title: Social network size affects neural circuits in macaques.
abstract: 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.
authors: Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3UD, UK. jerome.sallet@psy.ox.ac.uk
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Sallet
authors: R B
authors: RB
authors: Mars
authors: M P
authors: MP
authors: Noonan
authors: J L
authors: JL
authors: Andersson
authors: J X
authors: JX
authors: O'Reilly
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Jbabdi
authors: P L
authors: PL
authors: Croxson
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Jenkinson
authors: K L
authors: KL
authors: Miller
authors: M F S
authors: MF
authors: Rushworth
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006179:Gyrus Cinguli / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D006608:Hierarchy, Social; D008251:Macaca; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009415:Nerve Net; D009434:Neural Pathways; D009929:Organ Size; D017397:Prefrontal Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology; D012919:Social Behavior; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000502:physiology