The connections of the insular VEN area in great apes: A histologically-guided ex vivo diffusion tractography study

Ryan P Cabeen; Laura Glass; Joseph M Erwin; Patrick R Hof; Arthur W Toga; John M Allman

doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101941

The connections of the insular VEN area in great apes: A histologically-guided ex vivo diffusion tractography study

Prog Neurobiol. 2020 Dec:195:101941. doi: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2020.101941. Epub 2020 Nov 4.

Authors

Ryan P Cabeen¹, Laura Glass², Joseph M Erwin³, Patrick R Hof⁴, Arthur W Toga⁵, John M Allman²

Affiliations

¹ Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA. Electronic address: rcabeen@loni.usc.edu.
² Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
³ Department of Anthropology, George Washington University, USA.
⁴ Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
⁵ Laboratory of Neuro Imaging, USC Mark and Mary Stevens Neuroimaging and Informatics Institute, Keck School of Medicine of USC, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Abstract

We mapped the connections of the insular von Economo neuron (VEN) area in ex vivo brains of a bonobo, an orangutan and two gorillas with high angular resolution diffusion MRI imaging acquired in 36 h imaging sessions for each brain. The apes died of natural causes without neurological disorders. The localization of the insular VEN area was based on cresyl violet-stained histological sections from each brain that were coregistered with structural and diffusion images from the same individuals. Diffusion MRI tractography showed that the insular VEN area is connected with olfactory, gustatory, visual and other sensory systems, as well as systems for the mediation of appetite, reward, aversion and motivation. The insular VEN area in apes is most strongly connected with frontopolar cortex, which could support their capacity to choose voluntarily among alternative courses of action particularly in exploring for food resources. The frontopolar cortex may also support their capacity to take note of potential resources for harvesting in the future (prospective memory). All of these faculties may support insight and volitional choice when contemplating courses of action as opposed to rule-based decision-making.

Keywords: Connection; Cortex; Exploration; Frontopolar; Insula; VEN.

Publication types

Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Animals
Behavior, Animal / physiology*
Cerebral Cortex / anatomy & histology*
Cerebral Cortex / diagnostic imaging*
Cerebral Cortex / physiology
Diffusion Tensor Imaging* / methods
Gorilla gorilla
Hominidae / anatomy & histology*
Hominidae / physiology
Nerve Net / anatomy & histology*
Nerve Net / diagnostic imaging*
Nerve Net / physiology
Pan paniscus
Pongo

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding