Research overview: brain anatomy and endocasts of Smilodon

This overview reviews what natural and digital endocasts reveal about the brain of Smilodon. By examining the internal cavity of well-preserved La Brea skulls and using CT scanning to generate virtual casts, researchers estimate brain size relative to body mass and reconstruct the proportions of major brain regions. Comparisons with living cats inform debates about sabertooth sensory abilities and behavioural complexity, including whether enlarged regions might hint at coordinated or social hunting. The survey discusses the limitations of inferring behaviour from gross brain shape, the relationship between encephalization and ecology in carnivores, and how endocast studies complement skeletal and dental lines of evidence in building a fuller picture of sabertooth biology.