Societies and Academies

Abstract

LONDON Royal Society, June 2. —C. U. Ariëns Kappers: Some correlations between the brain and the skull (David Ferrier lecture). While the brain-case generally adapts itself to the form and growth of the brain, the author begins by giving some examples in which a one-sided external compression (Teleostomes) or a more general space economy in the neurocranium (birds) seems to be the primary factor in determining some external (and internal) morphological features of the brain. He then discusses the brain and skull shape in mammals in relation to bodily characteristics and intrinsic changes in the brain itself, and their influence on the general and flssural aspect of the pallium. Proceeding to the possibility of establishing anthropological differences in the brain, the author discusses the use of certain standard lines, angles, and indices for expressing such differences in figures. He then proceeds to the general and fissural brain morphology of races in which, in addition to other features, the height index of the skull differs a good deal, and he compares the brachy-hypsicephalic Armenian with platy-brachy-cephalic Northern Mongol and the latter with meso-or subbrachy-hypsicephalic Chinese brain. Further, the Chinese brain is compared with the Japanese brain. The very limited possibility of using the same standard lines for endocranial casts of extinct races is discussed. The brain (endocranial cast) of Dubois' Pithecanthropus erectus is compared with the chimpanzee's and orang utan's. Then follows a discussion of the frontal region in recent man, especially Negro races, and the fissural changes in this region in connexion with cytotectonic and functional fields, chiefly in the vicinity of the mid-frontal. The phenomena observed in fissural development in general are briefly discussed. With the anthropological differences in the brain, which doubtless occur, we should try to differentiate between brain variations primarily depending on, or at least correlated with, the skull and intrinsic changes in the brain.