this book explores the principles of brain evolution, focusing on the development and changes in vertebrate brains across evolutionary time. it covers the history of comparative neurobiology, from the birth of comparative neuroanatomy to the rise of neurocladistics and the rejuvenation of comparative neuroembryology. the book also examines conservation in vertebrate brains, comparing adult and embryonic brains, and discusses the neuromeric model and its criticisms. it explores evolutionary changes in overall brain size, including relative and absolute brain size, and the functional correlates of these changes. the book then turns to evolutionary changes in brain region size, discussing concerted versus mosaic evolution and the functional correlates of brain region size. it also examines evolutionary changes in brain region structure, including homology and novelty, phylogenetic conversion (lamination), and phylogenetic proliferation (segregation and addition). the book then explores the evolution of neuronal connectivity, including epigenetic population matching, the parcellation hypothesis, connectional invasion, and general principles of network design. finally, it addresses what makes mammal brains special, examining early mammals and their brains, the phylogenetic history of the neocortex, and beyond the neocortex. the book aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of brain evolution, integrating various aspects of neuroscience and evolutionary biology.this book explores the principles of brain evolution, focusing on the development and changes in vertebrate brains across evolutionary time. it covers the history of comparative neurobiology, from the birth of comparative neuroanatomy to the rise of neurocladistics and the rejuvenation of comparative neuroembryology. the book also examines conservation in vertebrate brains, comparing adult and embryonic brains, and discusses the neuromeric model and its criticisms. it explores evolutionary changes in overall brain size, including relative and absolute brain size, and the functional correlates of these changes. the book then turns to evolutionary changes in brain region size, discussing concerted versus mosaic evolution and the functional correlates of brain region size. it also examines evolutionary changes in brain region structure, including homology and novelty, phylogenetic conversion (lamination), and phylogenetic proliferation (segregation and addition). the book then explores the evolution of neuronal connectivity, including epigenetic population matching, the parcellation hypothesis, connectional invasion, and general principles of network design. finally, it addresses what makes mammal brains special, examining early mammals and their brains, the phylogenetic history of the neocortex, and beyond the neocortex. the book aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of brain evolution, integrating various aspects of neuroscience and evolutionary biology.