Alexandra de Sousa

Personal statement 

My research examines the relationship between human behaviour and brain structure. As an evolutionary neuroscientist, I approach behaviour from “deep” anatomical and evolutionary frames of reference. I research the emergence of human cognition from fossil, archaeological, and genetic records. Most recently I have focused on the neuroanatomical and comparative basis of cognition and its implications for well-being and inclusivity in the built and unbuilt environment.

I am keen to supervise self-motivated PhD students and postdoctoral researchers with similar research interests.

Academic qualifications

  • BA Arizona State University
  • PhD The George Washington University

Professional memberships

Research and academic outputs

Go to ResearchSPAce

Evolution of the occipital lobe
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Todorov, O.S and De Sousa, A (2017) 'Evolution of the occipital lobe.' In: Bruner, E, Ogihara, N and Tanabe, H, eds. Digital endocasts. Springer, Tokyo, pp. 259-273. ISBN 9784431565802

Hominins and the emergence of the modern human brain
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De Sousa, A and Cunha, E (2012) 'Hominins and the emergence of the modern human brain.' In: Hofman, M.A and Falk, D, eds. Evolution of the primate brain: from neuron to behavior. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 293-322. ISBN 9780444538604

The hominin fossil record and the emergence of the modern human central nervous system
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De Sousa, A and Wood, B (2007) 'The hominin fossil record and the emergence of the modern human central nervous system.' In: Kaas, J.H, ed. Evolution of nervous systems: a comprehensive reference. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 291-336. ISBN 9780123925602

evALLution: making basic evolution concepts accessible to people with visual impairment through a multisensory tree of life
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Laurentino, T.G, Xavier, M, Ronco, F, Pina-Martins, F, Domingues, I, Penha, B, Dias, M, De Sousa, A, Carrilho, T, Rodrigues, L.R, Pinheiro, C, Rato, D, Balata, D, Ayala-Botto, G, Matos, M, Campelo, M and Botelho, R (2021) 'evALLution: making basic evolution concepts accessible to people with visual impairment through a multisensory tree of life.' Evolution: Education and Outreach, 14 (5). ISSN 1936-6426

Visual-to-auditory sensory substitution alters language asymmetry in both sighted novices and experienced visually impaired users
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Proulx, M.J, Brown, D.J, Lloyd-Esenkaya, T, Barnett Levenson, J, Todorov, O, Watson, S and De Sousa, A (2020) 'Visual-to-auditory sensory substitution alters language asymmetry in both sighted novices and experienced visually impaired users.' Applied Ergonomics, 85. e103072. ISSN 0003-6870

Primate hippocampus size and organization are predicted by sociality but not diet
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Todorov, O.S, Weisbecker, V, Gilissen, E, Zilles, K and De Sousa, A (2019) 'Primate hippocampus size and organization are predicted by sociality but not diet.' Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 286 (1914). e171. ISSN 0962-8452

The right way to kiss: directionality bias in head-turning during kissing
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Rezaul Karim, A. K. M, Proulx, M.J, De Sousa, A, Karmaker, C, Rahman, A, Karim, F and Nigar, N (2017) 'The right way to kiss: directionality bias in head-turning during kissing.' Scientific Reports, 7. e5398. ISSN 2045-2322

Neocortex expansion is linked to size variations in gene families with chemotaxis, cell–cell signalling and immune response functions in mammals
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Castillo-Morales, A, Monzón-Sandoval, J, De Sousa, A, Urrutia, A.O and Gutierrez, H (2016) 'Neocortex expansion is linked to size variations in gene families with chemotaxis, cell–cell signalling and immune response functions in mammals.' Open Biology, 6 (10). p. 160132. ISSN 2046-2441

Where am I? Who am I? The relation between spatial cognition, social cognition and individual differences in the built environment
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Proulx, M.J, Todorov, O.S, Taylor Aiken, A and De Sousa, A (2016) 'Where am I? Who am I? The relation between spatial cognition, social cognition and individual differences in the built environment.' Frontiers in Psychology, 7. e64. ISSN 1664-1078

Other ways of seeing: from behavior to neural mechanisms in the online “visual” control of action with sensory substitution
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Proulx, M.J, Gwinnutt, J, Dell’Erba, S, Levy-Tzedek, S, De Sousa, A and Brown, D.J (2015) 'Other ways of seeing: from behavior to neural mechanisms in the online “visual” control of action with sensory substitution.' Restorative Neurology and Neuroscience, 34 (1). pp. 29-44. ISSN 1878-3627

There or not there? A multidisciplinary review and research agenda on the impact of transparent barriers on human perception, action, and social behavior
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Marquardt, G, Cross, E.S, De Sousa, A, Edelstein, E, Farnè, A, Leszczynski, M, Patterson, M and Quadflieg, S (2015) 'There or not there? A multidisciplinary review and research agenda on the impact of transparent barriers on human perception, action, and social behavior.' Frontiers in Psychology, 6. e1381. ISSN 1664-1078

What can volumes reveal about human brain evolution? A framework for bridging behavioral, histometric, and volumetric perspectives
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De Sousa, A and Proulx, M.J (2014) 'What can volumes reveal about human brain evolution? A framework for bridging behavioral, histometric, and volumetric perspectives.' Frontiers in Neuroanatomy, 8 (51). pp. 1-11. ISSN 1662-5129

Variable temporoinsular cortex neuroanatomy in primates suggests a bottleneck effect in eastern gorillas
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Barks, S.K, Bauernfeind, A.L, Bonar, C.J, Cranfield, M.R, De Sousa, A, Erwin, J.M, Hopkins, W.D, Lewandowski, A.H, Mudakikwa, A, Phillips, K.A, Raghanti, M.A, Stimpson, C.D, Hof, P.R, Zilles, K and Sherwood, C.C (2014) 'Variable temporoinsular cortex neuroanatomy in primates suggests a bottleneck effect in eastern gorillas.' Journal of Comparative Neurology, 522 (4). pp. 844-860. ISSN 0021-9967

A volumetric comparison of the insular cortex and its subregions in primates
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Bauernfeind, A.L, De Sousa, A, Avasthi, T, Dobson, S.D, Raghanti, M.A, Lewandowski, A.H, Zilles, K, Semendeferi, K, Allman, J.M, Craig, A.D, Hof, P.R and Sherwood, C.C (2013) 'A volumetric comparison of the insular cortex and its subregions in primates.' Journal of Human Evolution, 64 (4). pp. 263-279. ISSN 0047-2484

Lamination of the lateral geniculate nucleus of catarrhine primates
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De Sousa, A, Sherwood, C.C, Hof, P.R and Zilles, K (2013) 'Lamination of the lateral geniculate nucleus of catarrhine primates.' Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 81 (2). pp. 93-108. ISSN 0006-8977

Hominoid visual brain structure volumes and the position of the lunate sulcus
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De Sousa, A, Sherwood, C.C, Mohlberg, H, Amunts, K, Schleicher, A, MacLeod, C.E, Hof, P.R, Frahm, H and Zilles, K (2010) 'Hominoid visual brain structure volumes and the position of the lunate sulcus.' Journal of Human Evolution, 58 (4). pp. 281-292. ISSN 00472484

Comparative cytoarchitectural analyses of striate and extrastriate areas in hominoids
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De Sousa, A, Sherwood, C.C, Schleicher, A, Amunts, K, MacLeod, C.E, Hof, P.R and Zilles, K (2010) 'Comparative cytoarchitectural analyses of striate and extrastriate areas in hominoids.' Cerebral Cortex, 20 (4). pp. 966-981. ISSN 1047-3211

Whole-mtDNA genome sequence analysis of ancient African lineages
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Gonder, M.K, Mortensen, H.M, Reed, F.A, De Sousa, A and Tishkoff, S.A (2007) 'Whole-mtDNA genome sequence analysis of ancient African lineages.' Molecular Biology and Evolution, 24 (3). pp. 757-768. ISSN 0737-4038

Scaling of inhibitory interneurons in areas V1 and V2 of anthropoid primates as revealed by calcium-binding protein immunohistochemistry
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Sherwood, C.C, Raghanti, M.A, Stimpson, C.D, Bonar, C.J, De Sousa, A, Preuss, T.M and Hof, P.R (2007) 'Scaling of inhibitory interneurons in areas V1 and V2 of anthropoid primates as revealed by calcium-binding protein immunohistochemistry.' Brain, Behavior and Evolution, 69 (3). pp. 176-195. ISSN 0006-8977

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