Resting state cerebral networks in mouse lemur primates: from multilevel validation to comparison with humans

Measures of resting-state functional connectivity allow the description of neuronal networks in humans and provide a window on brain function in normal and pathological conditions. Animal models are critical to further address experimentally the function of brain networks and their roles in pathologies. Here we describe for the first time brain network organization in the mouse lemur (Microcebus murinus), a small primate attracting increased attention as a model for neuroscience. Resting-state functional MR images were recorded at 11.7 Tesla. Forty-eight functional regions were identified and used to identify networks using graph theory, dictionary learning and seed-based analyses. Comparison of results issued from these three complementary methods allowed the description of the most robust networks from mouse lemurs. Large scale networks were then identified from resting-state functional MR images of humans using the same method as for lemurs. Strong homologies were outlined between cerebral networks in mouse lemurs and humans.