The long-term objectives of this proposal are to understand the neurobiological basis of individual differences in socio-communicative behavior and cognition in primates, joint attention.
One aim of the proposed studies is to PET image chimpanzees while engaged or not engaged in a joint attention task. From the PET images, we will test whether Broca's and Wernicke's areas are joint attention by comparing standardized PET values in cytoarchitectonically derived regions of interest. Furthermore, a whole brain t-map of significantly active brain regions will be derived from the PET analysis to more fully capture the neural systems involved in joint attention. From this PET analysis, we will create objects or masks of the significantly active clusters and these will then be used as regions-of-interest to quantify grey matter proportions from individually segmented MRI scans in more than 100 chimpanzees. The grey matter proportions will be computed and regressed on performance measures for test of joint attention available in these apes to determine, which if any, grey matter proportions predict individual differences in join attention. A second focus of the proposed studies seeks to determine whether the morphology of supragranular pyramidal neurons differ between hemispheres and cortical areas including the inferior frontal gyrus (BA44, BA45), planum temporale (BA22), precentral gyrus (BA4), Heschl's gyrus (BA41/42), and striate cortex (BA17) in chimpanzees. For these studies, we will Golgi stain post-mortem brain tissue and quantify both neuropil space and dendritic arborization for each region of interest in the left and right hemisphere. In one set of analyses, we will test whether chimpanzees show population-level asymmetries by comparing the left and right hemisphere values for each region. In addition, because we have existing data on joint attention in many of the chimpanzees for which post-mortem data are or will be available, we will assess whether individual differences in joint attention are associated with volumetric or lateralized differences in neuropil space or dendritic arborization. Finally, gene and protein expression levels for molecules that are involved in synapse function and neurotransmission within BA44, BA45, BA22, BA4, BA41/42 and BA17 will also be quantified in the chimpanzee post-mortem tissue. For each region-of-interest, we will use stereologic methods to compute volume, neuron counts, and neuron density. After determining the location of each cortical area based on architectonics, adjacent tissue sections will be selected for use in Western blot and qRT-PCR analyses to examine regional and hemispheric variation in the expression of proteins and genes that are important for neuronal function. Consistent with the overarching theme of this proposal, we will test whether chimpanzees show population-level asymmetries and whether individual differences in joint attention are associated with volumetric or lateralized differences in gene and protein expression levels.

Public Health Relevance

Joint attention is a critical skill and foundation for normal socio-communicative development in children and appears to be disrupted in certain neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism. The proposed studies aim to investigate the neural correlates of individual differences in joint attention at a micro- and macro-structural level of analysis of the cortex.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
2R01NS042867-09
Application #
8186899
Study Section
Cognitive Neuroscience Study Section (COG)
Program Officer
Babcock, Debra J
Project Start
2001-12-01
Project End
2012-05-31
Budget Start
2011-07-01
Budget End
2012-05-31
Support Year
9
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$344,788
Indirect Cost
Name
Agnes Scott College
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
075880872
City
Decatur
State
GA
Country
United States
Zip Code
30030
Edler, Melissa K; Sherwood, Chet C; Meindl, Richard S et al. (2018) Microglia changes associated to Alzheimer's disease pathology in aged chimpanzees. J Comp Neurol 526:2921-2936
Bard, Kim A; Hopkins, William D (2018) Early Socioemotional Intervention Mediates Long-Term Effects of Atypical Rearing on Structural Covariation in Gray Matter in Adult Chimpanzees. Psychol Sci 29:594-603
Munger, Emily L; Edler, Melissa K; Hopkins, William D et al. (2018) Astrocytic changes with aging and Alzheimer's disease-type pathology in chimpanzees. J Comp Neurol :
Lurz, Robert; Krachun, Carla; Mahovetz, Lindsay et al. (2018) Chimpanzees gesture to humans in mirrors: using reflection to dissociate seeing from line of gaze. Anim Behav 135:239-249
Beran, Michael J; Hopkins, William D (2018) Self-Control in Chimpanzees Relates to General Intelligence. Curr Biol 28:574-579.e3
Latzman, Robert D; Schapiro, Steven J; Hopkins, William D (2017) Triarchic Psychopathy Dimensions in Chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): Investigating Associations with Genetic Variation in the Vasopressin Receptor 1A Gene. Front Neurosci 11:407
Hopkins, William D; Li, Xiang; Crow, Tim et al. (2017) Vertex- and atlas-based comparisons in measures of cortical thickness, gyrification and white matter volume between humans and chimpanzees. Brain Struct Funct 222:229-245
Edler, Melissa K; Sherwood, Chet C; Meindl, Richard S et al. (2017) Aged chimpanzees exhibit pathologic hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging 59:107-120
Hopkins, William D; Meguerditchian, Adrien; Coulon, Olivier et al. (2017) Motor skill for tool-use is associated with asymmetries in Broca's area and the motor hand area of the precentral gyrus in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). Behav Brain Res 318:71-81
Muntané, Gerard; Santpere, Gabriel; Verendeev, Andrey et al. (2017) Interhemispheric gene expression differences in the cerebral cortex of humans and macaque monkeys. Brain Struct Funct 222:3241-3254

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