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Through the primates

Our behavior is physically determined by the anatomy and movement of muscles and skeletons of our body. It is also the result of an accumulation of modifications that have occurred in the body over 7 million years of human evolution. What are the derived characteristics of humans? Looking only at humans does not reveal the full picture. By observing the body anatomy and movements of our evolutionary neighbors, nonhuman primates, and clarifying the efficiency and performance of their movements, we are trying to elucidate the evolutionary process behind the acquisition of upright bipedal walking, fine hand control, and language by humans.

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Takeshi Nishimura

Professor

Evolution of language: anatomy, physiology and biomechanics of primate vocalizations

I am currently researching the evolution of language, particularly the evolutionary process of the biological foundations of speech, the medium of language communication. Together with many collaborators, I am trying to clarify the characteristics of humans who acquired spoken language through a multifaceted approach that includes primate anatomy, speech physiology and behavioral experiments, acoustic analysis, numerical simulations, and electrophysiological experiments.

In addition, I am taking advantage of opportunities that arise from time to time to undertake a variety of research projects related to human evolution, such as simulation research on the physiological characteristics of the nasal cavity and research on the evolutionary process of monkeys through CT image analysis of fossil primates.

 

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Yoshihiko Nakano

Associate Professor

Research on human evolution from the perspective of phylogenetic development of movement and morphology

Fossils provide direct evidence of the human evolutionary process. I have participated in fossil surveys in northern Kenya and excavated new fossils that are thought to be the common ancestor of humans and apes. Since fossils cannot be taken out of Kenya, I am measuring them and comparing their morphology at museums in Kenya.

Most fossil evidence is fragmentary, and is insufficient to provide sufficient information about evolution. Therefore, comparative studies using extant primates are being conducted in various fields. In order to understand the adaptations to the movement patterns of various primates, we focus on the movement of many primates, especially tree climbing movement, which is seen in all species, and conduct kinematic comparative analysis.

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Tetsuya Shitara

Assistant Professor

Evolution of upright bipedalism in humans, biomechanics of locomotion in nonhuman primates

I am interested in the evolutionary process of upright bipedal walking, one of the most definitive characters of human beings, particularly the evolutionary changes of the gluteus medius muscle in anatomy and function. Upright bipedal walking is more laterally unstable than quadrupedal walking, in that there is a period when the entire body is supported by only one-side leg. The gluteus medius muscle is one of the elements that deal with this lateral instability. I use simulations using musculoskeletal models and analysis of muscle activity, to elucidate the mechanism that brought about the functional changes of the gluteus medius muscle.

2023 Japanese Society of Anthropology Young Members Conference Presentation Award, 2024 Osaka University Award (Young Faculty Division).

Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University

1-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, JAPAN

© 2024 by Biological Anthropology Lab., Osaka University

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