arXiv:2506.19266q-bio.NCcs.CV2025-06

对比猕猴与人类弓状束结构,揭示语言能力进化的神经连接基础。

Convergent and divergent connectivity patterns of the arcuate fasciculus in macaques and humans

  • 结合病毒追踪与高分辨率成像,跨尺度解析脑区连接模式。
  • 人类弓状束在颞叶和额顶叶的连接更强,差异经KL散度量化验证。
  • 为失语症、阅读障碍等语言相关疾病提供解剖学依据。

猕猴与人类弓状束(AF)的组织结构与连接模式仍存争议,尤其其演化差异尚不明确。本研究结合猕猴(n=4,年龄3-11岁)的单神经元病毒追踪与荧光显微断层扫描技术,以及11.7T扩散磁共振全脑轨迹分析,并辅以人类7.0T MRI的谱嵌入分析,开展跨物种连通组学比较。结果显示,猕猴AF起源于颞顶皮层,经过听觉皮层与顶叶外侧区,投射至前额叶;而人类AF则显著扩展至中颞回,前额叶及顶叶外侧区连接更强。通过KL散度分析量化这些差异,表明其可能支撑人类语言网络的进化特化。人类AF更广泛的颞叶整合与强化的额顶连接,提示其为人类独特高级语言处理的连接基础。此外,该发现为语言相关障碍如失语症、阅读障碍提供了神经解剖框架,其异常连接会破坏语言功能。

原文摘要 · Abstract (English)

The organization and connectivity of the arcuate fasciculus (AF) in nonhuman primates remain contentious, especially concerning how its anatomy diverges from that of humans. Here, we combined cross-scale single-neuron tracing - using viral-based genetic labeling and fluorescence micro-optical sectioning tomography in macaques (n = 4; age 3 - 11 years) - with whole-brain tractography from 11.7T diffusion MRI. Complemented by spectral embedding analysis of 7.0T MRI in humans, we performed a comparative connectomic analysis of the AF across species. We demonstrate that the macaque AF originates in the temporal-parietal cortex, traverses the auditory cortex and parietal operculum, and projects into prefrontal regions. In contrast, the human AF exhibits greater expansion into the middle temporal gyrus and stronger prefrontal and parietal operculum connectivity - divergences quantified by Kullback-Leibler analysis that likely underpin the evolutionary specialization of human language networks. These interspecies differences - particularly the human AF's broader temporal integration and strengthened frontoparietal linkages - suggest a connectivity-based substrate for the emergence of advanced language processing unique to humans. Furthermore, our findings offer a neuroanatomical framework for understanding AF-related disorders such as aphasia and dyslexia, where aberrant connectivity disrupts language function.

脑连接组语言进化神经解剖猕猴研究

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