Evolutionary specializations in primate cortical development.

Primates exhibit distinctive cognitive and behavioral repertoires relative to many other mammals. These capabilities are not associated with the emergence of entirely new cortical structures, but rather with coordinated evolutionary modifications within the cerebral cortex. To elucidate the complexity of these processes, this review adopts an analytical framework that progresses from macroscopic to microscopic levels and from structural changes to underlying mechanisms. We synthesize recent advances with a particular focus on multilevel features revealed by emerging technologies such as single-cell multi-omics and mesoscale brain mapping. Together, these findings provide insights into the evolutionary processes shaping primate cortical organization and establish a conceptual foundation for understanding the genetic and cellular bases of human brain disorders.