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Review
. 2024 Apr 15:18:e20240087P1.
doi: 10.1590/1980-5764-DN-2024-0087P1. eCollection 2024.

Why did humans surpass all other primates? Are our brains so different? Part 1

Ricardo Nitrini  1
Affiliations
Review

Why did humans surpass all other primates? Are our brains so different? Part 1

Ricardo Nitrini. Dement Neuropsychol. .

Abstract
in English, Portuguese

This review is based on a conference presented in June 2023. Its main objective is to explain the cognitive differences between humans and non-human primates (NHPs) focusing on characteristics of their brains. It is based on the opinion of a clinical neurologist and does not intend to go beyond an overview of this complex topic. As language is the main characteristic differentiating humans from NHPs, this review is targeted at their brain networks related to language. NHPs have rudimentary forms of language, including primitive lexical/semantic signs. Humans have a much broader lexical/semantic repertory, but syntax is the most important characteristic, which is probably unique to Homo sapiens. Angular gyrus, Broca's area, temporopolar areas, and arcuate fascicle, are much more developed in humans. These differences may explain why NHPs did not develop a similar language to ours. Language had a profound influence on all other higher nervous activities.

Esta revisão baseia-se numa conferência apresentada em junho de 2023. O seu principal objetivo é explicar as diferenças cognitivas entre humanos e primatas não humanos (PNH) com base nas características dos seus cérebros. Baseia se na opinião de um neurologista clínico e não pretende ir além de uma visão geral deste tema complexo. Como a linguagem é a principal característica que diferencia os humanos dos PNH, esta revisão concentra-se nas redes cerebrais relacionadas à linguagem. Os PNH têm formas rudimentares de linguagem, incluindo sinais lexicais/semânticos primitivos. Os humanos têm um repertório léxico/semântico muito mais amplo, mas a sintaxe é a característica mais importante e única do Homo sapiens. O giro angular, a área de Broca, as áreas temporopolares e o fascículo arqueado são muito mais desenvolvidos em humanos. Essas diferenças podem explicar por que os PNH não desenvolveram uma linguagem semelhante à nossa. A linguagem teve influência profunda em todas as outras atividades nervosas superiores.

Keywords: Brain; Higher Nervous Activity; Language; Primates; Syntax.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosure: The author report no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. A) Primatology Center of the University of Brasilia; B) Capuchin monkey (Sapajus libidinosus); C) Human brain; D) Sapajus libidinosus brain (courtesy of Maria Clotilde H. Tavares and Roberta Diehl-Rodriguez).
Figure 2
Figure 2. Brodmann's areas in the lateral brain surface.
Figure 3
Figure 3. A) Wernicke-Lichtheim-Geschwind model of the cerebral organization of language; B) Phonological-motor aspects of speech: dorsal regions of the brain, including arcuate fasciculus and Broca's area; Lexical-semantic processing: ventral regions of the brain, including inferior longitudinal fasciculus and temporopolar regions. (Highly simplified schemas).
Figure 4
Figure 4. Post-processed diffusion magnetic resonance imaging images (MRtrix3 software) demonstrating association, projection, and commissural fascicles of the central nervous system. Views: A) axial; B) coronal; and C) sagittals. Courtesy of Diogo Fragoso Cardoso.
Figure 5
Figure 5. Inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Image A) Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging; axial view; and B) Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging; sagittal view. Courtesy of Diogo Fragoso Cardoso.
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