German researchers identify causes of smooth brains in common marmosets

Researchers at the German Primate Center (DPZ) — the Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Göttingen — have identified the cellular mechanisms responsible for the smooth, unfolded brain structure in common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus).

Using brain organoids, the study revealed that certain neural progenitor cells, which give rise to neurons, develop differently in marmosets both morphologically and temporally compared to other primates. These distinct processes involving various types of progenitor cells lead to a reduction in both the size and the folding of the brain.

While most primates possess brains with pronounced ridges and grooves to increase surface area for nerve cells, the marmoset brain remains relatively smooth. This research provides new insights into the evolutionary development of the primate brain and may assist in understanding human brain developmental disorders.