Long arcuate fascicle in wild and captive chimpanzees as a potential structural precursor of the language network
The arcuate fascicle (AF) is the main fibre tract in the brain for human language. It connects frontal and temporal language areas in the superior and middle temporal gyrus (MTG). The AF's connection to the MTG was considered unique to humans and has influenced theories of the evolution of language. Here, using high-resolution diffusion MRI of post-mortem brains, we demonstrate that both wild and captive chimpanzees have a direct AF connection into the MTG, albeit weaker than in humans. This finding challenges the notion of a strictly human-specific AF morphology and suggests that language-related neural specialisation in humans likely evolved through gradual evolutionary strengthening of a pre-existing connection, rather than arising de novo. It is likely that this neural architecture supporting complex communication was already present in the last common ancestor of hominins and chimpanzees 7 million years ago, enabling the evolution of language processes in the human lineage.
Authors
- Yannick Becker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9728-8316)
- Michael Paquette (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8917-3391)
- Carsten Jäger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6512-9903)
- Cornelius Eichner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5611-6748)
- Christian Bock (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0052-3090)
- Tobias Deschner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9873-316X)
- Cédric Girard‐Buttoz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1742-4400)
- Tobias Gräßle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9103-3139)
Institutions
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (FR)
- University of Stirling (GB)
- Oxford Brookes University (GB)
- Alfred-Wegener-Institut Helmholtz-Zentrum für Polar- und Meeresforschung (DE)
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (FR)
- Swedish Veterinary Agency (SE)
- University of Liverpool (GB)
- Inserm (FR)
- University of Wuppertal (DE)
- Osnabrück University (DE)
- Robert Koch Institute (DE)
- Chester Zoo (GB)
- German Primate Center (DE)
- Welsh Government (GB)
- Mines Saint-Étienne (FR)
- Kibale Chimpanzee Project (UG)
- Klinikum Magdeburg (DE)
- Institut Africain d'Informatique (GA)
- Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology (DE)
- Wildlife Vets International (GB)
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (DE)
- Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences (DE)
- University Hospital Magdeburg (DE)
- Institut des Sciences Cognitives (FR)
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (DE)
- Université Félix Houphouët-Boigny (CI)
- University of Neuchâtel (CH)
- University of Birmingham (GB)
- Leipzig University (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2025-05-15
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-59254-8
- Citations
- 12
- Primary Topic
- Advanced Neuroimaging Techniques and Applications
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 16.32
Funders
- Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche Scientifique
- Fondation Fyssen
- Max-Planck-Gesellschaft
- Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche
- Agence Nationale Des Parcs Nationaux
- European Association of Zoos and Aquaria