Jason Kaufman : Comparative Analysis of Regional Brain Metabolism

As an anthropologist interested in the evolution of the human brain, my research is focused on the quantification and analysis of brain physiology in various species of mammals, including humans and non-human primates. I am currently researching brain metabolism in order to understand where and how much activity is going on in different regions of the brain in the baseline state, and how this pattern of regional activity compares across species. Since brain expansion is such an important part of human evolution, I also study the relationship between brain size and metabolic activity. My research fits into a larger framework of comparative neurology that represents a growing research trend in biological anthropology. Ultimately, this type of research will help us to better understand the complex connection between brain and behavior.