title: The endocast of MH1, Australopithecus sediba.
abstract: The virtual endocast of MH1 (Australopithecus sediba), obtained from high-quality synchrotron scanning, reveals generally australopith-like convolutional patterns on the frontal lobes but also some foreshadowing of features of the human frontal lobes, such as posterior repositioning of the olfactory bulbs. Principal component analysis of orbitofrontal dimensions on australopith endocasts (MH1, Sts 5, and Sts 60) indicates that among these, MH1 orbitofrontal shape and organization align most closely with human endocasts. These results are consistent with gradual neural reorganization of the orbitofrontal region in the transition from Australopithecus to Homo, but given the small volume of the MH1 endocast, they are not consistent with gradual brain enlargement before the transition.
authors: Institute for Human Evolution, University of the Witwatersrand, Palaeosciences Centre, Private Bag 3, Wits 2050, South Africa. kristian.carlson@wits.ac.za
authors: Kristian J
authors: KJ
authors: Carlson
authors: Dietrich
authors: D
authors: Stout
authors: Tea
authors: T
authors: Jashashvili
authors: Darryl J
authors: DJ
authors: de Ruiter
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Tafforeau
authors: Keely
authors: K
authors: Carlson
authors: Lee R
authors: LR
authors: Berger
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001921:Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D005580:Fossils; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D009929:Organ Size; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D013019:South Africa; D017356:Synchrotrons; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed