@article{96ff5c3418eb4e56a46c34b19d21bf7e,
title = "Dumbbell-shaped brains of Polish crested chickens as a model system for the evolution of novel brain morphologies",
abstract = "The evolutionary history of vertebrates is replete with emergence of novel brain morphologies, including the origin of the human brain. Existing model organisms and toolkits for investigating drivers of neuroanatomical innovations have largely proceeded on mammals. As such, a compelling non-mammalian model system would facilitate our understanding of how unique brain morphologies evolve across vertebrates. Here, we present the domestic chicken breed, white crested Polish chickens, as an avian model for investigating how novel brain morphologies originate. Most notably, these crested chickens exhibit cerebral herniation from anterodorsal displacement of the telencephalon, which results in a prominent protuberance on the dorsal aspect of the skull. We use a high-density geometric morphometric approach on cephalic endocasts to characterize their brain morphology. Compared with standard white Leghorn chickens (WLCs) and modern avian diversity, the results demonstrate that crested chickens possess a highly variable and unique overall brain configuration. Proportional sizes of neuroanatomical regions are within the observed range of extant birds sampled in this study, but Polish chickens differ from WLCs in possessing a relatively larger cerebrum and smaller cerebellum and medulla. Given their accessibility, phylogenetic proximity, and unique neuroanatomy, we propose that crested breeds, combined with standard chickens, form a promising comparative system for investigating the emergence of novel brain morphologies.",
keywords = "Gallus, domestication, endocasts, geometric morphometrics, micro-CT imaging",
author = "Akinobu Watanabe and Marshall, {Sylvia S.} and Gignac, {Paul M.}",
note = "Funding Information: The authors thank Michelle Hayer (formerly at Skulls Unlimited) for skulls of Polish crested chickens; Manon Wilson, and Lyndon Colvin (MICRO Facility, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville) for CT imaging; Kelsi Hurdle (Visualization Center, New York Institute of Technology) for CT segmentation assistance; Todd L. Green for helpful discussions and providing and permitting the use of photographs of Polish crested chickens; Brian Marshall for assistance with coding; and two anonymous reviewers for providing helpful comments that improved the quality of the article. This study was funded by the National Science Foundation (IOS-2045466, DEB-1406849 to A.W.; DEB-1457180 to P.M.G.), New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (startup funds to A.W., Summer Research Program to S.S.M.), the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (to P.M.G.), and the University of Arizona College of Medicine (to P.M.G.). Funding Information: The authors thank Michelle Hayer (formerly at Skulls Unlimited) for skulls of Polish crested chickens; Manon Wilson, and Lyndon Colvin (MICRO Facility, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville) for CT imaging; Kelsi Hurdle (Visualization Center, New York Institute of Technology) for CT segmentation assistance; Todd L. Green for helpful discussions and providing and permitting the use of photographs of Polish crested chickens; Brian Marshall for assistance with coding; and two anonymous reviewers for providing helpful comments that improved the quality of the article. This study was funded by the National Science Foundation (IOS‐2045466, DEB‐1406849 to A.W.; DEB‐1457180 to P.M.G.), New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (startup funds to A.W., Summer Research Program to S.S.M.), the Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences (to P.M.G.), and the University of Arizona College of Medicine (to P.M.G.). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Authors. Journal of Anatomy published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Anatomical Society.",
year = "2023",
month = sep,
doi = "10.1111/joa.13883",
language = "English",
volume = "243",
pages = "421--430",
journal = "Journal of Anatomy",
issn = "0021-8782",
publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd",
number = "3",
}