Application of the heterochrony framework to the study of behavior and cognition.
Heterochrony, or the evolution of ontogeny, has been well studied in embryology and skeletal development, providing insight into morphological and genetic mechanisms of evolution.1-5 However, heterochronic studies of behavior and cognition lag behind in comparison. In a recent study we investigated the ontogeny of social behavior and cognition in humans' closest living relatives, chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (Pan paniscus). These two species are estimated to have had a chimpanzeelike common ancestor between 0.86 and 1.8 mya.6,7 Bonobos have been argued to exhibit morphological indications of paedomorphism relative to chimpanzees, especially in the cranium, and to exhibit paedomorphic behavior as adults.6-11 We found that bonobos exhibit developmental delays relative to chimpanzees in several aspects of their social behavior and cognition. Here, we describe how placing these results in the framework of heterochrony contributes to understanding behavioral and cognitive differences between adults of these two species and to our knowledge of hominid evolution in general.
Wobber
Victoria
V
Wrangham
Richard
R
Hare
Brian
B
Annu Rev Neurosci. 2001;24:1161-92
11520931
Am J Phys Anthropol. 1996 Jan;99(1):17-42
8928718
Folia Primatol (Basel). 1978;29(2):86-94
658843
Nature. 2006 Aug 3;442(7102):563-7
16885984
J Comp Psychol. 1983 Mar;97(1):69-89
6603330
Monogr Soc Res Child Dev. 2005;70(1):vii-132
16156847
Trends Cogn Sci. 2005 Mar;9(3):118-25
15737820
Behav Processes. 2009 Jul;81(3):423-8
19376207
Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc. 1998 Feb;73(1):79-123
9569772
Mol Biol Evol. 2005 Feb;22(2):297-307
15483319
Evolution. 2002 Aug;56(8):1644-54
12353757
Curr Biol. 2007 Apr 3;17(7):619-23
17346970
Curr Biol. 2010 Feb 9;20(3):226-30
20116251
J Hum Evol. 2007 Jun;52(6):647-62
17298840
Am J Phys Anthropol. 1996 Jan;99(1):43-65
8928723