Different early rearing experiences have long‐term effects on cortical organization in captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)
Year: 2013
Type: article
Abstract: Consequences of rearing history in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) have been explored in relation to behavioral abnormalities and cognition; however, little is known about the effects of rearing conditions on anatomical brain development. Human studies have revealed that experiences of maltreatment and neglect during infancy and childhood can have detrimental effects on brain development and cognition. In this study, we evaluated the effects of early rearing experience on brain morphology in 92 captive chimpanzees (ages 11-43) who were either reared by their mothers (n = 46) or in a nursery (n = 46) with age-group peers. Magnetic resonance brain images were analyzed with a processing program (BrainVISA) that extracts cortical sulci. We obtained various measurements from 11 sulci located throughout the brain, as well as whole brain gyrification and white and grey matter volumes. We found that mother-reared chimpanzees have greater global white-to-grey matter volume, more cortical folding and thinner grey matter within the cortical folds than nursery-reared animals. The findings reported here are the first to demonstrate that differences in early rearing conditions have significant consequences on brain morphology in chimpanzees and suggests potential differences in the development of white matter expansion and myelination.
Source: Developmental Science
DOI: 10.1111/desc.12106
Language: English
Topic: Primate Behavior and Ecology
Subfield: Social Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: American Psychological Association, Siemens Medical Solutions USA, National Institutes of Health, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Center for Research Resources, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: G1394595223, G2020261302, Neural Correlates of Language and Communication in Apes, G2911076072, Chimpanzee Biomedical Research Resource, G3626342794, G3704804237, G3920023947, Heritability of Neuroanatomical Asymmetries in Primates, Long-term Cognitive and Neuroanatomical Consequences of Childhood Stress, Hemispheric Specialization and Communication, Biobehavioral Foundations and Development of Cognitive Competence, Emory National Primate Research Center
OpenAlex ID: W2113576658