endocast
EN-doh-kast
Definition
A cast or mold of the interior of a hollow object, specifically the braincase, used to infer the shape and size of the brain that once occupied that space.
Etymology
The word is formed from the Greek prefix 'endo-' (within) and the English noun 'cast' (a form made from a mold). It is primarily used in paleontology and biology to study the anatomy of extinct organisms.
In the news
Researchers used CT scans to create an endocast of the dodo's braincase, allowing them to study its internal structure and brain proportions to challenge myths about its intelligence.
Scientists have reconstructed the dodo's brain from CT scans of its skull and found an oversized smell centre and forward-facing, owl-like eyes — the bird that became shorthand for stupidity appears to have been navigating Mauritius by nose, and in the dark
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com