Abstract
A crucial component of social cognition is to observe and understand the social interactions of other individuals. A promising nonhuman primate model for investigating the neural basis of social interaction observation is the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus), a small New World primate that shares a rich social repertoire with humans. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging acquired at 9.4 T to map the brain areas activated by social interaction observation in awake marmosets. We discovered a network of subcortical and cortical areas, predominately in the anterior lateral frontal and medial frontal cortex, that was specifically activated by social interaction observation. This network resembled that recently identified in Old World macaque monkeys. Our findings suggest that this network is largely conserved between New and Old World primates and support the use of marmosets for studying the neural basis of social cognition.
Highlights
Observing and interpreting social interactions of other individuals is crucial for our everyday life
In Old World macaque monkeys, Sliwa and Freiwald, 2017 recently identified areas in parietal and frontal cortex that were exclusively activated by the observation of social interactions of other macaques using functional magnetic resonance imaging
We employed a block-design task that consisted of videos showing social interactions of two marmosets, two side-by-side videos showing a marmoset in each video interacting with its own environment, and phase-scrambled versions of these videos
Summary
Observing and interpreting social interactions of other individuals is crucial for our everyday life We share this remarkable ability with other primates that can readily recognize social interactions such as play, fight, and grooming of other group members (Ambady et al, 2000; Ebenau et al, 2019; Spelke and Kinzler, 2007). In Old World macaque monkeys, Sliwa and Freiwald, 2017 recently identified areas in parietal and frontal cortex that were exclusively activated by the observation of social interactions of other macaques using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) This network in macaques resembles the human default mode network (Mars et al, 2012) and the theory of mind network (Gallagher and Frith, 2003). As these networks share anatomical and functional characteristics, it suggests that the social interaction network may play a key role in these two human networks and be a conserved feature across primates (Sliwa and Freiwald, 2017)
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