Conversely, primarily insectivorous primates demonstrated a negative correlation with hippocampal size, suggesting they have smaller hippocampi than folivorous or frugivorous primates. In addition, hippocampus volume was shown to increase as home range size increased. Diurnal and nocturnal activity patterns as well as arboreal, semi-terrestrial and terrestrial habitats had no effect on primate hippocampus volume size. These results suggest that environmental pressures involved with diet and home range size may selectively pressure for an increase or decrease in primate hippocampus size due to its role in spatial memory. This is the first study to demonstrate a selective environmental pressure on primate hippocampus volume size.
Chet Sherwood (Advisor)
89 p.
Anthropology, Physical
hippocampus; spatial memory; diet; habitat; home range; activity pattern; primate; independent contrast

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Edler, M. (2007). A comparative analysis of hippocampus size and ecological factors in primates [Master's thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1184945831

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Edler, Melissa. A comparative analysis of hippocampus size and ecological factors in primates. 2007. Kent State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1184945831.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Edler, Melissa. "A comparative analysis of hippocampus size and ecological factors in primates." Master's thesis, Kent State University, 2007. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1184945831

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

kent1184945831
953
© 2007, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University and OhioLINK.