Meeting Abstract
Many studies of brain size only look at volume or mass of the brain or region of the brain. However, recent studies have found that the underlying number, size, and density of neurons for a given brain volume or mass varies across individuals, species, and clades. These neuronal variables are related to the brain’s computational power, which may be important for understanding cognition. For this project, we have used the isotropic fractionator method to analyze the brain of the lizard Anolis cristatellus. We provide data on the number and density of neurons across the telencephalon, cerebellum, and other regions of the brain, as well as how this varies across individuals. We also compare our data on lizards to data published about other vertebrate groups. Future work will combine these data with analyses of cognitive ability.
