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Neural reuse in the evolution and development of the brain: Evidence for developmental homology?
Author(s) -
Anderson Michael L.,
PennerWilger Marcie
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
developmental psychobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.055
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1098-2302
pISSN - 0012-1630
DOI - 10.1002/dev.21055
Subject(s) - reuse , cognitive science , homology (biology) , cognition , representation (politics) , psychology , computer science , empirical evidence , neural development , neuroscience , artificial intelligence , biology , epistemology , ecology , political science , biochemistry , philosophy , politics , law , gene
This article lays out some of the empirical evidence for the importance of neural reuse—the reuse of existing (inherited and/or early developing) neural circuitry for multiple behavioral purposes—in defining the overall functional structure of the brain. We then discuss in some detail one particular instance of such reuse: the involvement of a local neural circuit in finger awareness, number representation, and other diverse functions. Finally, we consider whether and how the notion of a developmental homology can help us understand the relationships between the cognitive functions that develop out of shared neural supports. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 55: 42–51, 2013.