Brief Communication abstract


Nature Neuroscience 11, 426 - 428 (2008)
Published online: 23 March 2008 | doi:10.1038/nn2072

The evolution of the arcuate fasciculus revealed with comparative DTI

James K Rilling1,2,3,4, Matthew F Glasser1, Todd M Preuss3,5,6, Xiangyang Ma7, Tiejun Zhao7, Xiaoping Hu7 & Timothy E J Behrens8,9

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The arcuate fasciculus is a white-matter fiber tract that is involved in human language. Here we compared cortical connectivity in humans, chimpanzees and macaques (Macaca mulatta) and found a prominent temporal lobe projection of the human arcuate fasciculus that is much smaller or absent in nonhuman primates. This human specialization may be relevant to the evolution of language.

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  1. Department of Anthropology, Emory University, 207 Anthropology Building, 1557 Dickey Drive, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
  2. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Emory University School of Medicine, 1639 Pierce Drive, Suite 4000, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
  3. Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, Emory University, PO Box 3966, Atlanta, Georgia 30302, USA.
  4. Division of Psychobiology, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, 954 Gatewood Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA.
  5. Division of Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, 954 Gatewood Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA.
  6. Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Emory University Hospital, Room H183, 1364 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
  7. Biomedical Imaging Technology Center, Emory University, Hospital Education Annex, 531 Asbury Circle, Suite 305, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA.
  8. FMRIB Centre, University of Oxford, J R Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK.
  9. Department of Experimental Psychology, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3UD, UK.

Correspondence to: James K Rilling1,2,3,4 e-mail: jrillin@emory.edu



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