In common marmosets, the areas of the brain responsible for social interaction develop at a gradual pace, continuing into early adulthood, much like in humans. Throughout this developmental period, all members of the group participate in caring for the young, which enhances the species’ notable social and cognitive abilities.
The growth of primate brains is influenced by a variety of factors. However, these influences vary between species that breed independently, such as great apes, and those that practice cooperative breeding, like the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) and humans. In these species, individuals beyond the parents play a significant role in nurturing the young from the moment they are born.
A team of international researchers, led by Paola Cerrito from the University of Zurich’s Department of Evolutionary Anthropology, investigated how social interactions relate to brain development in common marmosets. This research sheds light on how the timing of brain maturation links to the social and cognitive skills of marmosets, especially their prosocial and cooperative behaviors.
Extended Learning Through Social Interactions
The research team utilized magnetic resonance imaging to analyze brain development and found that in marmosets, the brain areas linked to social interaction processing show prolonged development, similar to humans. These regions do not fully mature until early adulthood, which allows the animals to continue learning from social experiences for an extended period.
Like humans, young marmosets are nurtured by several caregivers from birth, exposing them to a rich environment of social interactions. Feeding is also a collective effort; the young are fed by various group members, and as they mature, they begin to solicit food as their mothers become occupied with new offspring. The study suggests that the necessity to seek care from different group members significantly influences brain development and enriches the advanced social motivations and abilities observed in these primates.
A Model for Human Evolution
Due to their similarities with humans, marmosets serve as a valuable model for exploring the evolution of social cognition. “Our research highlights the crucial role of social experiences in shaping neural and cognitive networks, not only in primates but also in humans,” Cerrito notes.
The early social interactions that characterize the lives of infants in cooperatively breeding species may play a pivotal role in developing human social motivation. “These findings could influence numerous fields, including evolutionary biology, neuroscience, and psychology,” Cerrito adds.
