Update on forebrain evolution: From neurogenesis to thermogenesis

Abstract

Comparative developmental studies provide growing understanding of vertebrate forebrain evolution. This short review directs the spotlight to some newly emerging aspects, including the evolutionary origin of the proliferative region known as the subventricular zone (SVZ) and of intermediate progenitor cells (IPCs) that populate the SVZ, neural circuits that originated within homologous regions across all amniotes, and the role of thermogenesis in the acquisition of an increased brain size. These data were presented at the 8th European Conference on Comparative Neurobiology.

Keywords: Avian; Brain size; Cerebral cortex development; Cerebral cortex evolution; Intermediate progenitor cells; Mammal; Neural circuits evolution; Neurogenesis; Radial glial cells; Reptile; Thermogenesis.