Neurobiological Lessons Learned from Comparative Studies: Evolutionary Forces Shaping Brain and Behavior

Behavioral and neural diversity comprise one of evolution's major outcomes. As a result, the origin and evolution of nervous systems - particularly that of the human brain - has long attracted interest and debate. This publication, based on the 19th Karger Workshop held in San Diego in 2007, highlights the latest advances and lessons learned in vertebrate and invertebrate systems, ranging from Amphioxus, higher-order insects, fish and birds to primates. The topics range from sensory to motor, ecology to social aspects, and from molecular to physiological to genomic approaches. The papers show that the comparative method provides a powerful framework for understanding the evolution of brain and behavior, and point out advances that have been made using novel approaches in conjunction with neuroanatomy. Providing integrative insights into neural and behavioral evolution at many levels of biological organization, this publication will be of fundamental importance for neurobiologists, evolutionary biologists, ecologists, clinicians, animal behaviorists, and psychologists.