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Temporal Lobe Sulcal Pattern and the Bony Impressions in the Middle Cranial Fossa: The Case of the E l S idrón ( S pain) Neandertal Sample
Author(s) -
Rosas Antonio,
PeñaMelián Angel,
GarcíaTabernero Antonio,
Bastir Markus,
De La Rasilla Marco
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
the anatomical record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.678
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1932-8494
pISSN - 1932-8486
DOI - 10.1002/ar.22957
Subject(s) - anatomy , middle cranial fossa , temporal lobe , context (archaeology) , inferior temporal gyrus , superior temporal sulcus , sulcus , homo sapiens , fusiform gyrus , lobe , biology , geography , neuroscience , paleontology , functional magnetic resonance imaging , epilepsy , archaeology
Correspondence between temporal lobe sulcal pattern and bony impressions on the middle cranial fossae (MCF) was analyzed. MCF bone remains (SD‐359, SD‐315, and SD‐1219) from the El Sidrón (Spain) neandertal site are analyzed in this context. Direct comparison of the soft and hard tissues from the same individual was studied by means of: 1) dissection of two human heads; 2) optic (white light) surface scans; 3) computed tomography and magnetic resonance of the same head. The inferior temporal sulcus and gyrus are the features most strongly influencing MCF bone surface. The Superior temporal sulcus and middle temporal and fusiform gyri also leave imprints. Temporal lobe form differs between Homo sapiens and neandertals. A wider and larger post‐arcuate fossa (posterior limit of Brodmann area 20 and the anterior portion of area 37) is present in modern humans as compared to neandertals. However other traits of the MCF surface are similar in these two large‐brained human groups. A conspicuous variation is appreciated in the more vertical location of the inferior temporal gyrus in H. sapiens . In parallel, structures of the lower surface of the temporal lobe are more sagittally orientated. Grooves accommodating the fusiform and the lower temporal sulci become grossly parallel to the temporal squama. These differences can be understood within the context of a supero‐lateral deployment of the lobe in H. sapiens , a pattern previously identified (Bastir et al., Nat Commun 2 (2011) 588–595). Regarding dural sinus pattern, a higher incidence of petrosquamous sinus is detected in neandertal samples. Anat Rec, 297:2331–2341, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.