Neurothermodynamics as a contributing factor shaping the mammalian brain

Paul R. Manger; Julien Benoit; Adhil Bhagwandin; Muhammad A. Spocter; Vera Weisbecker; Andrew A. Farke; James P. Rule; Alexander McDonald; Justin W. Adams; Madlen M. Lang; Ornella C. Bertrand; Rachel Racicot; Patrick R. Hof; Roberta Veronese do Amaral; Emiliano Bruner; Simon Neubauer; Jeroen Smaers

doi:10.1016/B978-0-443-27380-3.00016-6

Neurothermodynamics as a contributing factor shaping the mammalian brain

Paul R. Manger
, Julien Benoit
, Adhil Bhagwandin
, Muhammad A. Spocter
, Vera Weisbecker
, Andrew A. Farke
, James P. Rule
, Alexander McDonald
, Justin W. Adams
, Madlen M. Lang
, Ornella C. Bertrand
, Rachel Racicot
, Patrick R. Hof
, Roberta Veronese do Amaral
, Emiliano Bruner
, Simon Neubauer
, Jeroen Smaers

College of Science and Engineering

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Abstract

As a thermogenic organ, heat generation and loss within and from the mammalian brain may play a role in determining its shape. We investigated brain shape by comparing endocranial volume (EcV, a proxy of heat generating tissue) and endocranial surface area (EcSA, a proxy of convective heat loss) in 472 species using phylogenetically appropriate methods. A distinct ancestral mammalian condition in the relationship between EcV and EcSA was found. Rodentia exhibit a more tubular brain shape, while Cercopithecoidea, Hominoidea, and Neoceti show a more spherical brain. Increased brain sphericity will reduce heat loss, providing energetic savings important in the context of natural selection.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Evolution of Nervous Systems
Editors	Jon H. Kaas, Suzana Herculano-Houzel
Publisher	Elsevier
Chapter	2.01
Pages	1-40
Number of pages	40
Volume	2
Edition	3rd
ISBN (Electronic)	9780443273810
ISBN (Print)	9780443273803
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-27380-3.00016-6
Publication status	Published - 2026

Keywords

Brain
Evolution
Heat loss
Heat production
Hominoidea
Neoceti
Rodentia
Thermodynamics

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Manger, P. R., Benoit, J., Bhagwandin, A., Spocter, M. A., Weisbecker, V., Farke, A. A., Rule, J. P., McDonald, A., Adams, J. W., Lang, M. M., Bertrand, O. C., Racicot, R., Hof, P. R., do Amaral, R. V., Bruner, E., Neubauer, S., & Smaers, J. (2026). Neurothermodynamics as a contributing factor shaping the mammalian brain. In J. H. Kaas, & S. Herculano-Houzel (Eds.), Evolution of Nervous Systems (3rd ed., Vol. 2, pp. 1-40). Elsevier. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-27380-3.00016-6

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title = "Neurothermodynamics as a contributing factor shaping the mammalian brain",

abstract = "As a thermogenic organ, heat generation and loss within and from the mammalian brain may play a role in determining its shape. We investigated brain shape by comparing endocranial volume (EcV, a proxy of heat generating tissue) and endocranial surface area (EcSA, a proxy of convective heat loss) in 472 species using phylogenetically appropriate methods. A distinct ancestral mammalian condition in the relationship between EcV and EcSA was found. Rodentia exhibit a more tubular brain shape, while Cercopithecoidea, Hominoidea, and Neoceti show a more spherical brain. Increased brain sphericity will reduce heat loss, providing energetic savings important in the context of natural selection.",

keywords = "Brain, Evolution, Heat loss, Heat production, Hominoidea, Neoceti, Rodentia, Thermodynamics",

author = "Manger, \{Paul R.\} and Julien Benoit and Adhil Bhagwandin and Spocter, \{Muhammad A.\} and Vera Weisbecker and Farke, \{Andrew A.\} and Rule, \{James P.\} and Alexander McDonald and Adams, \{Justin W.\} and Lang, \{Madlen M.\} and Bertrand, \{Ornella C.\} and Rachel Racicot and Hof, \{Patrick R.\} and \{do Amaral\}, \{Roberta Veronese\} and Emiliano Bruner and Simon Neubauer and Jeroen Smaers",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1016/B978-0-443-27380-3.00016-6",

language = "English",

isbn = "9780443273803",

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Manger, PR, Benoit, J, Bhagwandin, A, Spocter, MA, Weisbecker, V, Farke, AA, Rule, JP, McDonald, A, Adams, JW, Lang, MM, Bertrand, OC, Racicot, R, Hof, PR, do Amaral, RV, Bruner, E, Neubauer, S & Smaers, J 2026, Neurothermodynamics as a contributing factor shaping the mammalian brain. in JH Kaas & S Herculano-Houzel (eds), Evolution of Nervous Systems. 3rd edn, vol. 2, Elsevier, pp. 1-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-443-27380-3.00016-6

TY - CHAP

T1 - Neurothermodynamics as a contributing factor shaping the mammalian brain

AU - Manger, Paul R.

AU - Benoit, Julien

AU - Bhagwandin, Adhil

AU - Spocter, Muhammad A.

AU - Weisbecker, Vera

AU - Farke, Andrew A.

AU - Rule, James P.

AU - McDonald, Alexander

AU - Adams, Justin W.

AU - Lang, Madlen M.

AU - Bertrand, Ornella C.

AU - Racicot, Rachel

AU - Hof, Patrick R.

AU - do Amaral, Roberta Veronese

AU - Bruner, Emiliano

AU - Neubauer, Simon

AU - Smaers, Jeroen

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - As a thermogenic organ, heat generation and loss within and from the mammalian brain may play a role in determining its shape. We investigated brain shape by comparing endocranial volume (EcV, a proxy of heat generating tissue) and endocranial surface area (EcSA, a proxy of convective heat loss) in 472 species using phylogenetically appropriate methods. A distinct ancestral mammalian condition in the relationship between EcV and EcSA was found. Rodentia exhibit a more tubular brain shape, while Cercopithecoidea, Hominoidea, and Neoceti show a more spherical brain. Increased brain sphericity will reduce heat loss, providing energetic savings important in the context of natural selection.

AB - As a thermogenic organ, heat generation and loss within and from the mammalian brain may play a role in determining its shape. We investigated brain shape by comparing endocranial volume (EcV, a proxy of heat generating tissue) and endocranial surface area (EcSA, a proxy of convective heat loss) in 472 species using phylogenetically appropriate methods. A distinct ancestral mammalian condition in the relationship between EcV and EcSA was found. Rodentia exhibit a more tubular brain shape, while Cercopithecoidea, Hominoidea, and Neoceti show a more spherical brain. Increased brain sphericity will reduce heat loss, providing energetic savings important in the context of natural selection.

KW - Brain

KW - Evolution

KW - Heat loss

KW - Heat production

KW - Hominoidea

KW - Neoceti

KW - Rodentia

KW - Thermodynamics

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105038504031

U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-443-27380-3.00016-6

DO - 10.1016/B978-0-443-27380-3.00016-6

M3 - Chapter

AN - SCOPUS:105038504031

SN - 9780443273803

VL - 2

SP - 1

EP - 40

BT - Evolution of Nervous Systems

A2 - Kaas, Jon H.

A2 - Herculano-Houzel, Suzana

PB - Elsevier

ER -

Neurothermodynamics as a contributing factor shaping the mammalian brain

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Keywords

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