Functional mapping of learning abilities in archaic and modern human brains

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project Area: Replacement of Neanderthals by Homo sapiens: testing evolutionary models of learning
• Project/Area Number: 22101007
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas (Research in a proposed research area)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Review Section: Humanities and Social Sciences
• Research Institution: Nagoya University (2012-2014); National Institute for Physiological Sciences (2010-2011)
• Principal Investigator: TANABE Hiroki 名古屋大学, 環境学研究科, 准教授 (20414021)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): SADATO Norihiro 生理学研究所, 大脳皮質機能研究系, 教授 (00273003) ; MIURA Naoki 東北工業大学, 工学部, 講師 (70400463) ; KOCHIYAMA Takanori 株式会社国際電気通信基礎技術研究所, 脳情報通信総合研究所, 研究員 (90380146) ; HOSHINO Yukinobu 高知工科大学, 工学部, 准教授 (10351321)
• Research Collaborator: HASEGAWA Kunihiro 名古屋大学, 環境学研究科, 研究員 ; KOIKE Takahiko 生理学研究所, 大脳皮質機能研究系, 特任助教 ; KAWAMICHI Hiroaki 生理学研究所, 大脳皮質機能研究系, 特任助教 ; 松永 昌弘 生理学研究所, 大脳皮質機能研究系, 特任助教 ; OKAZAKI Shuntaro 生理学研究所, 大脳皮質機能研究系, 研究員 ; SASAKI Akihiro 生理学研究所, 大脳皮質機能研究系, 研究員 ; YOSHIHARA Kazufumi 生理学研究所, 大脳皮質機能研究系, 研究員 ; OKAMOTO Yuko 生理学研究所, 大脳皮質機能研究系 ; YOSHIDA Yumiko 生理学研究所, 大脳皮質機能研究系 ; SHIMADA Koji 生理学研究所, 大脳皮質機能研究系 ; SUGAWARA Sho 生理学研究所, 大脳皮質機能研究系 ; TAKAHASHI Haruka 生理学研究所, 大脳皮質機能研究系 ; NAKAGAWA Eri 生理学研究所, 大脳皮質機能研究系, 共同利用研究員
• Project Period (FY): 2010-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 計算解剖学 / 脳機能イメージング / 古人類学 / 認知科学 / 社会認知 / 創造性

Outline of Final Research Achievements

To investigate the truth of the replacement of Homo Neanderthalensis (HN) by Homo Sapiens (HS), we adopt neurocognitive and computational neuroanatomical approaches. We developed an integrative analytical framework for elucidating the anatomical and functional differences of the brain between them. The results of morphometry showed that hemispheres of cerebellum were larger in HS than those in HN. Our neuroimaging studies also demonstrated that the cerebellum play an important role for variety of highly cognitive functions such as attention, language, working memory, social cognition, creativity. Moreover, we revealed positive correlation between cerebellar volume and some cognitive abilities in modern humans. The present study indicates that HS utilizes their brain more efficiently with employing the cerebellar functions, which maybe one of the possible causes for the replacement.

Free Research Field

認知神経科学、脳イメージング、古神経学