Biology subjects

Clery, J. C.

Publications and source records attributed to Clery, J. C..

8 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

α-synuclein pathology drives multi-scale reorganization of fronto-limbic networks and cognitive flexibility in the common marmoset

Understanding how -synuclein misfolding and spreading affect brain systems is central to synucleinopathy research, yet evidence from primate models remains limited. Here, we combined histology, awake structural MRI, awake resting-state fMRI, regional homogeneity, actimetry and touchscreen behavioral testing to longitudinally track the consequences of striatal -synuclein seeding in the common marmoset. Phosphorylated -synuclein inclusions were detected from 2 months post-injection and spread progressively to distributed cortical and subcortical regions bilaterally, accompanied by regionally specific structural atrophy. Functional imaging revealed widespread disruption of large-scale networks, particularly within fronto-limbic circuits, alongside reductions in local functional coherence. Despite the absence of overt motor or sleep deficits, animals exhibited a selective impairment in cognitive flexibility, with preserved learning and task engagement. These findings indicate that striatal -synuclein seeding induces a multi-scale reorganization of brain networks preferentially affecting circuits supporting cognitive flexibility and limbic processing, establishing a primate platform for studying early stages of synucleinopathy.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2026

A real-time, multi-animal model for automatic face detection and identification of freely moving common marmosets based on YOLOv8 algorithms

Precise and up-to-date information about animal location and identity allows us to better quantify individual behaviors in studies of neural activity, cognition, and animal health. In socially housed laboratory animals, identification is usually defined by observation or invasive markers, making the data collection time-consuming, variable across experimenters, and disruptive to animals. We established an automatic pipeline for real-time identification of common marmosets in captivity using a close-view camera. It uses the supervised deep-learning YOLOv8 model to localize individuals, detect faces, and classify identities. Moreover, we use recognition of uniquely color-coded collar beads to improve detection accuracy among visually similar individuals. Across adult and juvenile marmosets, our system automatically identifies marmosets with > 82.9% precision and > 91.5% recall, achieving human level performance. This pipeline is designed to be easy-to-use and generalizable across non-human primate species, ages, and recording hardware, providing rapid and automatic identity recognition from real-time video.

animal behavior and cognition↗

bioRxiv2021

Functional organization of frontoparietal cortex in the marmoset investigated with awake resting-state fMRI

Frontoparietal networks contribute to complex cognitive functions in humans and macaques such as working memory, attention, task-switching, response suppression, grasping, reaching, and eye movement control. However, little is known about the organization of frontoparietal networks in the New World common marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus) which is now widely recognized as a powerful nonhuman primate experimental animal. In this study, we employed hierarchical clustering of interareal BOLD signals to investigate the hypothesis that the organization of the frontoparietal cortex in the marmoset follows the organizational principles of the macaque frontoparietal system. We found that the posterior part of the lateral frontal cortex (premotor regions) was functionally connected to the anterior parietal areas while more anterior frontal regions (frontal eye field (FEF)) were connected to more posterior parietal areas (the area around lateral intraparietal area (LIP)). These overarching patterns of inter-areal organization are consistent with a recent macaque study. These findings demonstrate parallel frontoparietal processing streams in marmosets and support the functional homologies of FEF-LIP and premotor-anterior parietal pathways between marmoset and macaque. Significant StatementFrontoparietal networks contribute to many cognitive functions in humans and macaques, but little is known about the organization of frontoparietal networks in the New World common marmoset monkey. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that the organization of the frontoparietal cortex in the marmoset follows the organizational principles of the macaque frontoparietal system. These frontoparietal connection showed overarching pattern of interareal organization consistent with Old world monkeys. These findings demonstrate parallel frontoparietal processing streams in marmosets.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Interspecies activation correlations reveal functional correspondences between marmoset and human brain areas

The common marmoset has enormous promise as a nonhuman primate model of human brain functions. While resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has provided evidence for a similar organization of marmoset and human cortices, the technique cannot be used to map the functional correspondences of brain regions between species. This limitation can be overcome by movie-driven fMRI (md-fMRI), which has become a popular tool for non-invasively mapping the neural patterns generated by rich and naturalistic stimulation. Here, we used md-fMRI in marmosets and humans to identify whole-brain functional correspondences between the two primate species. In particular, we describe functional correlates for the well-known human face, body, and scene patches in marmosets. We find that these networks have a similar organization in both species, suggesting a largely conserved organization of higher-order visual areas between New World marmoset monkeys and humans. However, while face patches in humans and marmosets were activated by marmoset faces, only human face patches responded to the faces of other animals. Together, the results demonstrate that md-fMRI is a powerful tool for interspecies functional mapping and characterization of higher-order visual functions.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2021

Simultaneous functional MRI of socially interacting marmosets

Social cognition is a dynamic process that requires the perception and integration of a complex set of idiosyncratic features between interacting conspecifics. Here we present a method for simultaneously measuring the whole-brain activation of two socially interacting marmoset monkeys using functional magnetic resonance imaging. MRI hardware (a radiofrequency coil and peripheral devices) and image-processing pipelines were developed to assess brain responses to socialization, both on an intra-brain and inter-brain level. Notably, brain-activation maps acquired during constant interaction demonstrated neuronal synchrony between marmosets in regions of the brain responsible for processing social interaction. This method enables a wide range of possibilities for studying social function and dysfunction in a non-human primate model, including using transgenic models of neuropsychiatric disorders.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Whole brain mapping of somatosensory responses in awake marmosets investigated with ultra-high field fMRI

The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) is a small-bodied New World primate that is becoming an important model to study brain functions. Despite several studies exploring the somatosensory system of marmosets, all results have come from anesthetized animals using invasive techniques and post-mortem analyses. Here we demonstrate the feasibility for getting high-quality and reproduceable sensorimotor mapping in awake marmosets with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). We acquired fMRI sequences in four animals while they received tactile stimulation (via air-puffs), delivered to the face, arm or leg. We found that the body representation progressed medially from the leg to the face in areas 3a, 3b, 1/2, and from caudal to rostral sites in areas S2 and PV. SI and SII exhibited a body representation in their functional connectivity pattern within the posterior and midcingulate and the thalamus. Interestingly, we also found a somatotopic body representation in two subcortical areas: the thalamus and, for the first time, in the putamen. These maps have similar organizations as those previously found in Old World macaque monkeys and humans, suggesting that these subcortical somatotopic organizations were already established before Old and New World primates diverged. Our results show the first whole brain mapping of somatosensory responses acquired in a non-invasive way in awake marmosets. Significant statementHere we used somatosensory stimulation combined with functional magnetic resonance imaging to map whole brain activation in awake marmosets. We used light tactile stimulation, consisting of air-puffs, delivered on the face, arm or leg. We found a topographic body representation in primary (SI) and secondary (SII) somatosensory regions, thalamus and putamen. We also revealed the existence of a body representation organization within the thalamus and the cingulate cortex by computing functional connectivity maps from seeds defined in SI/SII for face, arm and leg using resting-state fMRI data. This non-invasive approach will be essential for chronic studies by guiding invasive recording and manipulation techniques.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2020

Cortico-subcortical functional connectivity profiles of resting-state networks in marmosets and humans

Understanding the similarity of cortico-subcortical networks topologies between humans and nonhuman primate species is critical to study the origin of network alternations underlying human neurological and neuropsychiatric diseases. The New World common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) has become popular as a non-human primate model for human brain function. Most marmoset connectomic research, however, has exclusively focused on cortical areas, with connectivity to subcortical networks less extensively explored. In this study, we aimed to first isolate patterns of subcortical connectivity with cortical resting-state networks (RSNs) in awake marmosets using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (RS-fMRI), then to compare these networks to those in humans using connectivity fingerprinting. While we could match several marmoset and human RSNs based on their functional fingerprints, we also found a few striking differences, for example strong functional connectivity of the default mode network with the superior colliculus in marmosets that was much weaker in humans. Together, these findings demonstrate that many of the core cortico-subcortical networks in humans are also present in marmosets, but that small, potentially functionally relevant differences exist.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2019

Visual looming and receding networks in awake marmosets investigated with fMRI

An object that is looming toward a subject or receding away contains important information for determining if this object is dangerous, beneficial or harmless to them. This information (motion, direction, identity, time-to-collision, size, velocity) is analyzed by the brain in order to execute the appropriate behavioral responses depending on the context: fleeing, freezing, grasping, eating, exploring. In the current study, we performed ultra-high-field functional MRI (fMRI) in awake marmosets to explore the patterns of brain activation elicited by visual stimuli looming toward or receding away from the monkey. We found that looming and receding visual stimuli both activate a large cortical network in frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital cortex in areas involved in the analysis of motion, shape, identity and features of the objects. Looming stimuli strongly activated a network composed of the pulvinar, superior colliculus, prefrontal cortex and temporal cortical areas. This may underlie the existence of an alert network that processes the visual stimuli looming toward their peripersonal space by extracting the crucial information brought by the stimulus and evaluating its potential consequences to the observer. We hypothesize that this network is involved in the planning of protective behaviors (e.g. fleeing or freezing) and in emotional reaction (e.g. anxiety, fear). These findings support the view that this network is preserved through evolution and that the marmoset is a viable model to study visual and multisensory processes by using fMRI to guide further invasive recordings and/or pharmacological manipulations.\n\nSignificant statementAn object that is looming toward a subject or receding away contains important information for determining if this object is dangerous, beneficial or harmless to them. Here, we identified the functional network in non-human primates that was activated by visual stimuli looming toward or away from the animals using ultra-high-field functional magnetic resonance imaging. Our findings show that large cortical activations are elicited by both looming and receding visual conditions. However, some activations were specific to the looming condition, suggesting that the integration of cues in the looming direction rely on strong connections between cortical and subcortical areas, which allows primates to react properly for protecting themselves against a potential threat.

neuroscience↗