Non-human primate neuroimaging is a rapidly growing area of research that promises to transform and scale translational and cross-species comparative neuroscience. Unfortunately, the technological and methodological advances of the past two decades have outpaced the accrual of data, which is particularly challenging given the relatively few centers that have the necessary facilities and capabilities. The PRIMatE Data Exchange (PRIME-DE) addresses this challenge by aggregating independently acquired non-human primate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) datasets and openly sharing them via the International Neuroimaging Data-sharing Initiative (INDI). Here, we present the rationale, design, and procedures for the PRIME-DE consortium, as well as the initial release, consisting of 25 independent data collections aggregated across 22 sites (total = 217 non-human primates). We also outline the unique pitfalls and challenges that should be considered in the analysis of non-human primate MRI datasets, including providing automated quality assessment of the contributed datasets.

Recent studies in both monkeys and humans indicate that the dorsal premotor cortex participates in spatial attention and working memory, in addition to its well known role in movement planning and execution. One important question is whether these functions overlap or are segregated within this frontal area. Single-cell recordings in monkeys suggest a relative specialization of the rostral portion of dorsal premotor cortex for attention and/or memory and of the caudal region for motor preparation. To test whether this possibility also holds true in humans, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to compare, in the same set of subjects, brain activation related to strong spatial attention and memory demands to that elicited by long motor preparatory periods. The behavioral protocol was based on a task that had proved effective for dissociating neuronal properties related to these two functions in the monkey brain. The principle of the monkey task was that a first cue guided the focus of spatial attention and memory, whereas a second one instructed an arm movement. Based on this principle, two tasks were developed. One maximized spatial attention and memory demands by presenting long series of stimuli (4, 8, or 12) before the motor instructional cue, whereas the other extended the motor preparation phase by imposing long and variable delays (1–5.5 s) between the onset of the instructional cue and movement execution. The two tasks and their respective control conditions were arranged in two blocked-design sequences. The results indicate that the brain networks underlying the two functional domains overlap in the caudate nucleus and presupplementary motor area, and possibly in lateral prefrontal cortex as well, but involve different dorsal premotor fields. Motor preparation primarily recruited a dorsal premotor area located caudally, within the precentral gyrus (together with the supplementary motor area), whereas spatial attention and memory preferentially activated a more rostral site, in and anterior to the precentral sulcus (in addition to the posterior parietal cortex). These findings strengthen the idea that the primate dorsal premotor cortex contributes to both motor and nonmotor processes. Moreover, they corroborate emerging evidence from monkey physiology suggesting a relative functional segregation within this cortex, with attention to short-term storage of visuospatial information engaging a more rostral region than motor preparation.