Brain Functional Connectivity Mapping of Behavioral Flexibility in Rhesus Monkeys

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Science
• Primate Behavior

Background:

• Habitual behaviors are linked to behavioral disorders like addiction and OCD.
• Cognitive and behavioral flexibility is crucial for adaptive behavior.
• Attentional set-shifting tasks (ASSTs) assess cognitive flexibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify primate brain networks underlying trait-like deficits in ASST performance.
• To investigate the neural basis of cognitive flexibility using resting-state fMRI.

Main Methods:

• Administered a self-pacing ASST to rhesus monkeys (n=35).
• Segregated monkeys into High Performers (HP) and Low Performers (LP) based on ASST improvement.
• Utilized whole-brain resting-state fMRI and dual regression analysis to identify brain networks.

Main Results:

• Identified four strong functional brain networks, with one 'executive control network' differing between HP and LP groups.
• Connectivity in specific frontal cortices and dorsal striatum within the executive control network correlated with ASST errors and latency.
• LP monkeys exhibited more perseverative errors and slower response times compared to HPs.

Conclusions:

• Trait-like differences in behavioral flexibility are associated with distinct frontostriatal network activity.
• Specific nuclei within frontostriatal circuitry mediate individual differences in cognitive flexibility.
• Findings provide insights into the neural substrates of behavioral flexibility and its potential disruption in disorders.