Monkeys of varying positions in the social hierarchy were found to have correlating differences in a particular area of their brains.

Monkeys of varying positions in their social hierarchy were found to have correlating differences in particular areas of their brains.

Neuroscientists performing ongoing research at the University of Oxford discovered this when they were comparing the brain scans of 25 macaque monkeys.

The images they were observing showed that some had enlarged regions, including the amygdala, while others showed greater mass in other areas.

To figure out what the differences meant, they went to the source and observed the actual animals.

They found that those who presented with larger amygdala, hypothalamus, and raphe nucleus regions also displayed social dominance.

Researchers believe that this has to do with the brain circuits needed to navigate social relationships.

Among the behaviors that are likely influenced as a result are reading social cues, forming bonds, and establishing alliances, all of which are key factors in becoming dominant in the wild.

The monkeys who showed greater development in an area called the striatum were observed to be occupants of the lower rungs on the social ladder.

While logically, this theory could apply to other primates the scientists acknowledge that many other factors can determine status, particularly among humans.