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A Comparative Neuroanatomical Study on the Metabolic Components in Executive versus Motor Regions of the Basal Ganglia

Wilson, LaKalea JaVonne
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7506-9868
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1430784517

Abstract Details

2015, BA, Kent State University, College of Arts and Sciences / Department of Anthropology.
Comparative neuroanatomical studies have traditionally focused more on the cerebral cortex, particularly the prefrontal cortex, because this area is expanded in humans and is involved in cognitive functions. However, an understanding of the subcortical basal ganglia may also be crucial to elucidate the evolution of cognitive functions among primates, especially humans, but comparative data on these subcortical structures are limited. To address this issue, we analyzed metabolic components in executive versus motor regions of the basal ganglia across a variety of primates, including humans. The goal was to determine if humans deviate significantly from other species to support human-specific cognitive abilities. The proxy measure for metabolic support supplied to neurons was the ratio of glia to neurons. Neuron and glia cell densities were quantified using advanced stereological methods within the caudate nucleus and anteromedial globus pallidus (executive loop), and the putamen and the intermediate globus pallidus (motor loop). Humans possessed higher glia to neuron ratios than all species in the striatum (caudate nucleus and putamen) except for chimpanzees (all p’s < 0.05). Humans possessed higher glia to neuron ratios in the globus pallidus internus (anteromedial and intermediate), with no significant differences detected among non-human primates. Interestingly, humans possessed a higher glia to neuron ration in the anteromedial region (cognitive loop), than in the intermediate loop (motor loop), however in non-human primates the opposite was found. These results demonstrate that the evolution of the human brain required an increase in metabolic support, as measured by glia to neuron ratios, in basal ganglia regions.
Mary Ann Raghanti (Committee Chair)
36 p.
Comparative; Neurosciences; Physical Anthropology
comparative study; neuroscience; biological anthropology;

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Wilson, L. J. (2015). A Comparative Neuroanatomical Study on the Metabolic Components in Executive versus Motor Regions of the Basal Ganglia [Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1430784517

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Wilson, LaKalea. A Comparative Neuroanatomical Study on the Metabolic Components in Executive versus Motor Regions of the Basal Ganglia. 2015. Kent State University, Undergraduate thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1430784517.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Wilson, LaKalea. "A Comparative Neuroanatomical Study on the Metabolic Components in Executive versus Motor Regions of the Basal Ganglia." Undergraduate thesis, Kent State University, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ksuhonors1430784517

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2015, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Kent State University Honors College and OhioLINK.