Interspecies activation correlations reveal functional correspondences between marmoset and human brain areas

Abstract

The common marmoset has enormous promise as a nonhuman primate model of human brain functions. While resting-state functional MRI (fMRI) has provided evidence for a similar organization of marmoset and human cortices, the technique cannot be used to map the functional correspondences of brain regions between species. This limitation can be overcome by movie-driven fMRI (md-fMRI), which has become a popular tool for noninvasively mapping the neural patterns generated by rich and naturalistic stimulation. Here, we used md-fMRI in marmosets and humans to identify whole-brain functional correspondences between the two primate species. In particular, we describe functional correlates for the well-known human face, body, and scene patches in marmosets. We find that these networks have a similar organization in both species, suggesting a largely conserved organization of higher-order visual areas between New World marmoset monkeys and humans. However, while face patches in humans and marmosets were activated by marmoset faces, only human face patches responded to the faces of other animals. Together, the results demonstrate that higher-order visual processing might be a conserved feature between humans and New World marmoset monkeys but that small, potentially important functional differences exist.

An action-observation network in the common marmoset identified by ultra-high field fMRI

“…The comparison between videos depicting an action (”intact”) and their phase-scrambled versions elicited strong activations in the occipital and temporal lobes, consistent with what we observed in previous studies (Cléry et al, 2021; Schaeffer et al, 2020) and overlapping with the location of body and face neural patches (Hori et al, 2021; Hung et al, 2015). These activations, proceeding in the caudo-rostral direction, include portions of areas V4/ V4T, TEO, FST and PG.…”

“…At the moment, there is no evidence regarding the involvement of these ventral temporal areas in the MNS of humans or macaques. However, similar activation clusters have been reported by fMRI studies in marmosets using pictures of marmoset faces or body parts (Hori et al, 2021; Hung et al, 2015), videos of faces in different perspectives (Schaeffer et al, 2020), and videos of marmosets performing social or non-social goal-directed actions (Cléry et al, 2021). It is therefore conceivable that these regions are not strictly related to the MNS, but may be involved in the processing of faces and body parts of conspecifics.…”

Active vision during prey-capture in wild marmoset monkeys

“…Here, we sought to characterize prey-capture in wild marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus) as they negotiated their dynamic, arboreal habitat to illustrate the inherent role of vision as an active process in natural nonhuman primate behavior. Marmosets are an ideal species in which to explore this issue because these monkeys both share the core properties of vision that typify the primate Order [13][14][15][16][17][18] , and are prolific hunters that prey on a diverse set of animals ranging from small insects to lizards [19][20][21][22] . We show the integral role of active vision in marmosets during the pursuit and capture of prey in several different contexts, including how marmosets positioned themselves in precarious arboreal settings to establish a clear visual field and effectively capture prey.…”

Applications in Awake Animal Magnetic Resonance Imaging

“…Marmosets can be imaged while watching movies to record patterns of brain activity that reflect a more naturalistic, complex stimulus. Patterns of brain activity in movie driven fMRI between marmoset monkeys and humans show similar functional correlates and circuit organization ( Hori et al, 2021 ).…”