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Dobos P, Pongrácz P. You talkin' to me? Functional breed selection may have fundamentally influenced dogs' sensitivity to human verbal communicative cues. BMC Biol 2024; 22:183. [PMID: 39183286 PMCID: PMC11346259 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01983-1] [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: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ability to learn from humans via observation was considered to be equally present across properly socialized dogs. We showed recently that cooperative working breeds learned from a human demonstrator more effectively. We hypothesized that functional breed selection could affect sensitivity to human attention-eliciting behavior. Accordingly, we ran the first ever study on dogs that compared the effect of ostensive and neutral verbal communication in a social learning scenario. We used the detour paradigm around a transparent V-shaped fence with either ostensive (addressing the receiver both with words and specific, attention-eliciting prosody) or neutral speech (monotonous reciting of a short poem) demonstration. The other features (gestures, movement) of the demonstration sequence were kept identical between the two conditions. We tested (N = 70) companion dogs from 17 cooperative and 16 independent breeds in three 1-min trials. Subjects had to obtain the reward by detouring around the fence. RESULTS Detour latencies of the cooperative dogs improved after both ostensive and neutral speech demonstrations. The independent dogs did not improve their detour latency in either of the conditions. Remarkably, ostensive verbal utterances elicited longer relative looking time towards the demonstrator, cooperative dogs looked longer at the demonstrator, and longer looking time resulted in more successful detours. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides the first indication that functional breed selection had a significant impact on dogs' sensitivity to ostensive human communication, which, apart from being crucially important for social learning from humans, until now was considered as a uniformly present heritage of domestication in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Dobos
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Budapest, 1117, Hungary
| | - Péter Pongrácz
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Budapest, 1117, Hungary.
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2
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Gnanadesikan GE, Bray EE, Cook EN, Levy KM, Douglas LELC, Kennedy BS, Tecot SR, MacLean EL. Basal plasma oxytocin & fecal cortisol concentrations are highly heritable and associated with individual differences in behavior & cognition in dog puppies. Horm Behav 2024; 165:105612. [PMID: 39116461 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2024.105612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 07/15/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Oxytocin and cortisol are hormones that can influence cognition and behavior, but the relationships between endogenous concentrations and individual differences in cognitive and behavioral phenotypes remain poorly understood. Across mammals, oxytocin has important roles in diverse social behaviors, and in dogs, it has been implicated in human-oriented behaviors such as social gaze and point-following. Cortisol, an end-product of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, is often studied in relation to temperament and emotional reactivity, but it is also known to modulate executive functions. In this study, we measured basal fecal cortisol (n = 247) and plasma oxytocin (n = 249) in dog puppies from a pedigreed population (Canine Companions ®). We collected cognitive and behavioral data from these subjects (n = 247), including measures of human-oriented social cognition, memory, inhibitory control, perceptual discriminations, and temperament. Oxytocin concentrations were estimated to be very highly heritable (h2 = 0.90-0.99) and cortisol concentrations were estimated to be moderately-highly heritable (h2 = 0.43-0.47). Bayesian mixed models controlling for relatedness revealed that oxytocin concentrations were positively associated with spatial working memory and displayed a negative quadratic relationship with behavioral laterality, but no credible associations were seen for social measures. Cortisol concentrations exhibited a negative linear relationship with performance on an inhibitory control task and a negative quadratic relationship with bold behavioral reactions to a novel object. Collectively, our results suggest that individual differences in oxytocin and cortisol concentrations are under strong genetic control in dogs and are associated with phenotypic variation in aspects of temperament, behavioral laterality, and executive function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gitanjali E Gnanadesikan
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Laboratory for the Evolutionary Endocrinology of Primates, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Cognitive Science Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Department of Anthropology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Emily E Bray
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Canine Companions for Independence, Santa Rosa, CA 95402, USA; College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Erica N Cook
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Laboratory for the Evolutionary Endocrinology of Primates, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Kerinne M Levy
- Canine Companions for Independence, Santa Rosa, CA 95402, USA
| | | | | | - Stacey R Tecot
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Laboratory for the Evolutionary Endocrinology of Primates, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Evan L MacLean
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Cognitive Science Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA; Psychology Department, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
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3
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Pongrácz P, Dobos P. Behavioural differences and similarities between dog breeds: proposing an ecologically valid approach for canine behavioural research. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024. [PMID: 39101379 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13128] [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: 03/25/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
The behaviour of dogs holds great relevance for not only scientists from fundamental and applied research areas, but also due to the widespread roles of dogs in our societies as companions and working animals; their behaviour is also an important factor in animal and human welfare. A large proportion of dogs currently under human supervision belong to one of roughly 400 recognised breeds. Dog breeds can be characterised by distinctive, predictable and reproducible features, including some of their behavioural traits. To the scientist, the comparative analysis of the behaviour of dog breeds provides an opportunity for investigating an array of intriguing phenomena within an easily accessible model organism created from natural and human-driven evolutionary processes. There are many ways to design and conduct breed-related behavioural investigations, but such endeavours should always be based around biologically relevant research questions and lead to ecologically valid conclusions. In this review, we surveyed recent research efforts that included dog behaviour-related comparisons and applied a critical evaluation according to their methods of breed choice and the subsequent research design. Our aim was to assess whether these two fundamentally important components of experimental design provide a solid basis to reach valid conclusions. Based on 97 publications that fulfilled our selection criteria, we identified three primary methods used by researchers to select breeds for their investigations: (i) convenience sampling; (ii) hypothesis-driven, ancestry-based sampling; and (iii) hypothesis-driven, functional sampling. By using the SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) evaluation system, we highlight each of these techniques' merits and shortcomings. We identify when particular methods may be inherently unable to produce biologically meaningful results due to a mismatch between breed choice and the initial research goals. We hope that our evaluation will help researchers adopt best practices in experimental design regarding future dog breed comparisons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Péter Pongrácz
- Department of Ethology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Petra Dobos
- Department of Ethology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, Budapest, Hungary
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4
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Pechette Markley A, Shoben AB, Kieves NR. Risk Factors for Injury in Border Collies Competing in Agility Competitions. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2081. [PMID: 39061542 PMCID: PMC11273924 DOI: 10.3390/ani14142081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Border Collies are the most common breed in agility and their reported injury rate is much higher than that of other breeds. We aimed to identify demographic, training, and competition variables associated with the injury risk for this breed. We hypothesized that higher jump heights and competition at national/international levels would increase the injury risk. Data were collected from an internet-based survey. A logistic regression model was built using backward selection. There were 934 Border Collies in the sample, with 488 reporting an injury. The jump height relative to the shoulder height was associated with injury, with dogs jumping noticeably above or below shoulder height more likely to report a history of injury. Other identified risk factors included the number of weekends spent competing/year, the number of competitions at the national level, the age when starting elbow height jumps and backside jumps, the acquisition of the dog from a breeder, and the age of the handler. Factors associated with prolonged injury (>3-month duration) were the age when starting elbow height jumps and having a veterinary assistant as a handler. Border Collies jumping above shoulder height had an increased risk of injury. However, those jumping below shoulder height were also at a higher risk, which could have been due to reverse causality. Similarly, the observed associations regarding differences based on the number of trial weekends/year may have been impacted by reverse causality as well. The increased risk of injury with elbow height jump training at <10 months of age may indicate that the repetitive impact of jump training prior to skeletal maturity negatively influences musculoskeletal development. These data provide valuable information for further prospective studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arielle Pechette Markley
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
- Red Sage Integrative Veterinary Partners, Fort Collins, CO 80524, USA
| | - Abigail B. Shoben
- Division of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
| | - Nina R. Kieves
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA;
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5
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Bognár Z, Turcsán B, Faragó T, Szabó D, Iotchev IB, Kubinyi E. Age-related effects on a hierarchical structure of canine cognition. GeroScience 2024:10.1007/s11357-024-01123-1. [PMID: 38512580 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01123-1] [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: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The current study investigates whether there are statistically independent age-related influences on the canine cognitive structure and how individual factors moderate cognitive aging on both cross-sectional and longitudinal samples. A battery of seven tasks was administered to 129 pet dogs, on which exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were employed to unveil the correlational structure underlying individual differences in cognitive performance. The best-fitting model featured a hierarchical structure with two first-order cognitive domains (individual problem solving, learning) and a second-order common factor. These higher order factors exhibited consistency over a period of at least 2.5 years. External validation linked the common factor positively to discrimination and reversal learning performance, exploration, neophilia, activity/excitability, and training level while negatively to cognitive dysfunction symptoms, suggesting that it is a good candidate for a general cognitive factor (canine g). Structural equation models identified three distinct age-related influences, operating on associative learning, on memory, and on canine g. Health status moderated the negative age-canine g relationship, with a stronger association observed in dogs with poorer health status, and no relationship for dogs in good health. On a longitudinal sample (N = 99), we showed that the direction and magnitude of change in canine g over up to 3 years is affected by various interactions between the dogs' age, communication score, baseline performance, and time elapsed since the baseline measurement. These findings underscore the presence of a general cognitive factor in dogs and reveal intriguing parallels between human and canine aging, affirming the translational value of dogs in cognition and aging research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zsófia Bognár
- Department of Ethology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-ELTE Lendület "Momentum" Companion Animal Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Borbála Turcsán
- Department of Ethology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.
- MTA-ELTE Lendület "Momentum" Companion Animal Research Group, Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Tamás Faragó
- Department of Ethology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dóra Szabó
- Department of Ethology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Enikő Kubinyi
- Department of Ethology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
- MTA-ELTE Lendület "Momentum" Companion Animal Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
- ELTE NAP Canine Brain Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
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Mandigers PJJ, Santifort KM. Remarkable anecdotes illustrating the nature and effect of seizure-precipitating factors in Border Collies with idiopathic epilepsy. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1254279. [PMID: 37781292 PMCID: PMC10538117 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1254279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy is one of the most common chronic neurological syndromes in dogs and has serious implications for the quality of life of both the dogs and owners. Seizure-precipitating factors (SPFs) (also termed "triggers" or "provocative factors") have been studied and reported in both humans and dogs with idiopathic epilepsy. In dogs stress, hormones, sleep deprivation, and the weather have been reported as SPFs. The Border Collie (BC) is a breed of dog that is predisposed to idiopathic epilepsy, and the outcome is often poor. BC is described as a very sensitive dog with a strong focus on their owners, and this may have an influence on their and their owners' stress level. In this article, we described six unrelated BCs with idiopathic epilepsy in which several remarkable SPFs were identified, and avoiding them improved the outcome of these dogs. The possible SPFs were different for each dog. The SPFs were, among others, the other dog in the family, the lack of intellectual challenge, the presence of an autistic child, a busy street, the relation with the owner, and throwing a ball at the beach. These cases illustrate that recognizing the SPF(s) and taking measures with regard to management can lead to a reduction in epileptic seizure frequency or even achieving seizure freedom.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul J. J. Mandigers
- Evidensia Referral Hospital Arnhem, Arnhem, Netherlands
- Expertise Centre of Genetics, Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
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Serum Oxytocin, Cortisol and Social Behavior in Calves: A Study in the Impossible Task Paradigm. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13040646. [PMID: 36830435 PMCID: PMC9951757 DOI: 10.3390/ani13040646] [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: 01/23/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we explored the correlations between circulating levels of oxytocin, cortisol, and different social behaviors toward humans in 26 Italian Red Pied calves (all females, with an average age of 174 ± 24 days) using the impossible task paradigm. This paradigm has proved fruitful in highlighting the effect of socialization on the willingness to interact with humans in several domesticated species. The test consists of the violation of an expectation (recovering food from an experimental apparatus) while a caregiver and a stranger are present. Immediately after the end of the test (less than one minute), blood was collected from the coccygeal vein. Statistics were performed by the Spearman's rank correlation; significant differences were adjusted according to Bonferroni's correction. Cortisol correlates positively (ρ = 0.565; p < 0.05) with the latency of behaviors directed at the caregiver, and the duration of behaviors directed at the apparatus correlates negatively with both the caregiver (ρ = -0.654; p < 0.05) and a stranger (ρ = -0.644; p < 0.05). Contrary to what is reported in the literature on cows, no correlations were found between oxytocin levels and direct behaviors toward the caregiver. This highlights a different behavioral strategy between calves and cows when placed in front of an impossible task.
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8
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Fear, love, and the origins of canid domestication: An oxytocin hypothesis. COMPREHENSIVE PSYCHONEUROENDOCRINOLOGY 2022; 9:100100. [PMID: 35755921 PMCID: PMC9216449 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpnec.2021.100100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The process of dog domestication likely involved at least two functional stages. The initial stage occurred when subpopulations of wolves became synanthropes, benefiting from life nearby or in human environments. The second phase was characterized by the evolution of novel forms of interspecific cooperation and social relationships between humans and dogs. Here, we discuss possible roles of the oxytocin system across these functional stages of domestication. We hypothesize that in early domestication, oxytocin played important roles in attenuating fear and stress associated with human contact. In later domestication, we hypothesize that oxytocin's most critical functions were those associated with affiliative social behavior, social engagement, and cooperation with humans. We outline possible neurobiological changes associated with these processes and present a Siberian fox model of canid domestication in which these predictions can be tested. Lastly, we identify limitations of current studies on the neuroendocrinology of domestication and discuss challenges and opportunities for future research. We propose various roles for oxytocin across canid domestication. In early domestication, oxytocin primarily regulated fear and anxiety toward humans. In late domestication, oxytocin facilitated interspecific social bonds and cooperation. Comparative neurobiology is critical for understanding oxytocin's roles in domestication. Experimentally domesticated Siberian foxes provide a powerful model for these studies.
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9
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Serum Oxytocin in Cows Is Positively Correlated with Caregiver Interactions in the Impossible Task Paradigm. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12030276. [PMID: 35158600 PMCID: PMC8833709 DOI: 10.3390/ani12030276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary A possible relationship between circulating hormones (e.g., oxytocin and cortisol) and social behaviors toward humans in cows was studied using the impossible task paradigm test. Serum oxytocin levels correlated positively with the duration and negatively correlated with the latency of the cows’ social interactions with the caregiver. The implications of these findings for productivity as well as for animal welfare can be numerous and worth further investigation. Abstract This study explored a possible relationship between the circulating oxytocin, cortisol, and the willingness of dairy cows to engage in social behaviors with humans in an experimental context. The behaviors of twenty-nine cows were recorded during the impossible task paradigm, a procedure aimed at creating a violation of expectancy, in the presence of the caregiver and a stranger. The results showed that serum oxytocin levels were positively correlated with duration and negatively correlated with the latency of the cows’ social interactions with the caregiver. This research provides a clear correlation between circulating oxytocin and a willingness to engage in social contact with the caregiver, excluding the possible effect of different cortisol levels on such behavior.
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10
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Mengoli M, Oliva JL, Mendonça T, Chabaud C, Arroub S, Lafont-Lecuelle C, Cozzi A, Pageat P, Bienboire-Frosini C. Neurohormonal Profiles of Assistance Dogs Compared to Pet Dogs: What Is the Impact of Different Lifestyles? Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11092594. [PMID: 34573561 PMCID: PMC8466048 DOI: 10.3390/ani11092594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Dogs are currently involved in various roles in our society beyond companionship. The tasks humans assign to them impact their daily life and can sometimes create stressful situations, possibly jeopardizing their welfare. For example, assistance dogs need to manage their emotions in various challenging situations and environments. Thus, the capacity to cope with emotional stress is highly desirable in assistance dogs (~40% of assistance dogs fail to complete their education program). The emotional and stress responses are guided by brain processes involving neuromodulators. Neurohormonal profiling of these dogs can: (i) give cues about their emotional suitability to fulfill an assistance role; (ii) enhance their selection; and (iii) help to assess and improve their welfare state during the training course. We compared basal blood levels of three neuromodulators of interest between two populations, assistance vs. pet dogs. We found significantly different concentrations of oxytocin, a neuromodulator involved in social behavior. Levels of prolactin, a putative marker of chronic stress, were higher (although not statistically significant) and variable in assistance dogs. Dogs’ age also seemed to influence the various neuromodulators levels. These findings highlight the impact of different lifestyles undergone by dogs and the possibility to use neurohormonal profiling to monitor their effect on the dogs’ welfare and stress state. Abstract Assistance dogs must manage stress efficiently because they are involved in challenging tasks. Their welfare is currently a fundamental issue. This preliminary study aimed to compare assistance dogs (AD; n = 22) with pet dogs (PD; n = 24), using blood neuromodulator indicators to help find biomarkers that can improve the AD breeding, selection, training, and welfare monitoring. Both populations originated from different breeds, are of different ages, and had different lifestyles. Basal peripheral concentrations of prolactin (PRL), serotonin (5-HT), free (fOT) and total (tOT) oxytocin were measured by immunoassays. Multiple linear regressions were performed to assess the effect of activity, age, sex, and their interactions on these parameters. Correlations between neurohormonal levels were analyzed. No interactions were significant. fOT and tOT concentrations were significantly influenced by age (p < 0.0001 and p = 0.0002, respectively) and dogs’ activity (p = 0.0006 and p = 0.0277, respectively). A tendency was observed for age effect on PRL (p = 0.0625) and 5-HT (p = 0.0548), as well as for sex effect on tOT (p = 0.0588). PRL concentrations were heterogenous among AD. fOT and tOT were significantly but weakly correlated (Pearson’s r = 0.34; p = 0.04). Blood prolactin, serotonin, and oxytocin may represent biomarkers to assess workload and chronic stress-related responses in ADs and eventually improve their selection and training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Mengoli
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
- Clinical Ethology and Animal Welfare Centre (CECBA), 84400 Apt, France
| | - Jessica L. Oliva
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Tiago Mendonça
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
- Clinical Ethology and Animal Welfare Centre (CECBA), 84400 Apt, France
| | - Camille Chabaud
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Sana Arroub
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Céline Lafont-Lecuelle
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Alessandro Cozzi
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
| | - Patrick Pageat
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
- Clinical Ethology and Animal Welfare Centre (CECBA), 84400 Apt, France
| | - Cécile Bienboire-Frosini
- Research Institute in Semiochemistry and Applied Ethology (IRSEA), 84400 Apt, France; (M.M.); (J.L.O.); (T.M.); (C.C.); (S.A.); (C.L.-L.); (A.C.); (P.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-490-750-618
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A review of the unsolvable task in dog communication and cognition: comparing different methodologies. Anim Cogn 2021; 24:907-922. [PMID: 33754284 DOI: 10.1007/s10071-021-01501-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Communication between dogs and humans is a topic of growing interest, and the "unsolvable task" is a common method used to measure human-directed communication. In this task, dogs learn how to solve a problem to obtain a reward. After a fixed number of trials, the reward becomes impossible to access, arguably leading to communicative attempts from the dog. Although useful to observe dogs' communicative behaviors in a fairly naturalistic situation, the methodology varies among studies regarding apparatus, number of trials, and other factors. The proxies used, for instance, gaze duration or frequency of gaze alternation, also vary, and there are discrepancies and a debate regarding what the task actually measures. Therefore, in this study, we reviewed the usage of the unsolvable task in canids of the genus Canis, searching Web of Science and Scopus for the terms "dog*", "Canis", "dingo*", "wolf" or "wolves" in the title and "unsolvable task" or "impossible task" in the topic. We included thirty-five studies in this review and discussed their different methodologies and proxies, such as different apparatuses, number of solvable trials, and different interpretations of "looking back", pointing out how they can affect results and hinder comparisons. Lastly, we used current data to propose strategies to homogenize the use of this important paradigm, with an ethogram of possible behaviors and their interpretation and a predefined set of methodological aspects for future research.
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Dzik M, Cavalli C, Barrera G, Bentosela M. Oxytocin effects on gazing at the human face in retriever dogs. Behav Processes 2020; 178:104160. [DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2020.104160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Schaebs FS, Deschner T, Range F, Karl S, Marshall-Pescini S. Consistency and efficacy of two methods of intranasal oxytocin application in dogs. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2020; 72:106436. [PMID: 32114215 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2020.106436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Over the last few years, oxytocin (OT) administration to investigate the role of the oxytocinergic system in the social behavior of dogs has become of more and more interest. To date, the most common OT administration method for dogs is the intranasal spray commonly used for humans. Due to the different nasal conformation of dogs and the unpleasantness of the procedure, most dogs need to be restrained to allow administration. This has 2 main drawbacks-it may hinder reliable administration, which might lead to tremendous variance in the uptake of OT across individuals and it is likely to be stressful for the dogs. Alternatively, a vaporizer mask can be used to administer aerolized OT and dogs can be trained to voluntarily enter the mask, which might enable a more reliable administration without having to restrain the dogs. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of these 2 methods to identify a reliable non-invasive method for exogenous OT administration, thereby assisting future research on the role of OT in canines. We administered OT to pet dogs using either an intranasal spray bottle or a vaporizer mask and assessed urinary OT concentrations as a measure of OT uptake. We found that only when administered using a vaporizer mask, OT significantly increased in all subjects, while using a spray bottle led to considerable variance in OT uptake and an inconsistent increase in urinary OT concentrations across individuals. These results suggest that using a vaporizer mask should be preferred over using an intranasal spray bottle for OT administration in dogs. If not available, experimenters should at least monitor OT uptake after administration using spray bottles, to evaluate the success of the method.
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Affiliation(s)
- F S Schaebs
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany; Department ZLS, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - T Deschner
- Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig, Germany
| | - F Range
- Wolf Science Center, Domestication Lab, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - S Karl
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - S Marshall-Pescini
- Wolf Science Center, Domestication Lab, Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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14
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Kozhemyakina RV, Shikhevich SG, Konoshenko MY, Gulevich RG. Adolescent oxytocin treatment affects resident behavior in aggressive but not tame adult rats. Physiol Behav 2020; 224:113046. [PMID: 32619528 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2020.113046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
There are indications that exposing adolescent rodents to oxytocin (OT) promotes social activity and reduces anxiety in adulthood. Adult male gray rats selected for elimination and enhancement of the aggressive response to humans, when exposed to OT, showed divergent changes in the resident behavior towards the intruder. It could be assumed that adolescent administration of both OT and antagonist of OT receptor (OTR) would also have different long-term effects on resident behavior and startle reflex in adult aggressive and tame rats. The aim of this work is to study the long-term effects of adolescent administration of both OT and antagonist of OT receptor (OTR) on resident behavior and startle reflex in adult tame and aggressive male gray rats. Starting at the age of 28 days, the animals received nasal applications of 5 μL of oxytocin solution (1 μg / μL) or saline for 5 days (daily). At the age of two months, the acoustic startle amplitude was assessed in two series of 5 acoustic stimuli. The resident-intruder test was performed one week later. Antagonist of OT receptor l-368,899 was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) once at a dose of 5 mg/kg at the age of 30-33 days. Subsequent startle reflex tests were performed 20 days later, at the age of 50-53 days. A week later, the resident-intruder test was performed on the same rats. The startle amplitude in aggressive rats of the control group (in two series of acoustic stimuli) and those having received saline (in the first series) was larger than in the corresponding tame groups. Oxytocin and saline solutions did not significantly affect the startle amplitude compared to control animals. After saline administration, the attack latency in tame rats was longer than in aggressive rats (P <0.05). Oxytocin treatment caused a prolongation of this period in aggressive males compared with control animals receiving saline solution (P <0.01). In addition, oxytocin administration in aggressive males caused an increase in the time of social behavior, which did not include aggressive and same-sex behavior, as compared with the corresponding control animals (P <0.05). Exogenous oxytocin receptor antagonist (l-368,899) did not affect the startle amplitude and behavior in the resident-intruder test in aggressive and tame male rats. Adolescent OT treatment causes a prolongation of both the attack latency and social behavior in the resident-intruder test in adult aggressive male rats, but does not affect these parameters in tame rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- R V Kozhemyakina
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Lavrent'ev Ave, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.
| | - S G Shikhevich
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Lavrent'ev Ave, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.
| | - M Yu Konoshenko
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | - R G Gulevich
- Laboratory of Evolutionary Genetics, Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Lavrent'ev Ave, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.
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15
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Carballo F, Cavalli CM, Gácsi M, Miklósi Á, Kubinyi E. Assistance and Therapy Dogs Are Better Problem Solvers Than Both Trained and Untrained Family Dogs. Front Vet Sci 2020; 7:164. [PMID: 32300602 PMCID: PMC7145387 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2020.00164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
When faced with unsolvable or difficult situations dogs use different behavioral strategies. If they are motivated to obtain rewards, they either try to solve the problem on their own or tend to interact with a human partner. Based on the observation that in problem situations less successful and less perseverant dogs look more at the humans' face, some authors claim that the use of social strategies is detrimental to attempting an independent solution in dogs. Training may have an effect on dogs' problem-solving performance. We compared the behavior of (1) untrained, (2) trained for recreational purposes, and (3) working dogs: assistance and therapy dogs living in families (N = 90). During the task, dogs had to manipulate an apparatus with food pellets hidden inside. We measured the behaviors oriented toward the apparatus and behaviors directed at the owner/experimenter, and ran a principal component analysis. All measures loaded in one factor representing the use of the social strategy over a more problem-oriented strategy. Untrained dogs obtained the highest social strategy scores, followed by dogs trained for recreational purposes, and assistance and therapy dogs had the lowest scores. We conclude that assistance and therapy dogs' specific training and working experience (i.e., to actively help people) favors their independent and more successful problem-solving performance. General training (mainly obedience and agility in this study) also increases problem-oriented behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabricio Carballo
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.,Instituto de Ciencias Biológicas y Biomédicas del Sur (INBIOSUR), Departamento de Biología Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional del Sur (UNS)- Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Bahía Blanca, Argentina
| | - Camilla María Cavalli
- Grupo de Investigación del Comportamiento en Cánidos (ICOC), Instituto de Investigaciones Médicas (IDIM), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Márta Gácsi
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.,MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ádám Miklósi
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.,MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Enikő Kubinyi
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Biology, ELTE Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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16
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Lesimple C. Indicators of Horse Welfare: State-of-the-Art. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E294. [PMID: 32069888 PMCID: PMC7070675 DOI: 10.3390/ani10020294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2019] [Revised: 02/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal welfare is defined as a chronic state reflecting an individual's subjective perception of its situation. Because it is possible to be in a good welfare state and nevertheless experience acute fear or pain, and conversely, short-term positive emotions can be experienced during impaired welfare states, welfare as a chronic state has to be clearly distinguished from temporary states related to emotions, pain or stress. The evaluation of non-verbal individuals' welfare state, particularly in interspecific situations, is a real challenge that necessarily implies animal-based measures and requires multidisciplinary scientifically validated measures. In the last decade, studies investigating horses' welfare flourished together with new measures that were not always scientifically tested before being used. At a time were legal decisions are made on animal welfare, it is crucial to rely on reliable welfare indicators in order to prevent false evaluation. The aim of this review is to identify the scientifically tested and reliable indicators of horses' welfare (e.g., body lesions, apathy, aggressiveness, stereotypic behaviours) from signals of temporary states related to acute pain emotions or stress and from popular beliefs, in order to give the scientific community and the horse industry accurate evaluation tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Lesimple
- Univ Rennes, Normandie Univ, CNRS, EthoS (Éthologie Animale et Humaine)-UMR 6552, F-35380 Paimpont, France
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17
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18
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Hecht EE, Smaers JB, Dunn WD, Kent M, Preuss TM, Gutman DA. Significant Neuroanatomical Variation Among Domestic Dog Breeds. J Neurosci 2019; 39:7748-7758. [PMID: 31477568 PMCID: PMC6764193 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0303-19.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2019] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Humans have bred different lineages of domestic dogs for different tasks such as hunting, herding, guarding, or companionship. These behavioral differences must be the result of underlying neural differences, but surprisingly, this topic has gone largely unexplored. The current study examined whether and how selective breeding by humans has altered the gross organization of the brain in dogs. We assessed regional volumetric variation in MRI studies of 62 male and female dogs of 33 breeds. Neuroanatomical variation is plainly visible across breeds. This variation is distributed nonrandomly across the brain. A whole-brain, data-driven independent components analysis established that specific regional subnetworks covary significantly with each other. Variation in these networks is not simply the result of variation in total brain size, total body size, or skull shape. Furthermore, the anatomy of these networks correlates significantly with different behavioral specialization(s) such as sight hunting, scent hunting, guarding, and companionship. Importantly, a phylogenetic analysis revealed that most change has occurred in the terminal branches of the dog phylogenetic tree, indicating strong, recent selection in individual breeds. Together, these results establish that brain anatomy varies significantly in dogs, likely due to human-applied selection for behavior.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Dog breeds are known to vary in cognition, temperament, and behavior, but the neural origins of this variation are unknown. In an MRI-based analysis, we found that brain anatomy covaries significantly with behavioral specializations such as sight hunting, scent hunting, guarding, and companionship. Neuroanatomical variation is not simply driven by brain size, body size, or skull shape, and is focused in specific networks of regions. Nearly all of the identified variation occurs in the terminal branches of the dog phylogenetic tree, indicating strong, recent selection in individual breeds. These results indicate that through selective breeding, humans have significantly altered the brains of different lineages of domestic dogs in different ways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Hecht
- Department of Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138,
| | - Jeroen B Smaers
- Department of Anthropology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794
| | - William D Dunn
- Departmentt of Neurology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
| | - Marc Kent
- Department of Small Animal Medicine and Surgery, The University of Georgia at Athens, Athens, Georgia 30602
| | - Todd M Preuss
- Division of Neuropharmacology and Neurologic Diseases and Center for Translational Social Neuroscience, Yerkes National Primate Research Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, and
| | - David A Gutman
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia 30329
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19
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Clinical potential of oxytocin in autism spectrum disorder: current issues and future perspectives. Behav Pharmacol 2019; 29:1-12. [PMID: 28857771 DOI: 10.1097/fbp.0000000000000341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The effects of oxytocin on social cognition and behavior have recently attracted considerable attention. In particular, oxytocin has been proposed as a novel therapeutic for psychiatric disorders with social deficits such as autism spectrum disorders. This review provides a brief overview of behavioral and neural responses to oxytocin manipulations in humans and animal models. Although the differences in findings between human and animal studies should be interpreted carefully, shared behavioral phenotypes have been recognized, such as social bonding, social responses, and recognition and usage of social cues. Previous literature suggests that the neural effects of oxytocin in humans and animals overlap in the prefrontal, limbic, and paralimbic cortices. Oxytocin-induced alterations in these regions may indicate a fundamental basis for how oxytocin modulates social behaviors and facilitate the discovery of new pharmaceutical targets for treating social deficits.
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20
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Similarity between an unfamiliar human and the owner affects dogs' preference for human partner when responding to an unsolvable problem. Learn Behav 2019; 46:430-441. [PMID: 30022446 DOI: 10.3758/s13420-018-0337-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates whether dogs are able to differentiate between people according to whether or not they show similarities to their owners. We hypothesized that dogs would show a preference for the "similar" partner when interacting with unfamiliar humans. After having familiarized with two experimenters displaying different degrees of similarity to their owners, dogs (N = 36) participated in a situation where the desired toy object was made inaccessible in order to find out whether they initiate interaction with the two partners differently. Two different types of "similarity cues" were used (either alone or combined with each other): (1) persistent behavioral characteristics (i.e., familiar vs. strange motion pattern and language usage) and (2) an unfamiliar arbitrary group marker (i.e., one of the potential helpers was wearing clothing similar to that worn by the owner). Results show that although dogs payed equal attention to the human partners displaying various types of similarity to their owners during familiarization, they exhibited a visual attention preference for the human whose motion pattern and language usage were similar to their owner's in the inaccessible-toy task. However, there was weak evidence of discrimination based on the arbitrary group marker (clothing). Although dogs' different tendencies to interact with the potential helpers do not necessarily imply an underlying ability to create social categories based on the degree of similarity between the owner and unfamiliar people, these results suggest that functionally human infant-analogue forms of social categorization may have emerged in dogs.
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21
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Topál J, Román V, Turcsán B. The dog (Canis familiaris) as a translational model of autism: It is high time we move from promise to reality. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. COGNITIVE SCIENCE 2019; 10:e1495. [PMID: 30762306 DOI: 10.1002/wcs.1495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Selecting appropriate animal models for a particular human phenomenon is a difficult but important challenge. The difficulty lies in finding animal behaviors that are not only sufficiently relevant and analog to the complex human symptoms (face validity) but also have similar underlying biological and etiological mechanisms (translational or construct validity), and have "human-like" responses to treatment (predictive validity). Over the past several years, the domestic dog (Canis familiaris) has become increasingly proposed as a model for comparative and translational neuroscience. In parallel to the recent advances in canine behavior research, dogs have also been proposed as a model of many human neuropsychiatric conditions, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In this opinion paper we will shortly discuss the challenging nature of autism research then summarize the different neurocognitive frameworks for ASD making the case for a canine model of autism. The translational value of a dog model stems from the recognition that (a) there is a large inter-individual variability in the manifestation of dogs' social cognitive abilities including both high and low phenotypic extremes; (b) the phenotypic similarity between the dog and human symptoms are much higher than between the rodent and human symptoms; (c) the symptoms are functionally analogous to the human condition; and (d) more likely to have similar etiology. This article is categorized under: Psychology > Comparative Psychology Cognitive Biology > Evolutionary Roots of Cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- József Topál
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Viktor Román
- Laboratory of Neurodevelopmental Biology, Chemical Works of Gedeon Richter Plc., Budapest, Hungary
| | - Borbála Turcsán
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Ethology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
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22
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Gulevich R, Kozhemyakina R, Shikhevich S, Konoshenko M, Herbeck Y. Aggressive behavior and stress response after oxytocin administration in male Norway rats selected for different attitudes to humans. Physiol Behav 2018; 199:210-218. [PMID: 30472394 DOI: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2018.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Oxytocin (OXT) is known to influence on social behaviors, including intermale aggression and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activity. However, there are no data on the effects of oxytocin on intermale aggression and HPA axis activity in rats selected for elimination and enhancement of aggressiveness towards humans. The aim of this study is to elucidate the role of oxytocin in expression of aggressive behavior and stress response in Norway rats selected for elimination (tame) and enhancement (aggressive) of an aggressive-defensive reaction to humans. Oxytocin was administered to males via nasal applications once or for 5 days (daily). Resident-intruder test showed that in aggressive males, single oxytocin administration caused an increase in the latent period of aggressive interactions and a decrease in the percentage of direct aggression time (not including the time of lateral threat postures) as compared to the control aggressive rats administered with saline. After a 5-day oxytocin administration, aggressive animals demonstrated shorter time of aggressive interactions compared to the control rats. Resident-intruder test revealed no significant changes in behavior of tame rats after single oxytocin administration, while multiple administration caused an increase in aggressive behavior in tame rats. Oxytocin applications caused an elevation of corticosterone level after restriction in aggressive males, but did not affect expression of Crh, Crh1 and Crhr2 genes in hypothalamus in either tame or aggressive rats. The data obtained indicate significant role of oxytocinergic system in the behavior formed in the process of selection by reaction to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rimma Gulevich
- Federal Research Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | - Rimma Kozhemyakina
- Federal Research Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | - Svetlana Shikhevich
- Federal Research Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | - Maria Konoshenko
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia.
| | - Yury Herbeck
- Federal Research Center, Institute of Cytology and Genetics SB RAS, Novosibirsk, Russia.
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23
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Barrera G, Dzik V, Cavalli C, Bentosela M. Effect of Intranasal Oxytocin Administration on Human-Directed Social Behaviors in Shelter and Pet Dogs. Front Psychol 2018; 9:2227. [PMID: 30524337 PMCID: PMC6262305 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.02227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A wide variety of evidence has demonstrated that oxytocin is involved in socio-cognitive skills in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). The purpose was to evaluate the effect of oxytocin administration on socio-cognitive abilities in two populations of dogs with different levels of daily human contact: shelter and pet dogs. Additionally, the effect of different doses of oxytocin (i.e., 16 and 24 IU) was assessed. To this end, dogs were tested on two tasks: a sociability test to assess their social responses and a communicative task focused on the learning of gazing responses. Results showed that pet dogs performed better than shelter dogs on the sociability and the gazing tests showing the relevance of dogs’ previous experience and learning when interacting with people. The administration of 16 IU as well as 24 IU of oxytocin improved the performance on the communicative learning task, producing an increment in gaze duration during extinction. This difference was observed in both pet and shelter dogs. Therefore, oxytocin seems to participate in the persistence of this communicative response. However, the treatment did not modify the behaviors during the sociability test. Furthermore, oxytocin appears to be beneficial to increase the communicative abilities of shelter dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Barrera
- Grupo de Investigación del Comportamiento en Cánidos, Instituto de Ciencias Veterinarias del Litoral, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientficas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Victoria Dzik
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de investigaciones Mdicas A Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientficas y Técnicas, Instituto de investigaciones Médicas, Grupo de Investigación del Comportamiento en Cánidos, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Camila Cavalli
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de investigaciones Mdicas A Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientficas y Técnicas, Instituto de investigaciones Médicas, Grupo de Investigación del Comportamiento en Cánidos, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Mariana Bentosela
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de investigaciones Mdicas A Lanari, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientficas y Técnicas, Instituto de investigaciones Médicas, Grupo de Investigación del Comportamiento en Cánidos, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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24
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Kabasakalian A, Ferretti CJ, Hollander E. Oxytocin and Prader-Willi Syndrome. Curr Top Behav Neurosci 2018; 35:529-557. [PMID: 28956320 DOI: 10.1007/7854_2017_28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In the chapter, we explore the relationship between the peptide hormone, oxytocin (OT), and behavioral and metabolic disturbances observed in the genetic disorder Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of PWS are described, as are the potential implications of an abnormal OT system with respect to neural development including the possible effects of OT dysfunction on interactions with other regulatory mediators, including neurotransmitters, neuromodulators, and hormones. The major behavioral characteristics are explored in the context of OT dysfunction, including hyperphagia, impulsivity, anxiety and emotion dysregulation, sensory processing and interoception, repetitive and restrictive behaviors, and dysfunctional social cognition. Behavioral overlaps with autistic spectrum disorders are discussed. The implications of OT dysfunction on the mechanisms of reward and satiety and their possible role in informing behavioral characteristics are also discussed. Treatment implications and future directions for investigation are considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anahid Kabasakalian
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Casara J Ferretti
- Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology, Yeshiva University, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Eric Hollander
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
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25
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Herbeck YE, Gulevich RG. Neuropeptides as facilitators of domestication. Cell Tissue Res 2018; 375:295-307. [DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2939-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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26
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Lopatina OL, Komleva YK, Gorina YV, Higashida H, Salmina AB. Neurobiological Aspects of Face Recognition: The Role of Oxytocin. Front Behav Neurosci 2018; 12:195. [PMID: 30210321 PMCID: PMC6121008 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2018.00195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Face recognition is an important index in the formation of social cognition and neurodevelopment in humans. Changes in face perception and memory are connected with altered sociability, which is a symptom of numerous brain conditions including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Various brain regions and neuropeptides are implicated in face processing. The neuropeptide oxytocin (OT) plays an important role in various social behaviors, including face and emotion recognition. Nasal OT administration is a promising new therapy that can address social cognition deficits in individuals with ASD. New instrumental neurotechnologies enable the assessment of brain region activation during specific social tasks and therapies, and can characterize the involvement of genes and peptides in impaired neurodevelopment. The present review sought to discuss some of the mechanisms of the face distinguishing process, the ability of OT to modulate social cognition, as well as new perspectives and technologies for research and rehabilitation of face recognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga L Lopatina
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Toxicological Chemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.,Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.,Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Yulia K Komleva
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Toxicological Chemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.,Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Yana V Gorina
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Toxicological Chemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.,Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia
| | - Haruhiro Higashida
- Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.,Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
| | - Alla B Salmina
- Department of Biochemistry, Medical, Pharmaceutical, and Toxicological Chemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.,Research Institute of Molecular Medicine and Pathobiochemistry, Krasnoyarsk State Medical University named after Prof. V.F. Voino-Yasenetsky, Krasnoyarsk, Russia.,Department of Basic Research on Social Recognition and Memory, Research Center for Child Mental Development, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Japan
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27
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Kovács K, Virányi Z, Kis A, Turcsán B, Hudecz Á, Marmota MT, Koller D, Rónai Z, Gácsi M, Topál J. Dog-Owner Attachment Is Associated With Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphisms in Both Parties. A Comparative Study on Austrian and Hungarian Border Collies. Front Psychol 2018; 9:435. [PMID: 29674985 PMCID: PMC5895926 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/15/2018] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Variations in human infants' attachment behavior are associated with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene, suggesting a genetic component to infant-mother attachment. However, due to the genetic relatedness of infants and their mothers, it is difficult to separate the genetic effects of infants' OXTR genotype from the environmental effects of mothers' genotype possibly affecting their parental behavior. The apparent functional analogy between child-parent and dog-owner relationship, however, offers a way to disentangle the effects of these factors because pet dogs are not genetically related to their caregivers. In the present study we investigated whether single nucleotide polymorphisms of pet dogs' OXTR gene (-213AG,-94TC,-74CG) and their owners' OXTR gene (rs53576, rs1042778, rs2254298) are associated with components of dog-owner attachment. In order to investigate whether social-environmental effects modulate the potential genetic influence on attachment, dogs and their owners from two different countries (Austria and Hungary, N = 135 in total) were tested in a modified version of the Ainsworth Strange Situation Test (SST) and questionnaires were also used to collect information about owner personality and attachment style. We coded variables related to three components of attachment behavior in dogs: their sensitivity to the separation from and interaction with the owner (Attachment), stress caused by the unfamiliar environment (Anxiety), and their responsiveness to the stranger (Acceptance). We found that (1) dogs' behavior was significantly associated with polymorphisms in both dogs' and owners' OXTR gene, (2) SNPs in dogs' and owners' OXTR gene interactively influenced dog-human relationship, (3) dogs' attachment behavior was affected by the country of origin, and (4) it was related to their owners' personality as well as attachment style. Thus, the present study provides evidence, for the first time, that both genetic variation in the OXTR gene and various aspects of pet dogs' environmental background are associated with their attachment to their human caregivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krisztina Kovács
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Virányi
- Comparative Cognition & Wolf Science Center, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Kis
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Borbála Turcsán
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Hudecz
- Department of Ethology, Eötvös University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Maria T Marmota
- Comparative Cognition & Wolf Science Center, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Dóra Koller
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsolt Rónai
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Márta Gácsi
- MTA-ELTE Comparative Ethology Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - József Topál
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
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28
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Turcsán B, Range F, Rónai Z, Koller D, Virányi Z. Context and Individual Characteristics Modulate the Association between Oxytocin Receptor Gene Polymorphism and Social Behavior in Border Collies. Front Psychol 2017; 8:2232. [PMID: 29312078 PMCID: PMC5742244 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2017] [Accepted: 12/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent studies suggest that the relationship between endogenous oxytocin and social affiliative behavior can be critically moderated by contextual and individual factors in humans. While oxytocin has been shown to influence human-directed affiliative behaviors in dogs, no study investigated yet how such factors moderate these effects. Our study aimed to investigate whether the context and the dogs’ individual characteristics moderate the associations between the social affiliative (greeting) behavior and four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene. We recorded the greeting behavior in three contexts: (1) when the dog first met an unfamiliar experimenter, (2) during a separation from the owner, and (3) after the experimenter approached the dog in a threatening manner. In the latter two contexts (during separation and after threatening), we categorized the dogs into stressed and non-stressed groups based on their behavior in the preceding situations. In line with previous studies, we found that polymorphisms in the OXTR gene are related to the greeting behavior of dogs. However, we also showed that the analyzed SNPs were associated with greeting in different contexts and in different individuals, suggesting that the four SNPs might be related to different functions of the oxytocin system. The -213A/G was associated with greeting only when the dog had no prior negative experience with the experimenter. The rs8679682 was found in association with greeting in all three contexts but these associations were significant only in non-stressed dogs. The -94T/C was associated with greeting only when the dog was stressed and had an interaction with the sex of the dog. The -74C/G SNP was associated with greeting only when the dog was stressed during separation and also had a sex interaction. Taken together, our results suggest that, similarly to humans, the effects of oxytocin on the dogs’ social behavior are not universal, but constrained by features of situations and individuals. Understanding these constraints helps further clarify how oxytocin mediates social behavior which, in the long run, could improve the application of oxytocin in pharmacotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borbála Turcsán
- Comparative Cognition and Wolf Science Center, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.,Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Friederike Range
- Comparative Cognition and Wolf Science Center, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Zsolt Rónai
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dóra Koller
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zsófia Virányi
- Comparative Cognition and Wolf Science Center, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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29
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Oláh K, Topál J, Kovács K, Kis A, Koller D, Young Park S, Virányi Z. Gaze-Following and Reaction to an Aversive Social Interaction Have Corresponding Associations with Variation in the OXTR Gene in Dogs but Not in Human Infants. Front Psychol 2017; 8:2156. [PMID: 29312041 PMCID: PMC5732940 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.02156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been suggested that dogs' remarkable capacity to use human communicative signals lies in their comparable social cognitive skills; however, this view has been questioned recently. The present study investigated associations between oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR) polymorphisms and social behavior in human infants and dogs with the aim to unravel potentially differential mechanisms behind their responsiveness to human gaze. Sixteen-month-old human infants (N = 99) and adult Border Collie dogs (N = 71) participated in two tasks designed to test (1) their use of gaze-direction as a cue to locate a hidden object, and (2) their reactions to an aversive social interaction (using the still face task for children and a threatening approach task for dogs). Moreover, we obtained DNA samples to analyze associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in the OXTR (dogs: -213AG, -94TC, -74CG, rs8679682, children: rs53576, rs1042778, rs2254298) and behavior. We found that OXTR genotype was significantly associated with reactions to an aversive social interaction both in dogs and children, confirming the anxiolytic effect of oxytocin in both species. In dogs, the genotypes linked to less fearful behavior were associated also with a higher willingness to follow gaze whereas in children, OXTR gene polymorphisms did not affect gaze following success. This pattern of gene-behavior associations suggests that for dogs the two situations are more alike (potentially fear-inducing or competitive) than for human children. This raises the possibility that, in contrast to former studies proposing human-like cooperativeness in dogs, dogs may perceive human gaze in an object-choice task in a more antagonistic manner than children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katalin Oláh
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Cognitive Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - József Topál
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Krisztina Kovács
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Kis
- Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Dóra Koller
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Molecular Biology and Pathobiochemistry, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Soon Young Park
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Zsófia Virányi
- Comparative Cognition, Messerli Research Institute, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria.,University of Vienna, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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30
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Uncovering the origins of dog–human eye contact: dingoes establish eye contact more than wolves, but less than dogs. Anim Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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31
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Kis A, Hernádi A, Miklósi B, Kanizsár O, Topál J. The Way Dogs ( Canis familiaris) Look at Human Emotional Faces Is Modulated by Oxytocin. An Eye-Tracking Study. Front Behav Neurosci 2017; 11:210. [PMID: 29163082 PMCID: PMC5671652 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dogs have been shown to excel in reading human social cues, including facial cues. In the present study we used eye-tracking technology to further study dogs' face processing abilities. It was found that dogs discriminated between human facial regions in their spontaneous viewing pattern and looked most to the eye region independently of facial expression. Furthermore dogs played most attention to the first two images presented, afterwards their attention dramatically decreases; a finding that has methodological implications. Increasing evidence indicates that the oxytocin system is involved in dogs' human-directed social competence, thus as a next step we investigated the effects of oxytocin on processing of human facial emotions. It was found that oxytocin decreases dogs' looking to the human faces expressing angry emotional expression. More interestingly, however, after oxytocin pre-treatment dogs' preferential gaze toward the eye region when processing happy human facial expressions disappears. These results provide the first evidence that oxytocin is involved in the regulation of human face processing in dogs. The present study is one of the few empirical investigations that explore eye gaze patterns in naïve and untrained pet dogs using a non-invasive eye-tracking technique and thus offers unique but largely untapped method for studying social cognition in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kis
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Anna Hernádi
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Orsolya Kanizsár
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary.,Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - József Topál
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
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32
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Somppi S, Törnqvist H, Topál J, Koskela A, Hänninen L, Krause CM, Vainio O. Nasal Oxytocin Treatment Biases Dogs' Visual Attention and Emotional Response toward Positive Human Facial Expressions. Front Psychol 2017; 8:1854. [PMID: 29089919 PMCID: PMC5651012 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The neuropeptide oxytocin plays a critical role in social behavior and emotion regulation in mammals. The aim of this study was to explore how nasal oxytocin administration affects gazing behavior during emotional perception in domestic dogs. Looking patterns of dogs, as a measure of voluntary attention, were recorded during the viewing of human facial expression photographs. The pupil diameters of dogs were also measured as a physiological index of emotional arousal. In a placebo-controlled within-subjects experimental design, 43 dogs, after having received either oxytocin or placebo (saline) nasal spray treatment, were presented with pictures of unfamiliar male human faces displaying either a happy or an angry expression. We found that, depending on the facial expression, the dogs' gaze patterns were affected selectively by oxytocin treatment. After receiving oxytocin, dogs fixated less often on the eye regions of angry faces and revisited (glanced back at) more often the eye regions of smiling (happy) faces than after the placebo treatment. Furthermore, following the oxytocin treatment dogs fixated and revisited the eyes of happy faces significantly more often than the eyes of angry faces. The analysis of dogs' pupil diameters during viewing of human facial expressions indicated that oxytocin may also have a modulatory effect on dogs' emotional arousal. While subjects' pupil sizes were significantly larger when viewing angry faces than happy faces in the control (placebo treatment) condition, oxytocin treatment not only eliminated this effect but caused an opposite pupil response. Overall, these findings suggest that nasal oxytocin administration selectively changes the allocation of attention and emotional arousal in domestic dogs. Oxytocin has the potential to decrease vigilance toward threatening social stimuli and increase the salience of positive social stimuli thus making eye gaze of friendly human faces more salient for dogs. Our study provides further support for the role of the oxytocinergic system in the social perception abilities of domestic dogs. We propose that oxytocin modulates fundamental emotional processing in dogs through a mechanism that may facilitate communication between humans and dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanni Somppi
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Heini Törnqvist
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - József Topál
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Aija Koskela
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Laura Hänninen
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Christina M. Krause
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Outi Vainio
- Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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33
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Nagasawa M, Ogawa M, Mogi K, Kikusui T. Intranasal Oxytocin Treatment Increases Eye-Gaze Behavior toward the Owner in Ancient Japanese Dog Breeds. Front Psychol 2017; 8:1624. [PMID: 28983270 PMCID: PMC5613112 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dogs acquired unique cognitive abilities during domestication, which is thought to have contributed to the formation of the human-dog bond. In European breeds, but not in wolves, a dog’s gazing behavior plays an important role in affiliative interactions with humans and stimulates oxytocin secretion in both humans and dogs, which suggests that this interspecies oxytocin and gaze-mediated bonding was also acquired during domestication. In this study, we investigated whether Japanese breeds, which are classified as ancient breeds and are relatively close to wolves genetically, establish a bond with their owners through gazing behavior. The subject dogs were treated with either oxytocin or saline before the starting of the behavioral testing. We also evaluated physiological changes in the owners during mutual gazing by analyzing their heart rate variability (HRV) and subsequent urinary oxytocin levels in both dogs and their owners. We found that oxytocin treatment enhanced the gazing behavior of Japanese dogs and increased their owners’ urinary oxytocin levels, as was seen with European breeds; however, the measured durations of skin contact and proximity to their owners were relatively low. In the owners’ HRV readings, inter-beat (R-R) intervals (RRI), the standard deviation of normal to normal inter-beat (R-R) intervals (SDNN), and the root mean square of successive heartbeat interval differences (RMSSD) were lower when the dogs were treated with oxytocin compared with saline. Furthermore, the owners of female dogs showed lower SDNN than the owners of male dogs. These results suggest that the owners of female Japanese dogs exhibit more tension during interactions, and apart from gazing behavior, the dogs may show sex differences in their interactions with humans as well. They also suggest that Japanese dogs use eye-gazing as an attachment behavior toward humans similar to European breeds; however, there is a disparity between the dog sexes when it comes to the owners’ oxytocin secretion. Japanese dogs also showed different attachment behaviors from both European breeds and wolves, and they likely use additional strategies to substitute gaze when forming the human–dog bond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miho Nagasawa
- Companion Animal Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu UniversitySagamihara, Japan
| | - Misato Ogawa
- Companion Animal Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu UniversitySagamihara, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Mogi
- Companion Animal Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu UniversitySagamihara, Japan
| | - Takefumi Kikusui
- Companion Animal Research, School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu UniversitySagamihara, Japan
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34
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Persson ME, Trottier AJ, Bélteky J, Roth LSV, Jensen P. Intranasal oxytocin and a polymorphism in the oxytocin receptor gene are associated with human-directed social behavior in golden retriever dogs. Horm Behav 2017; 95:85-93. [PMID: 28765081 DOI: 10.1016/j.yhbeh.2017.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The oxytocin system may play an important role in dog domestication from the wolf. Dogs have evolved unique human analogue social skills enabling them to communicate and cooperate efficiently with people. Genomic differences in the region surrounding the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) gene have previously been associated with variation in dogs' communicative skills. Here we have utilized the unsolvable problem paradigm to investigate the effects of oxytocin and OXTR polymorphisms on human-directed contact seeking behavior in 60 golden retriever dogs. Human-oriented behavior was quantified employing a previously defined unsolvable problem paradigm. Behaviors were tested twice in a repeated, counterbalanced design, where dogs received a nasal dose of either oxytocin or saline 45min before each test occasion. Buccal DNA was analysed for genotype on three previously identified SNP-markers associated with OXTR. The same polymorphisms were also genotyped in 21 wolf blood samples to explore potential genomic differences between the species. Results showed that oxytocin treatment decreased physical contact seeking with the experimenter and one of the three polymorphisms was associated with degree of physical contact seeking with the owner. Dogs with the AA-genotype at this locus increased owner physical contact seeking in response to oxytocin while the opposite effect was found in GG-genotype individuals. Hence, intranasal oxytocin treatment, an OXTR polymorphism and their interaction are associated with dogs' human-directed social skills, which can explain previously described breed differences in oxytocin response. Genotypic variation at the studied locus was also found in wolves indicating that it was present even at the start of dog domestication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia E Persson
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behaviour Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Agaia J Trottier
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behaviour Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Johan Bélteky
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behaviour Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Lina S V Roth
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behaviour Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Per Jensen
- IFM Biology, AVIAN Behaviour Genomics and Physiology Group, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
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35
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Abstract
The oxytocin system has recently received increasing attention due to its effect on complex human behaviours. In parallel to this, over the past couple of decades, the human-analogue social behaviour of dogs has been intensively studied. Combining these two lines of research (e.g. studying the relationship between dog social behaviour and the oxytocin system) is a promising new research area. The present paper reviews the existing literature on how oxytocin is related to different aspects of human-directed social behaviour in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kis
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Magyar tudósok krt. 2, Budapest H-1117, Hungary.
| | - Alin Ciobica
- Department of Research, Faculty of Biology, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University, 11 Carol I Blvd., 700506, Iasi, Romania
| | - József Topál
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience and Psychology, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Magyar tudósok krt. 2, Budapest H-1117, Hungary
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36
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Owner-reported personality assessments are associated with breed groups but not with oxytocin receptor gene polymorphisms in domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). J Vet Behav 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jveb.2016.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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