Differences in dogs’ event-related potentials in response to human and dog vocal stimuli; a non-invasive study

Abstract

Recent advances in the field of canine neuro-cognition allow for the non-invasive research of brain mechanisms in family dogs. Considering the striking similarities between dog's and human (infant)'s socio-cognition at the behavioural level, both similarities and differences in neural background can be of particular relevance. The current study investigates brain responses of n = 17 family dogs to human and conspecific emotional vocalizations using a fully non-invasive event-related potential (ERP) paradigm. We found that similarly to humans, dogs show a differential ERP response depending on the species of the caller, demonstrated by a more positive ERP response to human vocalizations compared to dog vocalizations in a time window between 250 and 650 ms after stimulus onset. A later time window between 800 and 900 ms also revealed a valence-sensitive ERP response in interaction with the species of the caller. Our results are, to our knowledge, the first ERP evidence to show the species sensitivity of vocal neural processing in dogs along with indications of valence sensitive processes in later post-stimulus time periods.

Non-invasive canine electroencephalography (EEG): a systematic review

“…The remaining five studies [10,17,60,70,99] deployed event-related potentials (ERP) frameworks to understand visual, auditory and language processing. Törnqvist et al [99] investigated the ERPs of dogs in response to human and dog faces.…”

“…Finally, Balint et al [17] investigated the auditory processing of 17 dogs in response to human and dog vocalizations. They found that, similar to humans, dogs exhibited differential ERP responses based on the species of the vocalizer.…”

“…Our review ends by underscoring the advances and advantages of EEG-based canine cognitive neuroscience and the potential for accessible canine neuroimaging to inform both fundamental sciences as well as practical applications for cognitive neuroscience, working dogs, and human-canine interactions.Keywords canine science • cognitive neuroscience • EEG Berns et al pioneered the use of fMRI in awake, non-restrained dogs in 2012 [8], and in the following year, Kujala and colleagues were the first to successfully deploy non-invasive EEG with non-sedated dogs [61]. Further developments Non-invasive canine electroencephalography (EEG): a systematic review PREPRINT included the investigation of a range of cognitive processes and their neural underpinnings such as executive functioning [24], visual [25,61], auditory [5,17], and olfactory [50] processing, social cognition [23], learning [88] and sleep [19,56]. While the field of canine fMRI has received increasing scientific attention, non-invasive canine EEG has eluded similar treatment.…”

A Mini-Review Regarding the Modalities to Study Neurodevelopmental Disorders-Like Impairments in Zebrafish—Focussing on Neurobehavioural and Psychological Responses

“…Moon-Fanelli et al [ 100 ] demonstrated that male dogs are predominantly prone to develop repetitive behavior (obsessing tail-chasing, chewing), aberrant sensory and social stimuli response, and impaired affective and social behavior (phobias, aggressivity, social isolation) in relation to intraspecific interaction or in relation with human. A recent study published by the Royal Society of Open Science suggested that the social and cognitive aspects of the neurobehavioral status of dogs are similar to the behavior of human infants [ 101 ].…”

Owner-rated hyperactivity/impulsivity is associated with sleep efficiency in family dogs: a non-invasive EEG study

“…Several studies have demonstrated that the family dog is a promising animal model for human socio-cognitive behaviors as well as their neuro-cognitive background. This includes attachment (behavior 27 ; EEG 28 ; neuroimaging 29 ), voice processing (behavior 30 ; ERP 31 ; neuroimaging 32 ) and learning (behavior 33 ; EEG 34 , 35 ). Furthermore, the family dog is increasingly recognized as a model for human neuropsychiatric conditions, such as obsessive–compulsive disorder 36 , autism 37 and ADHD-like characteristics 38 .…”