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Published on: August 1, 2018
Functional connectivity of the macaque posterior parahippocampal cortex
Justin L Vincent1, Itamar Kahn, David C Van Essen
11Department of Psychology and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138, USA. vincent@nmr.mgh.harvard.edu
Journal of Neurophysiology
|December 4, 2009
Summary
Researchers found a memory network in macaques similar to humans. This posterior parahippocampal cortex (PPHC) network connects to parietal regions, suggesting homologous pathways for memory retrieval.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Comparative Neuroanatomy
Background:
- Human neuroimaging implicates parietal and posterior midline regions in memory retrieval, functionally connected to the medial temporal lobe.
- It remains unclear if macaques possess a comparable memory retrieval network.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate functional connectivity in the macaque brain to identify a network associated with the posterior parahippocampal cortex (PPHC).
- To compare the identified macaque network with human memory networks.
Main Methods:
- Functional connectivity analysis was performed in isoflurane-anesthetized macaques.
- Correlations of PPHC activity were analyzed and compared to regions involved in an oculomotor task.
Main Results:
- Functional connectivity was observed between the PPHC and retrosplenial, posterior cingulate, superior temporal gyrus, and inferior parietal cortex in macaques.
- These PPHC correlations were distinct from regions activated during an oculomotor task.
- Similarities were found between macaque and human PPHC correlations, particularly with human Brodmann area 39.
Conclusions:
- Macaques possess a PPHC-parietal functional network potentially homologous to human memory pathways.
- This study identifies a specific parietal region in macaques as a target for future research on memory and related processes.
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