7/7 Importantly, we have built a framework to continue addressing a variety of important future #CanineScience questions. Go to our website for more info: https://manydogsproject.github.io/. We can’t wait for ManyDogs2 (an open call for ideas is now in effect until July 15th!) and beyond—reach out if you'd like to be involved!

4/7 Why big science? The mission of the @ManyDogs is to replicate important findings in the field of #CanineScience, set rigorous methods, leverage large samples to study moderators (e.g., breed) and cultural differences, and foster collaboration.

Thread: 1/7 Our ManyDogs intro paper is now out in the #OpenAccess journal #ComparativeCognitionandBehaviorReviews! Read about our #bigteamscience project in #caninescience here: https://comparative-cognition-and-behavior-reviews.org/vol18_manydogs/ 🐶🦮🐕‍🦺🐩🐕

RT @ManyDogsProject
Our ManyDogs intro paper is out online TODAY in the #OpenAccess journal #ComparativeCognitionandBehaviorReviews! Read about our #bigteamscience project in #caninescience here: https://comparative-cognition-and-behavior-reviews.org/vol18_manydogs/ 🐶🦮🐕‍🦺🐩🐕 https://twitter.com/ManyDogsProject/status/1616163665442664453

In a nutshell
* Your smile lights up the temporal cortex of dogs
* The dog brains distinguish some negative emotions

Exploring the mind of dogs is made possible by the support of passionate families.

Let's spread some joy and smile at our furry friends!

6/n
#neuroscience #caninescience #dogsofmastodon #thread #Animbehav2023

Our results don’t mean that dogs cannot distinguish sad from angry humans.

The complexity of emotions is fascinating, and we can't wait to dive deeper and explore the intricacies of the dog brain response to richer multisensory emotional stimuli.

5/n
#neuroscience #caninescience #dogsofmastodon #thread #Animbehav2023

Then, we went to a darker side. We wondered, do dog brains only discriminate positive vs. negative emotions? 🤔

A representational analysis showed that dog brains distinguish angry vs. fearful faces and sad vs. fearful faces, but not sad vs. angry faces.

4/n
#neuroscience #caninescience #dogsofmastodon #thread #Animbehav2023

So, in Experiment 2, we got more emotional! Dogs (n=12) viewed happy, angry, fearful, and sad faces.

We confirm that results from Experiment 1 were driven by happy faces, as a linear SVM classifier discriminated only between happiness and negative emotions.👏

3/n
#neuroscience #caninescience #dogsofmastodon #thread #Animbehav2023

Our fMRI study revealed increased activity in the right temporal cortex and caudate when dogs (n=8) viewed happy faces.

However, as we used neutral faces as a control, we can't confirm that the response was specifically to happy faces and not just any emotion. 🤦

2/n
#neuroscience #caninescience #dogsofmastodon #thread #Animbehav2023

From #Animbehav2023 conference

Dogs process happy human faces in the right temporal cortex

My beloved dogs, Odín and #Kun-kun, thrive in the charming city of Budapest because Hungarians have a special fondness for dogs, always showing them a smile.

We studied the dog brain's response to emotional human faces, starting with happiness.

1/n
#neuroscience #caninescience #dogsofmastodon #thread

The Dog Aging Project

https://caninechronicle.com/current-articles/canine-cognition-the-dog-aging-project/

The project started in 2014. Presently, 40,000 dogs are enrolled, and they hope to eventually recruit 100,000 for ongoing data gathering.

The big goal is to find new insights into the key factors that dictate lifespan. And so far, despite the lack of scientifically controlled conditions, this project provides tremendous insights into human health and aging.

#dog #dogs #dogsofmastodon #dogtraining #dogtrainer #caninescience #dogresearch

The first article as part of my PhD has now been published! 🥳 Dog breeds differed from each other in several cognitive traits, such as inhibitory control (cylinder test), understanding of human gestures, spatial problem-solving (V-detour), and human-directed ("help-seeking") behaviour during an unsolvable task.
https://rdcu.be/c2rXl

#AnimalCognition #CanineScience #DogBehaviour #AnimalBehavior #CanineCognition

More than happy to land here! I am a neuroscientist interested in the dog-human bond. 😃 💞 🐶 Using fMRI, I help uncover how dog brains perceive their social world.


I am not alone in this endeavor. Besides brilliant human colleagues worldwide, I have two amazing furry colleagues, Odín and Kun-kun. 

🌟

A video abstract of our last paper https://youtu.be/wgv6ywyFJEg

#dogsofmastodon #caninescience #neuroscience #scicomm #introductionpost

The Routledge International Handbook of Comparative Psychology (edited by Freeberg, Ridley, & d'Ettore, 2022) really is a lovely compilation for those interested in #AnimalBehaviour #AnimalBehavior #AnimalCognition #ComparativeCognition #Evolution #CanineScience and #Ecology

https://www.routledge.com/The-Routledge-International-Handbook-of-Comparative-Psychology/Freeberg-Ridley-dEttorre/p/book/9780367546045

We have a chapter in the book discussing the history and major themes of Comparative Cognition (I've attached a figure).

So I'm giving this place a try! I guess that means an #Introduction is in order. 😊

I'm a PhD student at #UniversityOfHelsinki in Finland. I research canine cognitive traits, and look at things such as heritability, breed differences, and associations with problem behaviour.

I'm fascinated by #AnimalBehaviour / #AnimalBehavior #AnimalCognition, #Ethology, #DogBehaviour, #CanineScience, #CanineCognition and #AnimalWelfare.

I have a #RescueDog called Jessie, and a little #DayGecko called Suki. 🦎

So I'm giving this place a try! I guess that means an #Introduction is in order. 😊

I'm a PhD student at #UniversityOfHelsinki in Finland. I research canine cognitive traits, and look at things such as heritability, breed differences, and associations with problem behaviour.

I'm fascinated by #AnimalBehaviour / #AnimalBehavior #AnimalCognition, #Ethology, #DogBehaviour, #CanineScience, #CanineCognition and #AnimalWelfare.

I have a #RescueDog called Jessie, and a little #DayGecko called Suki. 🦎

We have a review paper entitled
👉 Following the human point: Research with nonhuman animals since Povinelli, Nelson, and Boysen (1990) 👈

It's part of a special issue at Learning & Behavior: https://link.springer.com/article/10.3758/s13420-022-00546-0

But can also be found at: https://psyarxiv.com/92vsx/

There will be more about point following in the near future -- it's the focus of the first @ManyDogs project, going on now across 19 labs.

#AnimalCognition #AnimalBehavior #CanineScience #Dogs #DevelopmentalPsychology

ManyDogs is now on Mastodon at @ManyDogs. Give us a follow to find out more about our work! 🐶
#dogs #canine #CanineScience #OpenScience #BigTeamScience