Social connections predict brain structure in a multidimensional free-ranging primate society
Camille Testard1, Lauren J N Brent2, Jesper Andersson3
1Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Science Advances
|April 13, 2022
Summary
The number of social partners in rhesus macaques correlates with specific brain region volumes, suggesting brain structure is shaped by social connections. This highlights the link between sociality, brain development, and reproductive success.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Primatology
- Behavioral Ecology
Background:
- Primate sociality involves complex competitive and cooperative dynamics influencing survival and reproduction.
- Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of social behavior is crucial for explaining evolutionary success.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between neuroanatomy and social network characteristics in free-ranging rhesus macaques.
- To identify specific brain structures associated with sociality and explore potential developmental links.
Main Methods:
- Neuroanatomical measurements (brain structure volumes) were correlated with social network data (number of partners, social status, indirect connectedness) in adult rhesus macaques.
- Maternal social network variables were analyzed in relation to infant brain structure.
Main Results:
- Adult rhesus macaques showed a positive correlation between the number of social partners and the volume of the mid-superior temporal sulcus and ventral-dysgranular insula.
- No significant associations were found between brain structure and social status, indirect connectedness, or maternal social variables and infant brain structure.
Conclusions:
- The volume of specific brain regions, involved in social decision-making and empathy, is associated with the number of direct social affiliations in primates.
- These findings suggest that social experiences during development may shape brain structure, reinforcing links between social network size, biological success, and neural circuit expansion.
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