Resting State Functional Connectivity of the Marmoset Claustrum

Abstract

The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) has been recently developed as a nonhuman primate model useful for studying behaviour, neurology, and higher-level cognitive processes considering their phylogenetic proximity to humans. Here, we investigated the resting state functional connectivity (RSFC) of the marmoset claustrum, a small, highly connected subcortical structure. Using an open resource of 234 functional MRI scans from awake marmosets, we found claustrum connectivity to the prefrontal cortex, posterior parietal cortex, temporal cortices, cingulate cortex, sensory cortices, limbic areas, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. We also found strong functional connectivity to regions and hubs involved in marmoset resting state networks. These findings demonstrate marmoset claustrum RSFC similar to previous human and rodent studies and validate the integration of marmosets into claustrum research.