Volumetric comparisons in the cerebellar complex of anthropoids, with special reference to locomotor types.

Abstract

Seven measurements in the cerebellar complex were completed on 45 individuals, including 26 species of anthropoids from Stephan's collection. These included 12 species of New World monkeys, 10 species of Old World monkeys, and Hylobates, Gorilla, Pan, and humans. The measurements were the volume of medial (fastigial) (CM), interpositus (globose and emboliform) (CI), and lateral (dentate) (CL) cerebellar nuclei, ventral pons (VPo), inferior olivary principal (OLIPr), and accessory (OLIAc) nuclei and vestibular nuclear complex (VES). The relative size of each nucleus was expressed in size indices based upon the allometric line obtained by the reduced major axis analysis. The indices of three cerebellar nuclei reflect the relative size of three longitudinal zones of the cerebellum. The cerebellar hemisphere-lateralis zone is represented by the CL indices, the vermis-medialis zone by the CM indices, and the pars intermedius-interpositus zone by the CI indices. The results show that the VPo and OLIPr indices are closely related to the CL indices. This lateral zone group of nuclei is the most progressively developed in humans, whereas the CM, CI, OLIAc, and VES are independent of the developmental trend manifest by the lateral zone group of nuclei. The indices are discussed in relation to the predominant locomotor pattern exhibited by a species. The size indices of arboreal quadrupeds show a development of all nuclei in the cerebellar complex. This is interpreted as indicating that arboreal monkeys live in complicated, discontinuous, three-dimensional space and need exceptional cerebellar capacity for each pattern of locomotion and positional behavior. Progressive development of the lateral zone group of nuclei only compared to other nuclei was recognizable in humans. This development is considered to be related not to bipedalism, but to versatile and coordinated finger movement, resulting after bipedalism was established. This cerebellar reorganization is also a prerequisite (Leiner et al. [1993] TINS 16: 444-447) for the evolution of human language. The differences between size indices of the nuclei of Macaca (= pronograde primate) and Ateles (= antipronograde one) are compared in relation to their vertical climbing kinesiological data.