Mammals, birds, and reptiles evolved complex brains through different paths
Three studies of the brain regions responsible for processing sensory information show that their neurons are and communicate differently
Butterflies, pigeons, and bats have one thing in common: they fly. Common sense might suggest that, despite belonging to different families, they share a common winged ancestor on the tree of life. However, their closest ancestor is an ancient, worm-like creature that did not even have wings. This is a clear example of evolutionary convergence, where vastly different species have independently evolved the same solution (wings) to solve the same problem (flight). A similar phenomenon has occurred in the brains of birds, reptiles, and mammals. According to three studies published in Science, their grey matter has evolved to perform complex functions, using different neural paths and circuits to reach the same destination.
