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Research Interests
Paleoneurology Evolution and human behavior

The evolution of the hominin cerebellum

My dissertation research focused on the size and shape of the cerebellum as seen from endocranial casts (endocasts). I used traditional linear metric techniques along with geometric morphometric techniques to evaluate both size and shape change in the cerebellar region of extant primates and fossil hominins.

Results indicate that not only does the cerebellum increase in absolute size through hominin evolution but shape also changes with size. This may indicate a reorganization effect in the cerebellum as well as in the areas more traditionally associated with higher cognitive functions.

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White DD (2005) Size And Shape Of The Cerebellum In Catarrhine Primates And Plio-Pleistocene Fossil Hominins: A Paleoneurological Analysis Of Endocranial Casts pdf version (3.29MB)

Thesis Advisor: Dissertation Committee:
Dr. Dean Falk Dr. Tim Gage
  Dr. Gordon G. Gallup Jr.

Peer victimization from an evolutionary perspective

Since 2005, I have been collaborating with colleagues from the Psychology Department at the University at Albany and more recently the Department of Biological Sciences at Binghamton University on the evolutionary underpinnings of bullying and victimization in adolescence.

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My colleages and I have attempted to look for the ultimate evolutionary root of this ubiquitous and cross-cultural behavior. We have recently contributed a paper to the journal "Evolution and Human Behavior" which looks specifically at bullying behavior, strength, and mating opportunities in college students.

My collaborator, Andrew Gallup, won the 2007 UAlbany President's Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research for this paper. He is now working with Dr. David Sloan Wilson (Binghamton University) on an extension of this work.

Our November 2007 article in Evolution and Human Behavior has received attention from Pour la science (the official French version of Scientific American) and Science.

Collaborators
Dr. Gordon G. Gallup Jr. and
Andrew C. Gallup

 
American Association of Physical Anthropologists

NorthEastern Evolutionary Psychology Society
NorthEastern Evolutionary Psychology Society

 Human Behavior and Evolution Society