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An extinct arthropod’s fossil reveals that anatomically complex brains evolved earlier than previously thought and have changed little over the course of evolution.

“In branchiopods, there are always only two visual neuropils and they are not linked by crossing fibers,” says University of Arizona neurobiologist Nicholas Strausfeld. ”In principle, Fuxianhuia’s is a very modern brain in an ancient animal.”

Full story at Futurity.

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Photo credit: Xiaoya Ma/Nicholas Strausfeld