Maternal investment, life histories, and the costs of brain growth in mammals.

ABSTRACT: Brain size variation in mammals correlates with life histories: larger-brained species have longer gestations, mature later, and have increased lifespans. These patterns have been explained in terms of developmental costs (larger brains take longer to grow) and cognitive benefits (large brains enhance survival and increase lifespan). In support of the developmental cost hypothesis, we show that evolutionary changes in pre- and postnatal brain growth correlate specifically with duration of the relevant phases of maternal investment (gestation and lactation, respectively). We also find support for the hypothesis that the rate of fetal brain growth is related to the energy turnover of the mother. In contrast, we find no support for hypotheses proposing that costs are accommodated through dire

SUBMITTER: Barton RA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3076843 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature