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Gray matter asymmetries in chimpanzees as revealed by voxel-based morphometry
William D Hopkins1, Jared P Taglialatela, Adrien Meguerditchian
1Department of Psychology, Agnes Scott College, Decatur, Georgia 30030, USA. whopkin@emory.edu
Neuroimage
|July 1, 2008
Summary
This study found brain structure differences between the left and right hemispheres in chimpanzees, indicating that brain asymmetry is not unique to humans. This finding sheds light on the evolution of hemispheric dominance in primates.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Evolutionary Biology
- Primatology
Background:
- Human brain structure exhibits hemispheric asymmetries, linked to specialized functions like language and handedness.
- Understanding primate brain evolution requires investigating similar asymmetries in nonhuman species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate population-level neuroanatomical asymmetries in the chimpanzee neocortex.
- To provide evidence for or against hemispheric lateralization in chimpanzees.
Main Methods:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans were acquired from 31 chimpanzees.
- Voxel-based morphometry (VBM) was employed to analyze gray matter volume differences.
- Image registration and flipping techniques were used to detect asymmetries.
Main Results:
- Significant neuroanatomical asymmetries were identified in 13 distinct neocortical regions.
- Findings support previous reports of hemispheric lateralization in chimpanzees.
- Identified asymmetries in regions consistent with prior region-of-interest studies.
Conclusions:
- The study provides the first population-level evidence of neocortical asymmetries in chimpanzees.
- These findings reinforce the concept that central nervous system asymmetries are not exclusive to humans.
- Chimpanzee brain asymmetry offers insights into the evolutionary trajectory of lateralization in primates.
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