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SUMMARY:Tracing Brain Evolution in Africa: Evidence from Fossil Endocasts 
 - Edwin De Jager\, University of Cambridge
DTSTART:20250225T130000Z
DTEND:20250225T140000Z
UID:TALK226762@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:115768
DESCRIPTION:Understanding the evolution of the hominin brain is critical f
 or reconstructing the origins of human cognition\, behaviour\, and social 
 complexity. Fossil endocasts\, natural or digital replicas of the braincas
 e interior\, provide valuable evidence about brain size\, shape\, and cort
 ical organization in extinct species. These data allow researchers to expl
 ore the cognitive capacities of early hominins and their interactions with
  their physical and social environments\, while also shedding light on ana
 tomical diversity within fossil assemblages\, including those with debated
  taxonomies.\n\nAfrica\, as the cradle of humankind\, offers a rich fossil
  record that reveals key aspects of brain morphology\, polymorphisms\, and
  the evolutionary changes shaping neural structures across multiple homini
 n species. High-resolution imaging and automated techniques were used to d
 etect and catalogue sulcal imprints\, focusing on the evolution of histori
 cally debated brain structures involved in key cognitive advancements. Dis
 tinct brain morphotypes were identified\, ranging from more “ape-like”
  to extant human-like configurations\, illustrating the mosaic nature of b
 rain evolution in hominins.\n\nThese findings shed light on how brain anat
 omy varied across taxa over time\, providing further evidence of evolution
 ary adaptations in response to ecological and social pressures. By integra
 ting palaeontological data with advanced digital methodologies\, this rese
 arch underscores the pivotal role of African fossil endocasts in reconstru
 cting the evolutionary history of the human brain.\n\nTo attend the talk o
 nline: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ap30TR_XT0paZImn_9u48
 xGmQW632DVb_5DPl6N-Bl7A1%40thread.tacv2/1737368193812?context=%7b%22Tid%22
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 cf-4b01-bc4b-963ba412d20f%22%7d \n\nMeeting ID: 388 623 322 845\nPasscode:
  NS24ny9j
LOCATION:Garrod Seminar Room\, MacDonald Institute for Archaeological Rese
 arch
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