Prof Paul Manger

Paul Manger is a comparative neurobiologist recognized for extensive contributions to evolutionary and systems neuroscience. Based at the University of the Witwatersrand, his work examines brain structure, development, and function across a wide range of mammals and birds, integrating neuroanatomy, physiology, and evolutionary theory. His scholarship bridges laboratory neuroscience with field-based and paleontological approaches.

Recent publications highlight leadership in large-scale neuroanatomical resources such as the DHARANI 3D atlas of the developing human brain, alongside comparative analyses of thalamocortical organization, cortical and cerebellar folding, and hypothalamic systems. Research on orexinergic and cholinergic networks, sleep physiology in diverse species, and cortical energetics underscores a focus on how neural circuits scale, specialize, and adapt across phylogeny.

Work on fossil Carnivora and probabilistic mapping of brain components further demonstrates strength in paleoneurology and predictive modeling. Across studies, a consistent theme is the identification of conserved organizational principles alongside clade-specific specializations, advancing understanding of brain evolution, functional constraints, and the biological foundations of behavior and cognition.