Laboratory for Darwinian Neuroscience
Department of Anthropology
Emory University

James K Rilling::Laboratory for Darwinian Neuroscience::Lab Mission

The Mission of the Laboratory for Darwinian Neuroscience is two-fold. One goal is to advance our understanding of hominid brain evolution through comparing the brains of modern humans with non-human primate brains using a variety of non-invasive brain imaging technologies, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). These methods enable comparisons of brain structure and function between humans and non-human primates. Ongoing research projects related to this goal include:

• The first comparative study of anthropoid primate neuroanatomy using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
• A Positron Emission Tomography (PET) study that compares the neural substrates of language processing in humans and language-reared chimpanzees
• A Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) study of the arcuate fascilicus in humans, chimpanzees, and rhesus macaques

A second goal is to begin mapping the evolved social psychology of the human brain. We are interested in exploring the neural basis of human social cognition and behavior, particularly those aspects that have been under strong evolutionary selection pressure. Ongoing research projects related to this goal include:

• A functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) investigation of the neural basis for reciprocal
• An fMRI study of the neural correlates of the perception of more and less dominant male faces