title: Corpus callosal microstructure influences intermanual transfer in chimpanzees.
abstract: Learning a new motor skill with one hand typically results in performance improvements in the alternate hand. The neural substrates involved with this skill acquisition are poorly understood. We combined behavioral testing and non-invasive brain imaging to study how the organization of the corpus callosum was related to intermanual transfer performance in chimpanzees. Fifty-three chimpanzees were tested for intermanual transfer of learning using a bent-wire task. Magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor images were collected from 39 of these subjects. The dominant hand showed greater performance benefits than the nondominant hand. Further, performance was associated with structural integrity of the motor and sensory regions of the CC. Subjects with better intermanual transfer of learning had lower fractional anisotropy values. The results are consistent with the callosal access model of motor programming.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Trinity University San Antonio, TX, USA ; Southwest National Primate Research Center, Texas Biomedical Research Institute San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Kimberley A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Division of Cognitive and Developmental Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Jennifer A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Schaeffer
authors.affiliation: Division of Cognitive and Developmental Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center Atlanta, GA, USA ; Neuroscience Institute and Language Research Center, Georgia State University Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: William D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Hopkins
keywords: chimpanzees; fractional anisotropy; intermanual transfer; manual performance