The evolution of the arcuate fasciculus revealed with comparative DTI.
The arcuate fasciculus is a white-matter fiber tract that is involved in human language. Here we compared cortical connectivity in humans, chimpanzees and macaques (Macaca mulatta) and found a prominent temporal lobe projection of the human arcuate fasciculus that is much smaller or absent in nonhuman primates. This human specialization may be relevant to the evolution of language.
Rilling
James K
JK
Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA. jrillin@emory.edu
Glasser
Matthew F
MF
Preuss
Todd M
TM
Ma
Xiangyang
X
Zhao
Tiejun
T
Hu
Xiaoping
X
Behrens
Timothy E J
TE
D000717:Anatomy, Comparative / Q000295:instrumentation; D000818:Animals; D005075:Biological Evolution; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000295:instrumentation; D038524:Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D008253:Macaca mulatta / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D009413:Nerve Fibers, Myelinated; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D002679:Pan troglodytes / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology