Evolution of the Human Brain Can Help Determine Pathophysiology of Neurodevelopmental Disorders

• Published in: Frontiers in neuroscience Vol. 16; p. 871979
• Main Authors: Irie, Koichiro, Doi, Miyuki, Usui, Noriyoshi, Shimada, Shoichi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland Frontiers Research Foundation 01-04-2022; Frontiers Media S.A
• Subjects: Animal cognition; Autism; Brain; brain evolution; Cell division; Cognition; Communication; comparative genomics; Evolution; Gene expression; Genomics; human brain; Molecular evolution; Neurodevelopmental disorders; neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs); Neurons; Neuroscience; oligodendrocyte; Pathophysiology; Quorum sensing; brain evolution; human brain; neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs); molecular evolution; comparative genomics; oligodendrocyte
• ISSN: 1662-4548; 1662-453X; 1662-453X
• DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.871979

The evolution of humans brought about a co-occurring evolution of the human brain, which is far larger and more complex than that of many other organisms. The brain has evolved characteristically in humans in many respects, including macro-and micro-anatomical changes in the brain structure, changes in gene expression, and cell populations and ratios. These characteristics are essential for the execution of higher functions, such as sociality, language, and cognition, which express humanity, and are thought to have been acquired over evolutionary time. However, with the acquisition of higher functions also comes the risk of the disease in which they fail. This review focuses on human brain evolution and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs) and discusses brain development, molecular evolution, and human brain evolution. Discussing the potential for the development and pathophysiology of NDDs acquired by human brain evolution will provide insights into the acquisition and breakdown of higher functions from a new perspective.