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Updated: Sep 21, 2025
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Investigating Object Representations in the Macaque Dorsal Visual Stream Using Single-unit Recordings
Published on: August 1, 2018
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Prehension kinematics in humans and macaques
Yuke Yan1,2, Anton R Sobinov3,2, Sliman J Bensmaia1,3,2
1Committee on Computational Neuroscience, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
Journal of Neurophysiology
|June 1, 2022
Summary
Human and rhesus macaque prehensile behaviors are largely similar, supporting macaques as a model for human sensorimotor control. Subtle differences exist in object-specific hand shaping and joint correlations.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Comparative Psychology
- Biomechanics
Background:
- Nonhuman primates, particularly rhesus macaques, are crucial models for studying human upper limb sensorimotor control due to anatomical and neural similarities.
- Quantitative comparisons of manual behaviors between humans and macaques are limited, hindering a full assessment of the macaque model's validity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically and quantitatively compare the prehensile behaviors of humans and rhesus macaques.
- To evaluate the similarities and differences in manual dexterity between the two species.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an identical experimental setup to record and analyze the prehensile behaviors of humans and rhesus macaques.
- Compared kinematics, hand postures, and joint correlations during object grasping.
Main Results:
- Human and macaque prehension kinematics are generally similar, with subtle interspecies differences observed.
- Human hand postures during preshaping are more object-specific, while macaque postures are more stereotypical across objects.
- Human joints show less intercorrelation during grasping compared to macaques, with thumb, index, and wrist being key differentiators.
Conclusions:
- Despite subtle behavioral variations, the rhesus macaque remains a valid and valuable model for investigating the neural mechanisms underlying human manual dexterity.
- Understanding these interspecies differences can refine the application of macaque models in neuroscience research.
