Laboratory for Darwinian Neuroscience
In fathers, activity in the ventral tegmental area (part of the dopamine reward network) in response to viewing pictures of their own children is positively correlated with their involvement in direct forms of caregiving.
The Mission of the Laboratory for Darwinian Neuroscience is two-fold. One goal is to advance our understanding of hominin brain evolution through comparing the brains of modern humans with non-human primate brains using a variety of non-invasive brain imaging technologies, including magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), positron emission tomography (PET) and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). These methods enable comparisons of brain structure and function between humans and non-human primates.
Ongoing research projects related to this goal include:
- Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to compare cortical connectivity in humans, great apes and monkeys
- Using PET imaging to compare the neural substrates of resting state cognition and social cognition in chimpanzees and humans
A second goal is to begin mapping the evolved social psychology of the human brain. We are interested in exploring the neural basis of human social cognition and behavior, particularly those aspects that have been under strong evolutionary selection pressure. Ongoing research projects related to this goal include:
- A fMRI investigation of the neural bases of reciprocated and unreciprocated cooperation
- A fMRI investigation of the influence of vasopressin on the neural correlates of human face perception
- A fMRI investigation of the neural bases of paternal nurturance