Constructing a Cross-Species Atlas of Prefrontal Connectivity to Identify Evolutionary Conservation and Divergence in Social Cognition Circuits
Keywords:
Prefrontal cortex, cross-species atlas, social cognition, evolutionary neuroscience, neural connectivity, primates, non-human mammals, brain evolution, functional neuroimaging, cognitive circuitsAbstract
The prefrontal cortex (PFC) plays a central role in social cognition across species. However, the degree to which PFC connectivity is conserved across evolutionary time and how divergence influences social cognitive processes is not fully understood. This study aims to construct a cross-species atlas of prefrontal connectivity by comparing neural circuits related to social cognition in humans, non-human primates, and other mammalian species. We employ advanced neuroimaging techniques, along with anatomical and functional data, to map these circuits. By integrating these data, we can better understand the evolutionary forces shaping social cognition and the conservation or divergence of these neural systems across species.
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