🧠New research about amygdala brain evolution
“Our results indicate that there has been convergent evolution toward larger lateral amygdala nuclei in both domesticated and cooperatively breeding mammals. These results suggest that changes in processing fearful stimuli to reduce fear-induced aggression, which are necessary for domesticated and cooperatively breeding species alike, tap into the same neurobiological proximate mechanism. However, humans show changes not only in processing fearful stimuli but also in proactive prosociality.”
This study lead by our postdoc Paola and published in Human Nature, explores the comparative anatomy of the amygdala across 17 mammalian species, including humans and our primate relatives. The amygdala is a hub in brain networks that supports social life and fear processing. Humans possess a relatively larger lateral nucleus within the amygdala compared to other apes. Results of the phylogenetic analysis revealed a pattern of convergent evolution whereas both domesticated and cooperatively breeding mammals exhibit enlarged lateral amygdala nuclei. This suggests that the neural mechanisms underpinning fear modulation and social behavior intertwine across species, driving adaptations conducive to group living and cooperation.
