Evo-Devo-Neuro Approach to Behavior

摘要

Natural selection implements an efficient mechanism for the invention of adaptive structure and function, including sexual selection, which plays a role in creating sex-linked traits. These selective pressures can potentially divide a population into fractions with diversified anatomy and behavior, which can even lead to speciation. The morphological and neurobehavioral traits subsequently change in such events, and although the significance of this coordinated change for evolution is obvious, the underlying mechanisms remain an enigma. Consider the case of Homo sapiens. The use of language and tools and the trait of self-actualization/self-awareness/consciousness are uniquely human, and the emergence of these neurobehavioral traits is believed to be tightly coupled with changes in the skeletal organization and entire body structure. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying such "body (morphological)-mind (neurobehavioral)" concordance.