Cortical connections of the dorsomedial visual area in new world owl monkeys (Aotus trivirgatus) and squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)

Author(s):  
Pamela D. Beck ◽  
Jon H. Kaas
1990 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leah A. Krubitzer ◽  
Jon H. Kass

AbstractCortical connections were investigated by restricting injections of WGA-HRP to different parts of the middle temporal visual area, MT, in squirrel monkeys, owl monkeys, marmosets, and galagos. Cortex was flattened and sectioned tangentially to facilitate an analysis of the areal patterns of connections. In the experimental cases, brain sections reacted for cytochrome oxidase (CO) or stained for myelin were used to delimit visual areas of occipital and temporal cortex and visuomotor areas of the frontal lobe. Major findings are as follows: (1) The architectonic analysis suggests that in addition to the commonly recognized visual fields, area 17 (V-I), area 18 (V-II), and MT, all three New World monkeys and prosimian galagos have visual areas DL, DI, DM, MST, and FST. (2) Measurements of the size of these areas indicate that about a third of the neocortex in these primates is occupied by the eight visual areas, but they occupy a somewhat larger proportion of neocortex in the diurnal marmosets and squirrel monkeys than the nocturnal owl monkeys and galagos. The diurnal primates also have proportionally more neocortex devoted to areas 17, 18, and DL and less to MT. These differences are compatible with the view that diurnal primates are more specialized for detailed object and color vision. (3) In all four primates, restricted locations in MT receive major inputs from short meandering rows of neurons in area 17 and several bands of neurons in area 18. (4) Major feedforward projections of MT are to two visual areas adjoining the rostral half of MT, areas MST and FST. Other ipsilateral connections are with DL, DI, and in some cases DM, parts of inferotemporal (IT) cortex, and posterior parietal cortex. (5) In squirrel monkeys, where injection sites varied from caudal to rostral MT, caudal parts of MT representing central vision connect more densely to DL and IT than other parts. Both DL and IT cortex emphasize central vision. (6) In the frontal lobe, MT has dense connections with the frontal ventral area (FV), but not with the frontal eye field (FEF). (7) Callosal connections of MT are most dense with matched locations in MT of the other hemisphere, rather than with the outer boundary of MT representing the vertical meridian. Targets of sparser callosal connections include FST, MST, and DL.The results support the conclusions that (1) prosimian primates and New World monkeys have at least ten visual and visuomotor areas in common, (2) the connections of MT are remarkably consistent across four species of primates, (3) the anatomical segregation of visual subsystems in areas 17 and 18 is common to all primates, (4) connections from the part of MT representing central vision with visual areas emphasizing central vision are more dense, and (5) MT and the associated fields MST and FST occupy proportionally more cortex in nocturnal than diurnal primates.


1968 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 538-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E. McKissick ◽  
H. L. Ratcliffe ◽  
A. Koestner

An enzootic of toxoplasmosis occurred in caged squirrel monkeys ( Saimiri sciureus, a New World primate) which resulted in 9 deaths during an interval of 22 months. Diagnosis was based on morphology of the organism, character and distribution of the lesions, and laboratory history of the monkeys. The character of the lesions was essentially necrotic. The chronological incidence of the disease and distribution of lesions and organisms are tabulated. Trypanosoma cruzi which causes Chaga's disease is differentiated morphologically from toxoplasma. Incidence and lesions of the enzootic suggest 5 factors to be considered in the pathogenesis of toxoplasmosis in squirrel monkeys. They are: (1) lack of protective immunity, (2) local concentration of toxin and/or catabolites of reproduction of the organism, (3) individual tissue susceptibility to the organism, (4) capillary thrombosis, and (5) ability of the individual to adapt to its environment.


Eye and Brain ◽  
2014 ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Cerkevich ◽  
Jon Kaas ◽  
Christine Collins

2013 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 20130852 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Ravignani ◽  
Ruth-Sophie Sonnweber ◽  
Nina Stobbe ◽  
W. Tecumseh Fitch

Sensitivity to dependencies (correspondences between distant items) in sensory stimuli plays a crucial role in human music and language. Here, we show that squirrel monkeys ( Saimiri sciureus ) can detect abstract, non-adjacent dependencies in auditory stimuli. Monkeys discriminated between tone sequences containing a dependency and those lacking it, and generalized to previously unheard pitch classes and novel dependency distances. This constitutes the first pattern learning study where artificial stimuli were designed with the species' communication system in mind. These results suggest that the ability to recognize dependencies represents a capability that had already evolved in humans’ last common ancestor with squirrel monkeys, and perhaps before.


1997 ◽  
Vol 14 (6) ◽  
pp. 1043-1060 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwona Stepniewska ◽  
Jon H. Kaas

AbstractArchitectonic subdivisions of the inferior pulvinar (PI) complex were delineated in New World owl and squirrel monkeys and Old World macaque monkeys. Brain sections were processed for Nissl substance, myelin, cytochrome oxidase (CO), acetylcholinesterase (AChE), calbindin-D28K (Cb), or with the monoclonal antibody Cat-301. In all three primates, we identified the posterior nucleus (PIp) and the medial nucleus (PIm) of previous reports, and divided the previously recognized central nucleus (PIc) into two subdivisions, medial (PIcm) and lateral (PIcl). Each nucleus had several features that allowed it to be readily distinguished. (1) PIp was dark in Cb, and moderately dark in AChE and CO preparations. (2) PIm was Cb light, and AChE and CO dark. (3) PIcm was Cb dark, and AChE and CO light. (4) PIcl was Cb moderate with a scattering of dark neurons, and moderately dark for AChE and CO. (5) In sections processed for Cat-301, PIm in macaque monkeys and PIcm and PIp in squirrel monkeys stained darkly, while little staining was apparent in owl monkeys. The results allowed subdivisions of the inferior pulvinar to be more clearly defined, homologized, and compared across taxa. All monkeys appear to have the same four subdivisions of the PI, although properties vary.


2006 ◽  
Vol 495 (6) ◽  
pp. 691-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iwona Stepniewska ◽  
Todd M. Preuss ◽  
Jon H. Kaas

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