Cholinergic innervation of the frontal cortex: differences among humans, chimpanzees, and macaque monkeys.

摘要: Cholinergic innervation of the frontal cortex is important in higher cognitive functions and may have been altered humans relative to other species support human-specific intellectual capacities. To evaluate this hypothesis we conducted quantitative comparative analyses choline acetyltransferase-immunoreactive axons cortical areas 9, 32, 4 among humans, chimpanzees, macaque monkeys. Area 9 dorsolateral prefrontal involved inductive reasoning specific components working memory processes, while area 32 medial has implicated theory mind. (primary motor cortex) was also evaluated because it not directly associated with functions. The findings revealed no differences three examined, indicating that human specializations are related a increase cholinergic input. However, species-specific morphological were observed. Clusters fibers be indicative plasticity events present chimpanzees but macaques. significant morphology noted common distinctive oval or ovoid perisomatic staining cortices. This feature sporadically observed chimpanzee cortex. Our suggest potential alteration afferents within exclusion J. Comp. Neurol. 506:409–424, 2008. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.