Using Live and Video Stimuli to Localize Face and Object Processing Regions of the Canine Brain Open Access

Gillette, Kirsten (Spring 2022)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/12579t58k?locale=en
Published

Abstract

Previous research to localize face areas in dogs’ brains has generally relied on static images or videos. However, most dogs do not naturally engage with two-dimensional images, raising the question of whether dogs perceive such images as representations of real faces and objects. To measure the equivalency of live and two-dimensional stimuli in the dog’s brain, during fMRI we presented dogs and humans with live action stimuli (actors and objects) as well as videos of the same actors and objects. The dogs (N=7) and humans (N=5) were presented with 20-second blocks of faces and objects in random order. In dogs, we found significant areas of increased activation in the putative dog face area, and in humans, we found significant areas of increased activation in the fusiform face area to both live and video stimuli. In both dogs and humans, we found areas of significant activation in the posterior superior temporal sulcus (ectosylvian fissure in dogs) and the lateral occipital complex to both live and video stimuli. We found that there was a significant difference in response to the live condition compared to the video condition and that this differed between dogs and humans. Therefore, live stimuli may be more apt in localizing functional regions of the brain in dogs and humans, but this effect may be especially pronounced in dogs.

Table of Contents

Introduction.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………1

Materials & Methods…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5

Results……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9

           Table 1: Results of the mixed model analysis of the ROIs……………………………………………..11

Discussion………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..12

Tables and Figures

Figure 1: Presentation format and sitmuli…………………………………………………………………….17

Figure 2: Definition and activations within the primary dog face area and

human fusiform face area…………………………………………………………………………………………….18

Figure 3: Definition and activations within the human posterior superior temporal

sulcus and its analog in dogs…………………………………………………………………………………………19

Figure 4: Definition and activations within the human lateral occipital complex

and its analog in dogs………………………………………………………………………………………………..…20

References…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….…21

About this Honors Thesis

Rights statement
  • Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.
School
Department
Degree
Submission
Language
  • English
Research Field
Keyword
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor
Committee Members
Last modified

Primary PDF

Supplemental Files