MRI Technology for Behavioral and Cognitive Studies in Macaques In Vivo

To understand animal behavior, we need to know more about how the brain works. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a noninvasive imaging technology that has been widely used to examine the functional basis of human decision-making and the interplay between neuroanatomy, endocrinology, and behavior. In this chapter, we argue that recent advances in the MRI technology have made it possible to directly study brain responses in a variety of animals, including macaques, in order to address research questions related to sociality, bond formation, and the evolution of cooperation, that are difficult or impossible to answer when conducting field research. The main purpose of the chapter is to offer primatologists new research tools and insights into understanding the behavior of prosimians, monkeys, apes, and humans.