Brain Networks & Cognitive Function: The Human Brain Evolution of Abstract Thought with Dr. Garin

Dr. Garin joins us in this episode to explore the intriguing world of the default mode network (DMN) and its relation to cognitive functions in primates. Resting-state fMRI studies reveal distinct differences in the DMN structure across humans and non-hominoid primates like macaques, marmosets, and mouse lemurs. Dr. Garin's research presents compelling evidence that the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in non-hominoid primates does not engage with the posterior cingulate cortex (PCC) as robustly as it does in humans. This finding is particularly significant as the strong correlated activity between the PCC and mPFC in humans is a key feature of the human DMN.However, non-hominoid primates do consistently exhibit a fronto-temporal resting-state network involving the mPFC. Dr. Garin discusses these common functional features shared across non-hominoid primates and their implications for our understanding of cognitive functions in primates.This episode promises to provide fascinating insights into the workings of the primate brain and the evolutionary gap in the organization of the DMN. Tune in for an engaging conversation on neuroscience, primate cognition, and the mysteries of the brain's resting state.Keywords: Dr. Garin, Default Mode Network, fMRI, Non-hominoid Primates, Human Brain, Medial Prefrontal Cortex, Posterior Cingulate Cortex, Neuroscience, Cognitive Functions.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110669 Resting-state fMRI reveals DMN structure across four primate species