THE EVOLVING BRAIN LABORATORY
MORPHOLOGY.BEHAVIOR.EVOLUTION
Mission: Our mission is to embrace the diversity of mammalian brain architecture at all levels of analysis and to use knowledge garnered from this to help us better understand the emergence of the human brain and the biological basis for variation in brain function and disease liability.
PUBLICATIONS
Cover Images
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2021-2022
Dayal, M.R., Billings, B.K., Brits, D., Abdallah, A., Spocter, M.A., & Bidmos, M.A. (In preparation). Sex estimation from discriminant function analysis of metric dimensions of the foramen magnum of crania of Indigenous South Africans.
Spocter, M.A., Matschke, J., Glatzel, M., Wischhusen, F., Püschel, K., & Manger, P.R. (Under Revision). An autopsy study on brain and body size variation in a European sample: Implications for our interpretation of variation in the hominin fossil record
Swiegers, J., Bhagwandin, A., Maseko, B. C., Sherwood, C.C., Hard, T., Bertelsen, M. F., Spocter, M.A., Rockland, K.S., Molnar, Z., & Manger, P.R. (Accepted). The distribution, number and certain neurochemical identities of infracortical white matter neurons in the brains of a southern lesser galago, a black-capped squirrel monkey and a crested macaque. Journal of Comparative Neurology.-link
Manger, P.R., Patzke, N., Spocter, M.A., Bhagwandin, A., Karlson, K.AE., Bertelsen, M.F., Alagaili, A.N., Bennett, N.C., Mohammed, O.B., Herculano-Houzel, S., Hof, P.R., & Fuxe, K (2021). Amplification of potential thermogenic mechanisms in cetacean brains compared to artiodactyl brains. Scientific Reports 11, 5486 -link
2019, 2020
Spocter, M.A., Sherwood, C.C., Schapiro, S.J., & Hopkins, W.D. (2020). Reproducibility of Leftward Planum Temporale Asymmetries in Two Genetically Isolated Populations of Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B. 287, 1934 -link
Chengetania, S., Bhagwandin, A., Bertelson, M,F., Hard, T., Hof, P.R., Spocter, M.A & Manger, P.R. (2020). The brain of the African wild dog. II. The olfactory system. Journal of Comparative Neurology.-link
Chengetania, S., Tenley, J., Bertelson, M,F., Hard, T., Bhagwandin, A., Haagensen, M., Tang, C., Wicinski, B., Hof, P.R., Manger, P.R., & Spocter, M.A (2020). The brain of the African wild dog. I. Anatomy, architecture and volumetrics. Journal of Comparative Neurology. -link
Chengetania, S., Bhagwandin, A., Bertelson, M, F., Hard, T., Hof, P.R., Spocter, M.A., & Manger, P.R (2020). The brain of the African wild dog. III. The auditory system. Journal of Comparative Neurology.-link
Chengetania, S., Bhagwandin, A., Bertelson, M, F., Hard, T., Hof, P.R., Spocter, M.A., & Manger, P.R (2020). The brain of the African wild dog. IV. The visual system. Journal of Comparative Neurology.-link
Grewal, J.S., Gloe, T., Hegedus, J., Bitterman, K., Billings, B., Chengetanai, S., Bentil, S., Ng, J., Wang, V., Tang, C.C., Geletta, S., Wicinski, B., Bertelson, M., Tendler, B.C., Mars, R., Aquirre, G.K., Rusbridge, C., Hof, P.R., Sherwood, C.C., Manger, P.R., & Spocter, M.A. (2020). Brain gyrification in wild and domestic canids: Has domestication changed the gyrification index in domestic dogs? Journal of Comparative Neurology. -link
Finneran, K., Aoki, T., Barnes, M. J., & Spocter, M.A., (2020). Evolutionary Medicine. In: T. K. Shackelford, & V.A. Weekes-Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. New York, NY: Springer Cham.-link
Braken, E., Billings, B.K., Barnes, M. J., & Spocter, M.A., (2020). The evolution of tool use. In: T. K. Shackelford, & V.A. Weekes-Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. New York, NY: Springer Cham.-link
Spocter, M.A., (2020). Adaptation. In: T. K. Shackelford, & V.A. Weekes-Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. New York, NY: Springer Cham.-link
Haas, J., Hass, R., Spocter, M.A., & de Sousa, A.A (2020). Human Visual Neuroscience. In: T. K. Shackelford, & V.A. Weekes-Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. New York, NY: Springer Cham.-link
Nguyen, V., Uchida, R., Warling A., Sloan, LJ., Dodelson, C., Shin, R., Wicinski, B., Bitterman, K., Bertelsen, MF., Stimpson, CD., Schall, M., Hof, PR., Sherwood, CC., Manger, PR., Spocter, M.A., & Jacobs, B (2020). Comparative neocortical neuromorphology in felids: African lion (Panthera leo), African leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) and cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). Journal of Comparative Neurology.-link
Imam, A., Bhagwandin, A., Ajao, M.S., Spocter, M.A., & Manger, P.R (2019). The brain of the tree pangolin (Manis tricuspis). IV. The brainstem and cerebellum. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 527(15):2440-2473.-link
Spocter, M.A. (2019, 24th March), Hypothesis. Video Descriptor: A short hypothesis video created for the Go2Science platform. This video provides elementary school learners with an introduction to Cetaceans and the concept of relative abundance. Retrieved from: https://www.go2science.com. - link
2017, 2018
Spocter, M.A., Fairbanks, J., Locey, L., Nguyen, A., Bitterman, K., Dunn, R., Sherwood, C.C., Geletta, S., Dell, L.A., Patzke, N & Manger, P.R (2018). Neuropil distribution in the anterior cingulate and occipital cortex of artiodactyls. Anatomical Record (Hoboken), 301:1871–1881-link
Imam, A., Bhagwandin, A., Ajao, M.S., Spocter, M.A., Ihunwo, A.O., & Manger, P.R (2018). The brain of the tree pangolin (Manis tricuspis). II. The olfactory system. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 526(16):2548-2569.-link
Spocter, M.A., Uddin, A., Ng, J., Wong, E., Wang, V.X., Tang, C., Wicinski, B., Haas, J., Bitterman, K., Raghanti, M.R.,Dunn, R., Hof, P.R., Sherwood, C.C., Jovanovik, J., Rusbridge, C., & Manger, P.R (2018). Scaling of the corpus callosum in wild and domestic canids: Insights into the domesticated brain. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 526(15):2341-2359. -link
Pettigrew, J.D., Bhagwandin, A., Spocter, M.A., Dell, L.A., Davimes, J., & Manger, P.R (2018). Hands of living San resemble those in paleolithic stencils, not modern Europeans. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 73(1): 1-7.-link
Jacobs, B., Garcia, M.E., Shea-Shumsky, N.B., Tennison, M.E., Sloan, L., Warling, A., Schall, M., Bull, A.J., Raghanti, M.A., Lewandowski, A.H., Wicinski, B., Chui, HK., Bertelsen, MF., Walsh, T., Bhagwandin, A., Spocter MA., Hof, PR., Sherwood, CC & Manger, PR (2018). Comparative morphology of gigantopyramidal neurons in primary motor cortex across mammals. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 526:496-536. -link
Olateju, O.I., Spocter, M.A., Patzke, N., Ihunwo, A.O., & Manger P.R (2018). Hippocampal neurogenesis in the C57BL/6J mice at early adulthood following chronic prenatal alcohol exposure. Metabolic Brain Disease, 33:397-410. -link
Lemert, J., & Spocter, M.A (2018). Brain Size and Intelligence. In: T. K. Shackelford, & V.A. Weekes-Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. New York, NY: Springer Cham.-link
Lemert, J., & Spocter, M.A (2018). The Evolution of the Brain. In: T. K. Shackelford, & V.A. Weekes-Shackelford (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Evolutionary Psychological Science. New York, NY: Springer Cham.-link
Sweigers, J., Bhagwandin, A., Spocter, M.A., Kaswera-Kyamakya, C., Gilissen, E., Manger, P.R., & Maseko, B.C (2017). Nuclear organization of cholinergic, catecholaminergic, serotonergic and orexinergic neurons in two relatively large brained rodent species - the springhare (Pedetes capensis) and Beecroft's scaly-tailed squirrel (Anomalurus beecrofti). Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 3;86:78-91.-link
Spocter M.A., Patzke N., Manger P.R (2017). Cetacean Brains . In: Reference Module in Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Psychology, Elsevier. ISBN 9780128093245. -link
2015, 2016
Dell, L.A., Patzke, N., Spocter, M.A., Bertelsen, M., Siegel, J.M., & Manger, P.R (2016). Organization of the sleep related neural systems in the brain of the river hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius): a most unusual Cetartiodactyl species. Journal of Comparative Neurology, 2016 Jul 1;524(10):2036-58. -link
Dell, L.A., Karlson, K.E., Patzke, N., Spocter, M.A., Siegel, J.M., & Manger, P.R (2016). Organization of the sleep related neural systems in the brain of the Minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Journal of Comparative Neurology, 524(10):2018-35.-link
Dell, L.A., Patzke, N., Spocter, M.A., Siegel, J.M., & Manger, P.R (2016). Organization of the sleep related neural systems in the brain of the harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena). Journal of Comparative Neurology, 524(10):1999-2017.-link
Dell, L.A., Spocter, M.A., Patzke, N., Karlson, K.E., Alagaili, A.N., Bennett, N.C., Siegel, J.M., & Manger, P.R (2015). Orexinergic bouton density is lower in the cerebral cortex of cetaceans compared to artiodactyls. Journal of Chemical Neuroanatomy, 68:61-76. – link
Spocter, M.A., Raghanti, M.A., Butti, C., Hof, P.R., & Sherwood, C.C. (2015). The Minicolumn in a Comparative Context. In: Casanova, M & Opris, I (eds.) Recent Advances on the Modular Organization of the Cortex. Springer Publishing. –link
Patzke, N., Spocter, M.A., Karlson, KA., Bertelsen, M.F., Haagensen, M., Chawana, R., Streicher, S., Kaswera, C., Gilissen, E., Alagaili, A.N., Mohammed, O.B., Reep, R.L., Bennett, N.C., Bonfanti, L., Siegel, J.M., Ihunwo, A.O., & Manger, P.R. (2015). In contrast to many other mammals, cetaceans have relatively small hippocampi that appear to lack adult neurogenesis. Brain, Structure & Function, 220(1):361-83. –link
2013, 2014
Chawana, R., Alagaili, A., Patzke, N., Spocter, M.A., Mohammed, O.B., Kaswera, C., Gilissen, E., Bennett, N.C.,Ihunwo, A. & Manger, P.R. (2014). Microbats appear to have adult hippocampal neurogenesis but post-capture stress causes a rapid decline in the number of neurons expressing doublecortin. Neuroscience, 2014 – link
Butti, C., Fordyce, R.E., Raghanti, M.A., Gu, X., Bonar, C.J., Wicinski, B.A., Wong, E.W., Roman, J., Brake, A., Eaves, E., Spocter, M.A., Tang, C.Y., Jacobs, B., Sherwood, C.C., & Hof, P.R. (2014).The cerebral cortex of the pygmy hippopotamus, Hexaprotodon liberiensis (Cetartiodactyla, Hippopotamidae): MRI, cytoarchitecture, and neuronal morphology. Anatomical Record (Hoboken), 294(4):670-700, 2014 – link
Manger, P.R., Spocter, M.A. & Patzke, N. (2013). The evolutions of large brain size in mammals- ‘the Over 700g Club Quartet’. Brain Behavior & Evolution 82 (1), 68-78., 2013 – link
Ngwenya, A., Patzke, N., Spocter, M.A., Kruger, J., Dell, L., Chawana, R., Mazengenya, P., Billings, B.K., Olaleye, O., Herculano-Houzel, S., & Manger, P.R. (2013).The continuously growing central nervous system of the Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus). Anatomical Record (Hoboken) 296, 1489-1500, 2013 – link
Maseko, B.C., Jacobs, B., Spocter, M.A., Sherwood, C.C., Hof, P.R., & Manger, P.R. (2013). Qualitative and quantitative aspects of the microanatomy of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana) cerebellar cortex. Brain Behavior & Evolution 81 (1), 40-55, 2013 – link
2011, 2012
Maseko, B.C., Spocter, M.A., Haagensen, M., & Manger, P.R. (2012). Elephants have the relatively largest cerebellum size of mammals. Anatomical Record (Hoboken) 295,661-672., 2012 – link
Spocter, M.A., Hopkins, W.D., Barks, S.K., Bianchi, S., Stimpson, C.D., Fobbs, A.J., Hof, P.R., & Sherwood, C.C. (2012). Neuropil distribution in the cerebral cortex differs between humans and chimpanzees. Journal of Comparative Neurology 520 (13), 2917-2929., 2012 – link
Manger, P.R., Hemingway, J., Spocter, M.A., & Gallagher, A. (2012). The mass of the human brain: is it a spandrel. In: Reynolds, S & Gallagher, A. (eds.) African Genesis: Perspectives on Hominin Evolution, Cambridge Studies in Biological and Evolutionary Anthropology. Cambridge University Press, 2012 – link
Štrkalj, G., Spocter, M.A., & Wilkinson, A.T. (2011). Anatomy, medical education and human ancestral variation. Anatomical Sciences Education, 4(6):362-365. , 2011 – link
Štrkalj, G., Ngo, A., Park, K., Kim, G.B., & Spocter, M.A. (2011). Chiropractors’ perceptions of the possible racial differences in response to a treatment: A pilot study. Studies on Ethno-Medicine, 5(3),149-151. – Link, 2011 – link
Maseko, B.C., Spocter, M.A., Haagensen, M., & Manger, P.R. 2011. Volumetric analysis of the African elephant ventricular system. Anatomical Record (Hoboken) 298,1412-1417., 2011 – link
Bianchi, S., Bauernfeind, A.L., Gupta, K., Stimpson, C.D., Spocter, M.A., Bonar, C.J., Manger, P.R., Hof, P.R., Jacobs, B., & Sherwood, C.C. 2011. Neocortical neuron morphology in Afrotheria: comparing the rock hyrax with the African elephant. Annals of the New York Academy of Science 1225, 37-46., 2011 – link
2009, 2010
Sherwood, C.C., Raghanti, M.A., Stimpson, C.D., Spocter, M.A., Uddin, M., Boddy, A.M., Wildman, D.E., Bonar, C.J., Lewandowski, A.H., Phillips, K.A., Erwin, J.M., & Hof, P.R. 2010. Inhibitory interneurons of the human prefrontal cortex display conserved evolution of the phenotype and related genes. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B. 277, 1011-1020., 2010 – link
Spocter, M.A., Hopkins, W.D., Garrison, A.R., Bauerfeind, A., Stimpson, C.D., Hof, P.R., & Sherwood, C.C. 2010. Wernicke’s area homologue in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and its relation to the appearance of modern human language. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, B. 277, 2165-2174. 2010 – link
Raghanti, M.A., Spocter, M.A., Butti, C., Hof, P.R., & Sherwood, C.C. 2010. A comparative perspective on minicolumns and inhibitory GABAergic interneurons in the Neocortex. Frontiers in Neuroanatomy. 4, (3) 1-10., 2010 – link
Wilkinson, A.T., Štrkalj, G., & Spocter, M.A. 2010. Should human variation be taught to medical students? In: Štrkalj, G. (ed.) Teaching Human Variation: Issues, Trends and Challenges. Hauppauge: Nova Science Publishers., 2010 – link
Schenker, N.M., Hopkins, W.D., Spocter, M.A., Garrison, A.R., Stimpson, C.D., Erwin, J.M., Hof, P.R., & Sherwood, C.C. 2010. Broca’s area homologue in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): probabilistic mapping, asymmetry, and comparison to humans. Cerebral Cortex 20, 730-742., 2010 – link
Raghanti, M.A., Spocter, M.A., Stimpson, C.D., Erwin, J.M., Bonar, C.J., Allman, J.M., Hof, P.R., & Sherwood, C.C. 2009. Species specific distributions of tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive neurons in the prefrontal cortex of anthropoid primates. Neuroscience 158, 1551-9., 2009 – link
2007, 2008
Dayal, M.R., Spocter, M.A., & Bidmos, M.A. 2008. Sexual dimorphism of the skull of black South Africans by discriminant function analysis. Journal of Comparative Human Biology: HOMO. 59, 209-221., 2008 – link
Spocter, M.A., & Strkalj, G. 2007. Darwinian medicine: An evolutionary perspective to health and disease. South African Medical Journal. 97, 1044-1046. , 2007 – link
Spocter, M.A., & Manger, P.R. 2007. The use of cranial variables for the estimation of hominin body mass. American Journal of Physical Anthropology. 134, 92-105, 2007 – link
© 2011 by Evolving Brain Laboratory (EBL)