1
|
Boch M, Huber L, Lamm C. Domestic dogs as a comparative model for social neuroscience: Advances and challenges. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2024; 162:105700. [PMID: 38710423 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2024.105700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
Dogs and humans have lived together for thousands of years and share many analogous socio-cognitive skills. Dog neuroimaging now provides insight into the neural bases of these shared social abilities. Here, we summarize key findings from dog fMRI identifying neocortical brain areas implicated in visual social cognition, such as face, body, and emotion perception, as well as action observation in dogs. These findings provide converging evidence that the temporal cortex plays a significant role in visual social cognition in dogs. We further briefly review investigations into the neural base of the dog-human relationship, mainly involving limbic brain regions. We then discuss current challenges in the field, such as statistical power and lack of common template spaces, and how to overcome them. Finally, we argue that the foundation has now been built to investigate and compare the neural bases of more complex socio-cognitive phenomena shared by dogs and humans. This will strengthen and expand the role of the domestic dog as a powerful comparative model species and provide novel insights into the evolutionary roots of social cognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Boch
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1010, Austria; Department of Cognitive Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna 1090, Austria.
| | - Ludwig Huber
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, Vienna 1210, Austria
| | - Claus Lamm
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna 1010, Austria; Vienna Cognitive Science Hub, University of Vienna, Vienna 1010, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Behroozi M, Graïc JM, Gerussi T. Beyond the surface: how ex-vivo diffusion-weighted imaging reveals large animal brain microstructure and connectivity. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1411982. [PMID: 38988768 PMCID: PMC11233460 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1411982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Diffusion-weighted Imaging (DWI) is an effective and state-of-the-art neuroimaging method that non-invasively reveals the microstructure and connectivity of tissues. Recently, novel applications of the DWI technique in studying large brains through ex-vivo imaging enabled researchers to gain insights into the complex neural architecture in different species such as those of Perissodactyla (e.g., horses and rhinos), Artiodactyla (e.g., bovids, swines, and cetaceans), and Carnivora (e.g., felids, canids, and pinnipeds). Classical in-vivo tract-tracing methods are usually considered unsuitable for ethical and practical reasons, in large animals or protected species. Ex-vivo DWI-based tractography offers the chance to examine the microstructure and connectivity of formalin-fixed tissues with scan times and precision that is not feasible in-vivo. This paper explores DWI's application to ex-vivo brains of large animals, highlighting the unique insights it offers into the structure of sometimes phylogenetically different neural networks, the connectivity of white matter tracts, and comparative evolutionary adaptations. Here, we also summarize the challenges, concerns, and perspectives of ex-vivo DWI that will shape the future of the field in large brains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mehdi Behroozi
- Department of Biopsychology, Faculty of Psychology, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jean-Marie Graïc
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
| | - Tommaso Gerussi
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science (BCA), University of Padova, Legnaro, Italy
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Foster M, Dwibhashyam S, Patel D, Gupta K, Matz OC, Billings BK, Bitterman K, Bertelson M, Tang CY, Mars RB, Raghanti MA, Hof PR, Sherwood CC, Manger PR, Spocter MA. Comparative anatomy of the caudate nucleus in canids and felids: Associations with brain size, curvature, cross-sectional properties, and behavioral ecology. J Comp Neurol 2024; 532:e25618. [PMID: 38686628 DOI: 10.1002/cne.25618] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
The evolutionary history of canids and felids is marked by a deep time separation that has uniquely shaped their behavior and phenotype toward refined predatory abilities. The caudate nucleus is a subcortical brain structure associated with both motor control and cognitive, emotional, and executive functions. We used a combination of three-dimensional imaging, allometric scaling, and structural analyses to compare the size and shape characteristics of the caudate nucleus. The sample consisted of MRI scan data obtained from six canid species (Canis lupus lupus, Canis latrans, Chrysocyon brachyurus, Lycaon pictus, Vulpes vulpes, Vulpes zerda), two canid subspecies (Canis lupus familiaris, Canis lupus dingo), as well as three felids (Panthera tigris, Panthera uncia, Felis silvestris catus). Results revealed marked conservation in the scaling and shape attributes of the caudate nucleus across species, with only slight deviations. We hypothesize that observed differences in caudate nucleus size and structure for the domestic canids are reflective of enhanced cognitive and emotional pathways that possibly emerged during domestication.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Foster
- Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Sai Dwibhashyam
- Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Devan Patel
- Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Kanika Gupta
- Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Olivia C Matz
- Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Brendon K Billings
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Kathleen Bitterman
- Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
| | - Mads Bertelson
- Center for Zoo and Wild Animal Health, Copenhagen Zoo, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Cheuk Y Tang
- Departments of Radiology and Psychiatry, BioMedical Engineering and Imaging Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Rogier B Mars
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mary Ann Raghanti
- Department of Anthropology and School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio, USA
| | - Patrick R Hof
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience and Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
- New York Consortium in Evolutionary Primatology, New York, New York, USA
| | - Chet C Sherwood
- Department of Anthropology and Center for the Advanced Study of Human Paleobiology, The George Washington University, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Paul R Manger
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
| | - Muhammad A Spocter
- Department of Anatomy, Des Moines University, West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
- School of Anatomical Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Republic of South Africa
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Barton SA, Kent M, Hecht EE. Neuroanatomical asymmetry in the canine brain. Brain Struct Funct 2023; 228:1657-1669. [PMID: 37436502 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02677-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023]
Abstract
The brains of humans and non-human primates exhibit left/right asymmetries in grey matter morphology, white matter connections, and functional responses. These asymmetries have been implicated in specialized behavioral adaptations such as language, tool use, and handedness. Left/right asymmetries are also observed in behavioral tendencies across the animal kingdom, suggesting a deep evolutionary origin for the neural mechanisms underlying lateralized behavior. However, it is still unclear to what extent brain asymmetries supporting lateralized behaviors are present in other large-brained animals outside the primate order. Canids and other carnivorans evolved large, complex brains independently and convergently with primates, and exhibit lateralized behaviors. Therefore, domestic dogs offer an opportunity to address this question. We examined T2-weighted MRI images of 62 dogs from 33 breeds, opportunistically collected from a veterinary MRI scanner from dogs who were referred for neurological examination but were not found to show any neuropathology. Volumetrically asymmetric regions of gray matter included portions of the temporal and frontal cortex, in addition to portions of the cerebellum, brainstem, and other subcortical regions. These results are consistent with the perspective that asymmetry may be a common feature underlying the evolution of complex brains and behavior across clades, and provide neuro-organizational information that is likely relevant to the growing field of canine behavioral neuroscience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie A Barton
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, 02138, USA.
| | - Marc Kent
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, USA
| | - Erin E Hecht
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, 02138, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Rogers Flattery CN, Abdulla M, Barton SA, Michlich JM, Trut LN, Kukekova AV, Hecht EE. The brain of the silver fox (Vulpes vulpes): a neuroanatomical reference of cell-stained histological and MRI images. Brain Struct Funct 2023; 228:1177-1189. [PMID: 37160458 PMCID: PMC11192273 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-023-02648-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Although the silver fox (Vulpes vulpes) has been largely overlooked by neuroscientists, it has the potential to serve as a powerful model for the investigation of brain-behavior relationships. The silver fox is a melanistic variant of the red fox. Within this species, the long-running Russian farm-fox experiment has resulted in different strains bred to show divergent behavior. Strains bred for tameness, aggression, or without selection on behavior present an excellent opportunity to investigate neuroanatomical changes underlying behavioral characteristics. Here, we present a histological and MRI neuroanatomical reference of a fox from the conventional strain, which is bred without behavioral selection. This can provide an anatomical basis for future studies of the brains of foxes from this particular experiment, as well as contribute to an understanding of fox brains in general. In addition, this can serve as a resource for comparative neuroscience and investigations into neuroanatomical variation among the family Canidae, the order Carnivora, and mammals more broadly.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Munawwar Abdulla
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Sophie A Barton
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Jenny M Michlich
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Lyudmila N Trut
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Anna V Kukekova
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of ACES, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, USA
| | - Erin E Hecht
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Ave, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Fonseca MGB, Hilário HO, Kotrschal K, Range F, Virányi Z, Duarte MHL, Pereira LCG, Vasconcellos ADS. The Power of Discourse: Associations between Trainers' Speech and the Responses of Socialized Wolves and Dogs to Training. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:1071. [PMID: 36978612 PMCID: PMC10044238 DOI: 10.3390/ani13061071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
In a previous study, we found that Positive Reinforcement Training reduced cortisol of wolves and dogs; however, this effect varied across trainer-animal dyads. Here we investigate whether and how the trainers' use of speech may contribute to this effect. Dogs' great interest in high-pitched, intense speech (also known as Dog Directed Speech) has already been reported, but whether and how wolves respond similarly/differently to voice characteristics has never been studied before. We analyzed 270 training sessions, conducted by five trainers, with nine mixed-breed dogs and nine wolves, all human-socialized. Through Generalized Linear Mixed Models, we analyzed the effects of (a) three speech categories (nice, neutral, reprehensive) and laugh; and (b) acoustic characteristics of trainers' voices on animals' responses (correct responses, latency, orientation, time at less than 1 m, non-training behaviors, tail position/movements, cortisol variation). In both subspecies, tail wagging occurred more often in sessions with longer durations of nice speech, and less often in sessions with reprehensive speech. For dogs, the duration of reprehensive speech within a session was also negatively related to correct responses. For wolves, retreat time was associated with more reprehensive speech, whereas duration of nice speech was positively associated with time spent within one meter from the trainer. In addition, most dog behavioral responses were associated with higher average intonations within sessions, while wolf responses were correlated with lower intonations within sessions. We did not find any effects of the variables considered on cortisol variation. Our study highlights the relevance of voice tone and speech in a training context on animals' performances and emotional reactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Gabriela Bravo Fonseca
- Program of Post-Graduation in Vertebrate Biology, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30535-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Heron Oliveira Hilário
- Laboratory of Conservation Genetics, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30535-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Kurt Kotrschal
- Department of Behavioural and Cognitive Biology, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - Friederike Range
- Domestication Lab, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Savoyenstraße 1a, 1160 Vienna, Austria
| | - Zsófia Virányi
- Messerli Research Institute—University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Marina Henriques Lage Duarte
- Program of Post-Graduation in Vertebrate Biology, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30535-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Bioacoustics Laboratory, Museum of Natural Sciences, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30535-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Laryssa Cristina Gomes Pereira
- Program of Post-Graduation in Vertebrate Biology, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30535-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Angélica da Silva Vasconcellos
- Program of Post-Graduation in Vertebrate Biology, Pontifical Catholic University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 30535-901, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Visual perception of emotion cues in dogs: a critical review of methodologies. Anim Cogn 2023; 26:727-754. [PMID: 36870003 PMCID: PMC10066124 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-023-01762-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
Comparative studies of human-dog cognition have grown exponentially since the 2000's, but the focus on how dogs look at us (as well as other dogs) as social partners is a more recent phenomenon despite its importance to human-dog interactions. Here, we briefly summarise the current state of research in visual perception of emotion cues in dogs and why this area is important; we then critically review its most commonly used methods, by discussing conceptual and methodological challenges and associated limitations in depth; finally, we suggest some possible solutions and recommend best practice for future research. Typically, most studies in this field have concentrated on facial emotional cues, with full body information rarely considered. There are many challenges in the way studies are conceptually designed (e.g., use of non-naturalistic stimuli) and the way researchers incorporate biases (e.g., anthropomorphism) into experimental designs, which may lead to problematic conclusions. However, technological and scientific advances offer the opportunity to gather much more valid, objective, and systematic data in this rapidly expanding field of study. Solving conceptual and methodological challenges in the field of emotion perception research in dogs will not only be beneficial in improving research in dog-human interactions, but also within the comparative psychology area, in which dogs are an important model species to study evolutionary processes.
Collapse
|
8
|
Attachment towards the Owner Is Associated with Spontaneous Sleep EEG Parameters in Family Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12070895. [PMID: 35405884 PMCID: PMC8997010 DOI: 10.3390/ani12070895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Dogs have been shown to form attachment bonds towards their owners analogous to the human infant-parent attachment. In humans, the neurological background of variation in attachment and similar trait-like social behaviors has been described. It is known that certain sleep parameters are in association with an individual’s attachment-related traits. In the current study, we provide the first evidence that dogs’ attachment towards their owner is also associated to dogs’ sleep structure (the time they spend in the different sleep stages) as well as to their brain activity during sleep. Thus, as in humans, when dogs sleep in a novel environment (in the presence of their owners), differences in their attachment bond are reflected in their sleep EEG characteristics. Abstract Affective neuroscience studies have demonstrated the impact of social interactions on sleep quality. In humans, trait-like social behaviors, such as attachment, are related to sleep brain activity patterns. Our aim was to investigate associations between companion dogs’ spontaneous brain activity during sleep (in the presence of the owner) and their relevant behavior in a task-free social context assessing their attachment towards the owner. In random order, each dog participated in a non-invasive sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) measurement and in the Strange Situation Test (SST) to assess their attachment behavior. We found that higher attachment scores were associated with more time spent in NREM sleep, lower NREM alpha power activity and lower NREM alpha–delta anticorrelation. Our results reveal that, when dogs sleep in a novel environment in the company of their owners, differences in their attachment are reflected in their sleep EEG characteristics. This could be best explained by the different degree that owners could be used as a safe haven in an unfamiliar environment and during the unusual procedure of the first EEG measurement.
Collapse
|
9
|
Cuaya LV, Hernández-Pérez R, Boros M, Deme A, Andics A. Speech naturalness detection and language representation in the dog brain. Neuroimage 2021; 248:118811. [PMID: 34906714 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2021.118811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Family dogs are exposed to a continuous flow of human speech throughout their lives. However, the extent of their abilities in speech perception is unknown. Here, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to test speech detection and language representation in the dog brain. Dogs (n = 18) listened to natural speech and scrambled speech in a familiar and an unfamiliar language. Speech scrambling distorts auditory regularities specific to speech and to a given language, but keeps spectral voice cues intact. We hypothesized that if dogs can extract auditory regularities of speech, and of a familiar language, then there will be distinct patterns of brain activity for natural speech vs. scrambled speech, and also for familiar vs. unfamiliar language. Using multivoxel pattern analysis (MVPA) we found that bilateral auditory cortical regions represented natural speech and scrambled speech differently; with a better classifier performance in longer-headed dogs in a right auditory region. This neural capacity for speech detection was not based on preferential processing for speech but rather on sensitivity to sound naturalness. Furthermore, in case of natural speech, distinct activity patterns were found for the two languages in the secondary auditory cortex and in the precruciate gyrus; with a greater difference in responses to the familiar and unfamiliar languages in older dogs, indicating a role for the amount of language exposure. No regions represented differently the scrambled versions of the two languages, suggesting that the activity difference between languages in natural speech reflected sensitivity to language-specific regularities rather than to spectral voice cues. These findings suggest that separate cortical regions support speech naturalness detection and language representation in the dog brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura V Cuaya
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-ELTE 'Lendület' Neuroethology of Communication Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences - Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Raúl Hernández-Pérez
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-ELTE 'Lendület' Neuroethology of Communication Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences - Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Marianna Boros
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-ELTE 'Lendület' Neuroethology of Communication Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences - Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Andrea Deme
- Department of Applied Linguistics and Phonetics, Faculty of Humanities, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-ELTE 'Lendület' Lingual Articulation Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Andics
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; MTA-ELTE 'Lendület' Neuroethology of Communication Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences - Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Washington SD, Pritchett DL, Keliris GA, Kanwal JS. Hemispheric and Sex Differences in Mustached Bat Primary Auditory Cortex Revealed by Neural Responses to Slow Frequency Modulations. Symmetry (Basel) 2021; 13. [PMID: 34513031 DOI: 10.3390/sym13061037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The mustached bat (Pteronotus parnellii) is a mammalian model of cortical hemispheric asymmetry. In this species, complex social vocalizations are processed preferentially in the left Doppler-shifted constant frequency (DSCF) subregion of primary auditory cortex. Like hemispheric specializations for speech and music, this bat brain asymmetry differs between sexes (i.e., males>females) and is linked to spectrotemporal processing based on selectivities to frequency modulations (FMs) with rapid rates (>0.5 kHz/ms). Analyzing responses to the long-duration (>10 ms), slow-rate (<0.5 kHz/ms) FMs to which most DSCF neurons respond may reveal additional neural substrates underlying this asymmetry. Here, we bilaterally recorded responses from 176 DSCF neurons in male and female bats that were elicited by upward and downward FMs fixed at 0.04 kHz/ms and presented at 0-90 dB SPL. In females, we found inter-hemispheric latency differences consistent with applying different temporal windows to precisely integrate spectrotemporal information. In males, we found a substrate for asymmetry less related to spectrotemporal processing than to acoustic energy (i.e., amplitude). These results suggest that in the DSCF area, (1) hemispheric differences in spectrotemporal processing manifest differently between sexes, and (2) cortical asymmetry for social communication is driven by spectrotemporal processing differences and neural selectivities for amplitude.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stuart D Washington
- Department of Radiology, Howard University Hospital, 2041 Georgia Ave NW, Washington, DC 20060, USA
- Laboratory of Auditory Communication and Cognition, Georgetown University, Department of Neurology, 3700 O St. NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| | - Dominique L Pritchett
- Department of Biology, EE Just Hall Building, Howard University, 415 College St. NW, Washington, DC 20059, USA
| | - Georgios A Keliris
- Bio-Imaging Lab, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, B-2610 Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Jagmeet S Kanwal
- Laboratory of Auditory Communication and Cognition, Georgetown University, Department of Neurology, 3700 O St. NW, Washington, DC 20057, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Santaniello A, Garzillo S, Cristiano S, Fioretti A, Menna LF. The Research of Standardized Protocols for Dog Involvement in Animal-Assisted Therapy: A Systematic Review. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11092576. [PMID: 34573542 PMCID: PMC8468867 DOI: 10.3390/ani11092576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Dogs are considered the most important species involved in animal-assisted therapy (AAT), and the scientific literature focuses on the benefits linked to the involvement of dogs in various therapeutic areas. In this study, we carried out a systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, exploring the scientific literature from the last 5 years (2016-2021) on three databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) to highlight the characteristics of the dogs involved in AATs. Based on the scientific literature relevant to such dogs, we considered different parameters (i.e., number, age, sex, breed, temperament, methods of choice and training, health status, research goals, and activities with dogs) to include studies in our paper. After screening 4331 papers identified on the searched databases, we selected 38 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Analysis of the included articles showed that the characteristics of the dogs were neglected. Our findings indicated a lack of information about the dogs, as well as the absence of standardized and univocal criteria for dog selection, training programs, and health protocols.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Santaniello
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, 80134 Naples, Italy; (S.G.); (A.F.)
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (L.F.M.); Tel.: +39-0812536134 (A.S. & L.F.M.)
| | - Susanne Garzillo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, 80134 Naples, Italy; (S.G.); (A.F.)
| | - Serena Cristiano
- SInAPSi Center, University of Naples Federico II, 80133 Naples, Italy;
| | - Alessandro Fioretti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, 80134 Naples, Italy; (S.G.); (A.F.)
| | - Lucia Francesca Menna
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Productions, University of Naples Federico II, 80134 Naples, Italy; (S.G.); (A.F.)
- Correspondence: (A.S.); (L.F.M.); Tel.: +39-0812536134 (A.S. & L.F.M.)
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Hecht EE, Zapata I, Alvarez CE, Gutman DA, Preuss TM, Kent M, Serpell JA. Neurodevelopmental scaling is a major driver of brain-behavior differences in temperament across dog breeds. Brain Struct Funct 2021; 226:2725-2739. [PMID: 34455497 DOI: 10.1007/s00429-021-02368-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Behavioral traits like aggression, anxiety, and trainability differ significantly across dog breeds and are highly heritable. However, the neural bases of these differences are unknown. Here we analyzed structural MRI scans of 62 dogs in relation to breed-average scores for the 14 major dimensions in the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire, a well-validated measure of canine temperament. Several behavior categories showed significant relationships with morphologically covarying gray matter networks and regional volume changes. Networks involved in social processing and the flight-or-fight response were associated with stranger-directed fear and aggression, putatively the main behaviors under selection pressure during wolf-to-dog domestication. Trainability was significantly associated with expansion in broad regions of cortex, while fear, aggression, and other "problem" behaviors were associated with expansion in distributed subcortical regions. These results closely overlapped with regional volume changes with total brain size, in striking correspondence with models of developmental constraint on brain evolution. This suggests that the established link between dog body size and behavior is due at least in part to disproportionate enlargement of later-developing regions in larger brained dogs. We discuss how this may explain the known correlation of increasing reactivity with decreasing body size in dogs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E E Hecht
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, 11 Divinity Ave., Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA.
| | - I Zapata
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Rocky Vista University, Parker, CO, 80134, USA
| | - C E Alvarez
- Center for Clinical and Translational Research, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.,Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA
| | - D A Gutman
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30029, USA
| | - T M Preuss
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30029, USA
| | - M Kent
- College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia at Athens, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - J A Serpell
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Boch M, Karl S, Sladky R, Huber L, Lamm C, Wagner IC. Tailored haemodynamic response function increases detection power of fMRI in awake dogs (Canis familiaris). Neuroimage 2021; 224:117414. [PMID: 33011420 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2020.117414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of awake and unrestrained dogs (Canis familiaris) has been established as a novel opportunity for comparative neuroimaging, promising important insights into the evolutionary roots of human brain function and cognition. However, data processing and analysis pipelines are often derivatives of methodological standards developed for human neuroimaging, which may be problematic due to profound neurophysiological and anatomical differences between humans and dogs. Here, we explore whether dog fMRI studies would benefit from a tailored dog haemodynamic response function (HRF). In two independent experiments, dogs were presented with different visual stimuli. BOLD signal changes in the visual cortex during these experiments were used for (a) the identification and estimation of a tailored dog HRF, and (b) the independent validation of the resulting dog HRF estimate. Time course analyses revealed that the BOLD signal in the primary visual cortex peaked significantly earlier in dogs compared to humans, while being comparable in shape. Deriving a tailored dog HRF significantly improved the model fit in both experiments, compared to the canonical HRF used in human fMRI. Using the dog HRF yielded significantly increased activation during visual stimulation, extending from the occipital lobe to the caudal parietal cortex, the bilateral temporal cortex, into bilateral hippocampal and thalamic regions. In sum, our findings provide robust evidence for an earlier onset of the dog HRF in two visual stimulation paradigms, and suggest that using such an HRF will be important to increase fMRI detection power in canine neuroimaging. By providing the parameters of the tailored dog HRF and related code, we encourage and enable other researchers to validate whether our findings generalize to other sensory modalities and experimental paradigms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Boch
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria; Department of Cognitive Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabrina Karl
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ronald Sladky
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ludwig Huber
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna and University of Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Claus Lamm
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria.
| | - Isabella C Wagner
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010 Vienna, Austria.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Karl S, Boch M, Zamansky A, van der Linden D, Wagner IC, Völter CJ, Lamm C, Huber L. Exploring the dog-human relationship by combining fMRI, eye-tracking and behavioural measures. Sci Rep 2020; 10:22273. [PMID: 33335230 PMCID: PMC7747637 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-79247-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Behavioural studies revealed that the dog-human relationship resembles the human mother-child bond, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report the results of a multi-method approach combining fMRI (N = 17), eye-tracking (N = 15), and behavioural preference tests (N = 24) to explore the engagement of an attachment-like system in dogs seeing human faces. We presented morph videos of the caregiver, a familiar person, and a stranger showing either happy or angry facial expressions. Regardless of emotion, viewing the caregiver activated brain regions associated with emotion and attachment processing in humans. In contrast, the stranger elicited activation mainly in brain regions related to visual and motor processing, and the familiar person relatively weak activations overall. While the majority of happy stimuli led to increased activation of the caudate nucleus associated with reward processing, angry stimuli led to activations in limbic regions. Both the eye-tracking and preference test data supported the superior role of the caregiver's face and were in line with the findings from the fMRI experiment. While preliminary, these findings indicate that cutting across different levels, from brain to behaviour, can provide novel and converging insights into the engagement of the putative attachment system when dogs interact with humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Karl
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Magdalena Boch
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Cognitive Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Zamansky
- Information Systems Department, University of Haifa, 3498838, Haifa, Israel
| | - Dirk van der Linden
- Department of Computer and Information Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Isabella C Wagner
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph J Völter
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claus Lamm
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Cognition, Emotion, and Methods in Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, 1010, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ludwig Huber
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Rault JL, Waiblinger S, Boivin X, Hemsworth P. The Power of a Positive Human-Animal Relationship for Animal Welfare. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:590867. [PMID: 33240961 PMCID: PMC7680732 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.590867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Domestic animals often seek and enjoy interacting with humans. Positive human-animal relationships can elicit positive emotions and other positive welfare outcomes. Nevertheless, our understanding of the underlying processes that govern the positive perception of humans by animals is incomplete. We cover the potential mechanisms involved in the development and maintenance of positive human-animal relationships from the perspective of the animal. This encompasses habituation, associative learning, and possibly attachment or bonding based on communication and social cognition. We review the indicators from the literature to assess a positive human-animal relationship. We operationally define this positive relationship as the animal showing voluntary approach and spatial proximity (seeking) and signs of anticipation, pleasure, relaxation, or other indicators of a rewarding experience from interacting with the human. For research, we recommend accounting for the baseline human-animal relationship in the animal's everyday life, and incorporating a control treatment rather than only comparing positive to negative interaction treatments. Furthermore, animal characteristics, such as previous experience, genetics, and individual predisposition, as well as contextual characteristics related to the social and physical environment, may modulate the perception of humans by animals. The human-animal relationship is also influenced by human characteristics, such as the person's familiarity to the animal, attitudes, skills, and knowledge. We highlight implications for current practices and suggest simple solutions, such as paying attention to the animal's behavioral response to humans and providing choice and control to the animal in terms of when and how to interact with humans. Practical applications to achieve a positive perception of humans could be better utilized, such as by incorporating training principles, while keeping in mind trust and safety of both partners. Overall, there is growing evidence in the scientific literature that a positive human-animal relationship can bring intrinsic rewards to the animals and thereby benefit animal welfare. Further research is needed on the underlying processes to establish an effective positive human-animal relationship, especially in regard to the type, frequency, and length of human interaction necessary. In particular, the importance of providing animals with a sense of agency over their interactions with humans remains poorly understood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Loup Rault
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Susanne Waiblinger
- Institute of Animal Welfare Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria
| | - Xavier Boivin
- Unité Mixte de Recherche sur les Herbivores, Université Clermont Auvergne, INRA, VetAgro Sup, UMR Herbivores, Saint-Genès-Champanelle, France
| | - Paul Hemsworth
- Animal Welfare Science Centre, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Multilevel fMRI adaptation for spoken word processing in the awake dog brain. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11968. [PMID: 32747731 PMCID: PMC7398925 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68821-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Human brains process lexical meaning separately from emotional prosody of speech at higher levels of the processing hierarchy. Recently we demonstrated that dog brains can also dissociate lexical and emotional prosodic information in human spoken words. To better understand the neural dynamics of lexical processing in the dog brain, here we used an event-related design, optimized for fMRI adaptation analyses on multiple time scales. We investigated repetition effects in dogs’ neural (BOLD) responses to lexically marked (praise) words and to lexically unmarked (neutral) words, in praising and neutral prosody. We identified temporally and anatomically distinct adaptation patterns. In a subcortical auditory region, we found both short- and long-term fMRI adaptation for emotional prosody, but not for lexical markedness. In multiple cortical auditory regions, we found long-term fMRI adaptation for lexically marked compared to unmarked words. This lexical adaptation showed right-hemisphere bias and was age-modulated in a near-primary auditory region and was independent of prosody in a secondary auditory region. Word representations in dogs’ auditory cortex thus contain more than just the emotional prosody they are typically associated with. These findings demonstrate multilevel fMRI adaptation effects in the dog brain and are consistent with a hierarchical account of spoken word processing.
Collapse
|
17
|
Artificial sounds following biological rules: A novel approach for non-verbal communication in HRI. Sci Rep 2020; 10:7080. [PMID: 32341387 PMCID: PMC7184580 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63504-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Emotionally expressive non-verbal vocalizations can play a major role in human-robot interactions. Humans can assess the intensity and emotional valence of animal vocalizations based on simple acoustic features such as call length and fundamental frequency. These simple encoding rules are suggested to be general across terrestrial vertebrates. To test the degree of this generalizability, our aim was to synthesize a set of artificial sounds by systematically changing the call length and fundamental frequency, and examine how emotional valence and intensity is attributed to them by humans. Based on sine wave sounds, we generated sound samples in seven categories by increasing complexity via incorporating different characteristics of animal vocalizations. We used an online questionnaire to measure the perceived emotional valence and intensity of the sounds in a two-dimensional model of emotions. The results show that sounds with low fundamental frequency and shorter call lengths were considered to have a more positive valence, and samples with high fundamental frequency were rated as more intense across all categories, regardless of the sound complexity. We conclude that applying the basic rules of vocal emotion encoding can be a good starting point for the development of novel non-verbal vocalizations for artificial agents.
Collapse
|
18
|
Abstract
In recent years, two well-developed methods of studying mental processes in humans have been successively applied to dogs. First, eye-tracking has been used to study visual cognition without distraction in unrestrained dogs. Second, noninvasive functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has been used for assessing the brain functions of dogs in vivo. Both methods, however, require dogs to sit, stand, or lie motionless while yet remaining attentive for several minutes, during which time their brain activity and eye movements are measured. Whereas eye-tracking in dogs is performed in a quiet and, apart from the experimental stimuli, nonstimulating and highly controlled environment, MRI scanning can only be performed in a very noisy and spatially restraining MRI scanner, in which dogs need to feel relaxed and stay motionless in order to study their brain and cognition with high precision. Here we describe in detail a training regime that is perfectly suited to train dogs in the required skills, with a high success probability and while keeping to the highest ethical standards of animal welfare-that is, without using aversive training methods or any other compromises to the dog's well-being for both methods. By reporting data from 41 dogs that successfully participated in eye-tracking training and 24 dogs IN fMRI training, we provide robust qualitative and quantitative evidence for the quality and efficiency of our training methods. By documenting and validating our training approach here, we aim to inspire others to use our methods to apply eye-tracking or fMRI for their investigations of canine behavior and cognition.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Karl
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Magdalena Boch
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Cognitive Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Zsófia Virányi
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Claus Lamm
- Social, Cognitive and Affective Neuroscience Unit, Department of Basic Psychological Research and Research Methods, Faculty of Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ludwig Huber
- Clever Dog Lab, Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Massen JJ, Behrens F, Martin JS, Stocker M, Brosnan SF. A comparative approach to affect and cooperation. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2019; 107:370-387. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2019.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 09/16/2019] [Accepted: 09/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
|
20
|
Murphy E. No Country for Oldowan Men: Emerging Factors in Language Evolution. Front Psychol 2019; 10:1448. [PMID: 31275219 PMCID: PMC6594215 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Language evolution has long been researched. I will review a number of broad, emerging research directions which arguably have the potential to contribute to our understanding of language evolution. Emerging topics in genomics and neurolinguistics are explored, and human-specific levels of braincase globularity - and the broader process of self-domestication within which globularity seems capable of being encapsulated - will be argued to be the central pillars of any satisfactory and interdisciplinary model of language evolution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elliot Murphy
- Division of Psychology and Language Sciences, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Czeibert K, Andics A, Petneházy Ö, Kubinyi E. A detailed canine brain label map for neuroimaging analysis. Biol Futur 2019; 70:112-120. [DOI: 10.1556/019.70.2019.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kálmán Czeibert
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Attila Andics
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-ELTE ‘Lendület’ Neuroethology of Communication Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences – Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Örs Petneházy
- Medicopus Nonprofit Ltd., ‘Kaposi Mór’ Teaching Hospital, Somogy County, Kaposvár, Hungary
- Justanatomy Ltd., Kaposvár, Hungary
| | - Enikő Kubinyi
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Siniscalchi M, d'Ingeo S, Minunno M, Quaranta A. Communication in Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2018; 8:ani8080131. [PMID: 30065156 PMCID: PMC6116041 DOI: 10.3390/ani8080131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Revised: 07/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Communication takes place between members of the same species, as well as between heterospecific individuals, such as the long co-habitation process and inter-dependent relationship present in domestic dogs and humans. Dogs engage in visual communication by modifying different parts of their body; in tactile communication; and also in auditory and olfactory communication, with vocalizations and body odours, respectively. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the recent literature about dog communication, describing the different nature of the signals used in conspecific and heterospecific interactions and their communicative meaning. Lateralized dog brain patterns underlying basic neural mechanisms are also discussed, for both conspecific and heterospecific social communication. Abstract Dogs have a vast and flexible repertoire of visual, acoustic, and olfactory signals that allow an expressive and fine tuned conspecific and dog–human communication. Dogs use this behavioural repertoire when communicating with humans, employing the same signals used during conspecific interactions, some of which can acquire and carry a different meaning when directed toward humans. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the latest progress made in the study of dog communication, describing the different nature of the signals used in conspecific (dog–dog) and heterospecific (dog–human) interactions and their communicative meaning. Finally, behavioural asymmetries that reflect lateralized neural patterns involved in both dog–dog and dog–human social communication are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcello Siniscalchi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Section of Behavioral Sciences and Animal Bioethics, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70121 Bari, Italy.
| | - Serenella d'Ingeo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Section of Behavioral Sciences and Animal Bioethics, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70121 Bari, Italy.
| | - Michele Minunno
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Section of Behavioral Sciences and Animal Bioethics, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70121 Bari, Italy.
| | - Angelo Quaranta
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Section of Behavioral Sciences and Animal Bioethics, University of Bari "Aldo Moro", 70121 Bari, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|