The connections of the insular VEN area in great apes: A histologically-guided ex vivo diffusion tractography study.

ABSTRACT: We mapped the connections of the insular von Economo neuron (VEN) area in ex vivo brains of a bonobo, an orangutan and two gorillas with high angular resolution diffusion MRI imaging acquired in 36 h imaging sessions for each brain. The apes died of natural causes without neurological disorders. The localization of the insular VEN area was based on cresyl violet-stained histological sections from each brain that were coregistered with structural and diffusion images from the same individuals. Diffusion MRI tractography showed that the insular VEN area is connected with olfactory, gustatory, visual and other sensory systems, as well as systems for the mediation of appetite, reward, aversion and motivation. The insular VEN area in apes is most strongly connected with frontopolar cortex, whic

SUBMITTER: Cabeen RP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7806049 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature