Data from: Delay of gratification is associated with white matter connectivity in the dorsal prefrontal cortex: a diffusion tensor imaging study in chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes)

Individual variability in delay of gratification (DG) is associated with a
number of important outcomes in both non-human and human primates. Using
diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), this study describes the relationship
between probabilistic estimates of white matter tracts projecting from the
caudate to the prefrontal cortex (PFC) and DG abilities in a sample of 49
captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes). After accounting for time between
collection of DTI scans and DG measurement, age and sex, higher white
matter connectivity between the caudate and right dorsal PFC was found to
be significantly associated with the acquisition (i.e. training phase) but
not the maintenance of DG abilities. No other associations were found to
be significant. The integrity of white matter connectivity between regions
of the striatum and the PFC appear to be associated with inhibitory
control in chimpanzees, with perturbations on this circuit potentially
leading to a variety of maladaptive outcomes. Additionally, results have
potential translational implications for understanding the pathophysiology
of a number of psychiatric and clinical outcomes in humans.