Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Comparative Neuroscience and Neurobiology pp 15–17Cite as

Birkhäuser

Brain Size

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Readings from the ((REN))

Abstract

The gross weight or volume of an adult mammalian brain is a natural biological statistic that estimates fundamental between-species parameters of structure and function. Among the relationships that have been discovered, the best established and most important is between brain weight and the surface area of the entire cerebral cortex. It shows that brain size may be used to estimate the total neural information processing capacity of a species. Other quantitative features of the brain that are related to brain size include the number of cortical neurons, average cortical thickness, average neuron density, extent of axodendritic arborization, neuron/glial ratios, and various neurochemical measures.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   39.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   54.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

Further reading

Reviews and symposia

  • Armstrong E, Falk D, eds (1982): Primate Brain Evolution: Methods and Concepts. New York and London: Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blinkov SM, Glezer II (1968): The Human Brain in Figures and Tables. New York: Basic Books Plenum.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hahn ME, Jensen C, Dudek BC, eds. (1979): Development and Evolution of Brain Size: Behavioral Implications. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jerison HJ (1985): Issues in brain evolution. Oxford Surveys Evol Biol 2: 102–134.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leiblich I, ed. (1983): Genetics of the Brain. New York and London: Elsevier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wimer RE, Wimer CC (1985): Animal behavior genetics: A search for the biological foundations of behavior. Ann Rev Psychol 36: 171–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Monographs

  • Hofman MA (1984): Towards a General Theory of Encephalization. Amsterdam: Rodopi.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jerison HJ (1973): Evolution of the Brain and Intelligence. New York: Academic Press.

    Google Scholar 

Application of brain size

  • Ball MJ, MacGregor J, Fyfe IM, Rapoport SI, London ED (1983): Paucity of morphological changes in the brains of ageing beagle dogs: Further evidence that Alzheimer lesions are unique for primate central nervous system. Neurobiol Ageing 4: 127–131.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nellhouse G (1968): Head circumference from birth to eighteen years. Pediatrics 41: 106–114.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. Harry J. Jerison
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1988 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Jerison, H.J. (1988). Brain Size. In: Comparative Neuroscience and Neurobiology. Readings from the Encyclopedia of Neuroscience . Birkhäuser, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6776-3_7

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-6776-3_7

  • Publisher Name: Birkhäuser, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-8176-3394-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4899-6776-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation