Unravelling the mystery of the highly convoluted Cetartiodactyl brain: White and gray matter volumes, cortical thickness and TRNP1 gene expression
Description
Cortical folding (i.e., gyrification) is closely related to the functional organization of the brain and has been studied as a marker of both normal and pathological brain function. From an evolutionary perspective, gyrification is also a well-known proxy for neural complexity, with highly convoluted brains supporting greater connectivity. The highly convoluted brains of Cetartiodactyla (the group which includes even toed hoofed mammals and the toothed whales), is somewhat of an enigma amongst mammals with folding patterns within this group outcompeting those found in primates. To investigate the intrinsic interactions of the cortical components on the external surface of the cetartiodactyl brain, we derived quantitative data obtained from magnetic resonance imaging and histological sections, and compared the gyrification index, white and gray matter volume and cortical thickness in a sample of 12 Cetartiodactyl species. In addition, we collated mRNA sequence data for the mammalian TMF-1 (TATA Element Modulatory Factor) regulated protein (TRNP1), which is known to regulate the expansion and folding of the mammalian cerebral cortex. Our resultsrevealed ongoing evidence for a positive interaction between brain size and cortical folding, as well as an association between white and gray matter volumetrics and overall brain size. In addition, we found some clade-level differences in the variation of TRNP1. In conclusion, these results and accompanying data help to expand our knowledge on the relationship between the external and internal morphometry of the cetartiodactyl brain and the interplay with genetic components.
Citation Information
Bhasin, Naman; Wall, Marlee K.; Lee, Darren J.; and Spocter, Muhammad A., "Unravelling the mystery of the highly convoluted Cetartiodactyl brain: White and gray matter volumes, cortical thickness and TRNP1 gene expression" (2026). Office of Research DMU Research Symposium. 97.
https://digitalcommons.dmu.edu/researchsymposium/2025rs/2025abstracts/97
Unravelling the mystery of the highly convoluted Cetartiodactyl brain: White and gray matter volumes, cortical thickness and TRNP1 gene expression
Cortical folding (i.e., gyrification) is closely related to the functional organization of the brain and has been studied as a marker of both normal and pathological brain function. From an evolutionary perspective, gyrification is also a well-known proxy for neural complexity, with highly convoluted brains supporting greater connectivity. The highly convoluted brains of Cetartiodactyla (the group which includes even toed hoofed mammals and the toothed whales), is somewhat of an enigma amongst mammals with folding patterns within this group outcompeting those found in primates. To investigate the intrinsic interactions of the cortical components on the external surface of the cetartiodactyl brain, we derived quantitative data obtained from magnetic resonance imaging and histological sections, and compared the gyrification index, white and gray matter volume and cortical thickness in a sample of 12 Cetartiodactyl species. In addition, we collated mRNA sequence data for the mammalian TMF-1 (TATA Element Modulatory Factor) regulated protein (TRNP1), which is known to regulate the expansion and folding of the mammalian cerebral cortex. Our resultsrevealed ongoing evidence for a positive interaction between brain size and cortical folding, as well as an association between white and gray matter volumetrics and overall brain size. In addition, we found some clade-level differences in the variation of TRNP1. In conclusion, these results and accompanying data help to expand our knowledge on the relationship between the external and internal morphometry of the cetartiodactyl brain and the interplay with genetic components.
