Comparative Mapping of Functional and Structural Homologies in the Pig and Human Brain.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Comparative Neuroanatomy
• Translational Research

Background:

• Comparative brain mapping is crucial for understanding human neurological disorders.
• Existing animal models have limitations in replicating human brain complexity.
• The porcine model offers neuroanatomical and physiological similarities to humans.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically investigate functional and structural brain homologies between humans and pigs.
• To assess the translational relevance of the porcine model for human neuroscience.

Main Methods:

• Acquired resting-state functional MRI and diffusion MRI data from pigs and humans.
• Utilized group independent component analysis for functional network identification.
• Performed comparative structural analyses using diffusion MRI tractography.

Main Results:

• Identified homologous large-scale functional networks (sensorimotor, default mode, etc.) in the porcine brain.
• Observed significant cross-species concordance in functional network architecture (spatial and temporal patterns).
• Revealed substantial similarities in major white matter pathways and their organization between pigs and humans.

Conclusions:

• The porcine brain demonstrates homologous large-scale functional and structural organization compared to the human brain.
• Findings support the translational value of the porcine model for studying human brain function and disorders.
• The pig serves as a robust neurobiological platform for comparative neuroscience research.