David Van Essen: Cortical Structure, Function, and Connectivity in Humans and Nonhuman Primates

This talk was presented during the National Academy of Sciences Arthur M. Sackler Colloquium: Using Monkey Models to Understand and Develop Treatments for Human Brain Disorders in Irvine, CA January 7-8, 2019.

Organized by Bob Wurtz (National Institutes of Health), Beth Buffalo (University of Washington), Tony Movshon (New York University)

Session 1: BRAINS AND BEHAVIOR: HUMANS, MONKEYS AND MICE
Cortical structure, function, and connectivity in humans and nonhuman primates, David Van Essen, Washington University, St. Louis

In recent decades, mice have become the dominant animal model for studying the basis of human physiology and disease because they are genetically tractable and have bodily functions broadly similar to ours. But in the specific study of higher brain functions and brain disorders, the differences between mice and humans are great, and monkeys provide the best practical model for the human brain. However, the principles which would rationally lead an investigator to choose a monkey model over a mouse are nowhere clearly articulated.

This two-day colloquium considers a core set of functions for which monkey models are critical. The colloquium begins by comparing human and monkey brains and behavior, and then frames the conversation with a comparison between monkey and mouse. Successive sessions then consider domains in which monkey models have proved valuable: disorders of development, aging, and mood, and restoration of sensory and motor functions.

A collection of articles based on these presentations will appear in a special issue of PNAS, to provide a resource for those wishing to learn about the contribution of monkey research to understanding the human brain and its disorders.