Show simple item record

dc.contributor.author	Bastir, Markus
dc.contributor.author	Rosas, Antonio
dc.contributor.author	Lieberman, Daniel Eric
dc.contributor.author	O'Higgins, Paul
dc.date.accessioned	2010-03-09T20:51:05Z
dc.date.issued	2008
dc.identifier.citation	Bashir, Markus, Antonio Rosas, Daniel E. Lieberman, Paul O’Higgins. 2008. Middle cranial fossa anatomy and the origin of modern humans. The Anatomical Record 291(2): 130–140.	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	1932-8486	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:3716473
dc.description.abstract	Anatomically, modern humans differ from archaic forms in possessing a globular neurocranium and a retracted face and in cognitive functions, many of which are associated with the temporal lobes. The middle cranial fossa (MCF) interacts during growth and development with the temporal lobes, the midface, and the mandible. It has been proposed that evolutionary transformations of the MCF (perhaps from modification of the temporal lobes) can have substantial influences on craniofacial morphology. Here, we use three-dimensional (3D) geometric morphometrics and computer reconstructions of computed tomography-scanned fossil hominids, fossil and recent modern humans and chimpanzees to address this issue further. Mean comparisons and permutation analyses of scaled 3D basicranial landmarks confirm that the MCF of Homo sapiens is highly significantly different (P < 0.001) from H. neanderthalensis, H. heidelbergensis, and Pan troglodytes. Modern humans have a unique configuration with relatively more anterolateral projection of the MCF pole relative to the optic chiasm and the foramen rotundum. These findings are discussed in the context of evolutionary changes in craniofacial morphology and the origins of modern human autapomorphies. In particular, the findings of this study point to variations in the temporal lobe, which, through effects on the MCF and face, are central to the evolution of modern human facial form.	en_US
dc.description.sponsorship	Anthropology	en_US
dc.language.iso	en_US	en_US
dc.publisher	Wiley-Blackwell	en_US
dc.relation.isversionof	doi:10.1002/ar.20636	en_US
dc.relation.hasversion	http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~skeleton/PDFList.html#2008	en_US
dash.license	LAA
dc.subject	lateral cranial base	en_US
dc.subject	human evolution	en_US
dc.subject	temporal lobes	en_US
dc.subject	sphenoid	en_US
dc.subject	3D reconstructions	en_US
dc.subject	geometric morphometrics	en_US
dc.title	Middle Cranial Fossa Anatomy and the Origin of Modern Humans	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article	en_US
dc.description.version	Version of Record	en_US
dc.relation.journal	The Anatomical Record	en_US
dash.depositing.author	Lieberman, Daniel Eric
dc.date.available	2010-03-09T20:51:05Z

Files in this item

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

• FAS Scholarly Articles [5137]
  Peer reviewed scholarly articles from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of Harvard University

Show simple item record

Contact administrator regarding this item (to report mistakes or request changes)