Social network size affects neural circuits in macaques

It has been suggested that variation in brain structure correlates with the sizes of individuals' social networks. Whether variation in social network size causes variation in brain structure, however, is unknown. To address this question, we neuroimaged 23 monkeys that had been living in socia...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 334; no. 6056; p. 697
Main Authors: Sallet, J, Mars, R B, Noonan, M P, Andersson, J L, O'Reilly, J X, Jbabdi, S, Croxson, P L, Jenkinson, M, Miller, K L, Rushworth, M F S
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: United States 04.11.2011
Subjects:
Animals
Female
Gyrus Cinguli - anatomy & histology
Gyrus Cinguli - physiology
Hierarchy, Social
Macaca
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Nerve Net
Neural Pathways
Organ Size
Prefrontal Cortex - anatomy & histology
Prefrontal Cortex - physiology
Social Behavior
Temporal Lobe - anatomy & histology
Temporal Lobe - physiology
ISSN:1095-9203, 1095-9203
Online Access:Get more information
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Summary:It has been suggested that variation in brain structure correlates with the sizes of individuals' social networks. Whether variation in social network size causes variation in brain structure, however, is unknown. To address this question, we neuroimaged 23 monkeys that had been living in social groups set to different sizes. Subject comparison revealed that living in larger groups caused increases in gray matter in mid-superior temporal sulcus and rostral prefrontal cortex and increased coupling of activity in frontal and temporal cortex. Social network size, therefore, contributes to changes both in brain structure and function. The changes have potential implications for an animal's success in a social context; gray matter differences in similar areas were also correlated with each animal's dominance within its social network.
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ISSN:1095-9203
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.1210027