Curious monkeys have increased gray matter density in the precuneus

Neuroscience Letters
Kimberley A PhillipsChet C Sherwood

Abstract

Curiosity is a cornerstone of cognition that has the potential to lead to innovations and increase the behavioral repertoire of individuals. A defining characteristic of curiosity is inquisitiveness directed toward novel objects. Species differences in innovative behavior and inquisitiveness have been linked to social complexity and neocortical size [18]. In this study, we observed behavioral actions among nine socially reared and socially housed capuchin monkeys in response to an unfamiliar object, a paradigm widely employed as a means to assess curiosity. K-means hierarchical clustering analysis of the behavioral responses revealed three monkeys engaged in significantly more exploratory behavior of the novel object than other monkeys. Using voxel-based-morphometry analysis of MRIs obtained from these same subjects, we demonstrated that the more curious monkeys had significantly greater gray matter density in the precuneus, a cortical region involved in highly integrated processes including memory and self-awareness. These results linking variation in precuneus gray matter volume to exploratory behavior suggest that monitoring states of self-awareness may play a role in cognitive processes mediating individual curiosity.

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Citations

Dec 9, 2014·Human Brain Mapping·Ryan J MurraySimon B Eickhoff
Nov 6, 2015·Neuron·Celeste Kidd, Benjamin Y Hayden
Mar 11, 2017·Animal Cognition·Elizabeth RennerKimberley A Phillips

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