Vertebrates: Fruition of Encephalization
Vertebrates: Fruition
of Encephalization
The basic plan of the vertebrate nervous system is a hollow, dorsal nerve cord terminating anteriorly in a large ganglionic mass, the brain. This pattern contrasts with the nerve cord of bilateral invertebrates, which is solid and ventral to the alimentary canal. By far the most important trend in the evolution of vertebrate nervous systems is the great elaboration of size, configuration, and functional capacity of the brain, a process called encephalization. Vertebrate encephalization has brought to full fruition several functional capabilities including fast responses, great capacity for storage of information, and enhanced complexity and flexibility of behavior. Another consequence of encephalization is the ability to form associations between past, present, and (at least in humans) future events.
The basic plan of the vertebrate nervous system is a hollow, dorsal nerve cord terminating anteriorly in a large ganglionic mass, the brain. This pattern contrasts with the nerve cord of bilateral invertebrates, which is solid and ventral to the alimentary canal. By far the most important trend in the evolution of vertebrate nervous systems is the great elaboration of size, configuration, and functional capacity of the brain, a process called encephalization. Vertebrate encephalization has brought to full fruition several functional capabilities including fast responses, great capacity for storage of information, and enhanced complexity and flexibility of behavior. Another consequence of encephalization is the ability to form associations between past, present, and (at least in humans) future events.
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