Cingulate cortex: diverging data from humans and monkeys.
Cognitive neuroscience research relies, in part, on homologies between the brains of human and non-human primates. A quandary therefore arises when presumed anatomical homologues exhibit different functional properties. Such a situation has recently arisen in the case of the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC). In humans, numerous studies suggest a role for ACC in detecting conflicts in information processing. Studies of macaque monkey ACC, in contrast, have failed to find conflict-related responses. We consider several interpretations of this discrepancy, including differences in research methodology and cross-species differences in functional neuroanatomy. New directions for future research are outlined, emphasizing the importance of distinguishing illusory cross-species differences from the true evolutionary differences that make our species unique.
Psychology Department, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA. mwcole@mwcole.net
Michael W
MW
Cole
Nick
N
Yeung
Winrich A
WA
Freiwald
Matthew
M
Botvinick
D000818:Animals; D003220:Conflict, Psychological; D003657:Decision Making / Q000502:physiology*; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008251:Macaca; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D011340:Problem Solving / Q000502:physiology*